“Yo Adrian, I did it!”
After 60 days, 200+ training miles (including 50 in the rain), 2 pairs of running shoes, 3 Puma shirts, endless encouragement, and 5 borrows in 4 hours, 35 minutes, 18 seconds, I am proud to officially say that I am a marathoner!
On the morning of November 1, 2009, as I ran with the flood of runners across the 59th Street Bridge I caught a glimpse of the New York skyline just as my iPod kicked on the song “Empire State of Mind.” I got chills all over and a feeling of extreme pride for being a part of the historic 40th New York City Marathon. It was a feeling and a day that I will not soon forget.
As the 26.2 miles ticked by there wasn’t a dull moment along the packed course. There were definitely a few rough spots but the cheering crowds - some even calling out “Go Maasai!” - carried me though.
The best feeling, next to actually crossing the finish line, was turning down 5th Avenue, with the rowdy Central Park crowd in sight. I realized then that I was, in fact, going to finish this!
Not only was I able to accomplish one of my life-long goals, but was also able to contribute to a very worthy cause - the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. It was a great privilege to raise funds for the Maasai and to run with the MWCT team. Congratulations to the team on a terrific run. Your spirit and dedication will continue to inspire me.
I would especially like to thank my family and friends who supported me by donating to the MWCT and encouraging me throughout my training. None of this would have been possible without you! A special thank you goes to my race day cheering squad: knowing you were just around the next bend made the struggles much more manageable and the day much more memorable!
