Running a Marathon

BetterTV's Jill Cordes shows us what it's like to run for a good cause as she participates in the NYC Marathon to help raise money for Team for Kids, a charity helping young kids stay healthy and active.

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Transcript

Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)

" Hi! I'm Jill Cordes, and I am running the New York City Marathon in two short days. Okay, there I said it. Oh my gosh! It's almost here. I can't believe it. Running New York is tough because New York is a really hard marathon to get into 'cause so may people sign up. So, I went the route of a charity. I'm running for a charity called Team for Kids, and I actually think it's a great idea no matter where you live in the country because it gives your run a greater purpose. You're running for a cause better than yourself and bigger than yourself. But also, I have the support of an entire team behind me."

" This is your Team for Kids technical long-sleeve T shirt--"

" Oh!"

" And your Team for Kids' hat."

" Did I really say its two days away? Oh my gosh! I am so nervous."

" Team for Kids or TFK helps kids who don't have a lot of money or live in underserved areas by getting them involved in running. By doing so, it gives them a sport they care about, are passionate about, and ultimately aims to give them a running start in life."

" I say to all the runners, "if you think you don't want to run six times a mile tonight, suck it up and do it! Because what you're putting out is the effort and the money in the program we're developing for these kids --"

" Right."

" --that they need."

" You give any of these kids any sort of competition and they just love it. They eat it up. They thrive on that."

" As to the marathoners, myself included, final advice for race day?"

" Hold back that first mile and hold back that second mile 'cause you're in great shape."

" She is a good athlete."

" Oh!"

" But I want her to have a great race, not a good two miles."

" I know. I'm scared I'm gonna like--"

" That's -- everybody's gonna be running."

" I know. I'm gonna hold back."

" It's alright."

" The trick is to not go too fast out of the gate. Preserve your energy until the end. I wanna do negative splits so I'm passing everyone at the end."

" A negative splits means you go faster at the second half of the race."

" It is harder."

" Negative is positive."

" Right. Negative is positive."

" Negative is positive."

" And inside this place, all you feel is positive energy. Alright! So, I'm here at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. This is the big expo where all the runners come to pick up their number, which means this makes me officially official."

" One, two, three. ( Various exclamations.)"

" My number is 9726. Two days later, it's game time! Today, we are on the Staten Island Ferry on our way over to Fort Wadsworth Park, which is the staging ground for the beginning of the New York City Marathon. And you see that bridge? Right there in the distance? That's the Verrazano. That is mile one for the race. The ferry this morning is surprisingly calm. I think everyone is really excited, but also there's this sort of Zen-like feeling. We're all thinking about the race."

" I'm surprisingly calm today."

" Yeah."

" Yesterday was very frenetic, running around madly trying to prepare a few things."

" Right."

" But today, we are a couple of hours away from the start -- I can't do anything now."

" Once over on Staten Island, the army of runners board buses bound for the start. TFK has a special tent set up just for us, and there's plenty of anxiety and energy inside just waiting to burst out."

" I need two safety pins."

" You know the Zen I talked about on the ferry? Gone!"

" There's still a lot to do before I get to the start. This is one of my running partners for Team for Kids. How are ya feelin'? I'm feeling very anxious, but good. Call it controlled chaos."

" See ya at the finish line, baby! Yes baby! Alright! Good luck! Bye, see you at the finish! Bye! Bye, John! Good Luck! And that's the last you'll see of me for a while as the herd begins to move towards the Verrazano Bridge. Team for Kids, yay! Collectively, we make this marathon one of the largest in the world, which makes it that much more exciting."

" All along the course, there's music and people cheering you on. (Cheering) That's my husband right there, holding that sign. Thanks Honey! At Mile 14, the photographer catches up with me in Brooklyn, right before we head over to Queens."

" How are you?"

" I'm great! First 10, I went a little fast."

" Background: Go ahead."

" But I'm still feeling really good."

" Welcome to Queens! Everybody is a friend here. 39,000 people coming over the bridge from Brooklyn. And are they happy to get to us. Next stop is Manhattan, everybody."

" Right now, running with my personality is so much fun! The last six with more heart; right on strategy. From Manhattan, it's up to the Bronx, then the final push into Central Park where I caught up with my crew after the fact. It was so much fun-- like I almost didn't want it to end, until about Mile 24. I saw the Team for Kids at different places. That was amazing! Breaking three and half million dollars so that kids can get proper exercise in New York City is obviously very inspirational. Okay, I'm exhausted although I am still flying on the high from the race, but I got to go stretch. Gotta go see my team to congratulate my other friends. Then I'm going to take a hot shower, ice my legs, and eat whatever I want. I can't wait! I'm Jill Cordes. Thanks for watching my marathon and good luck with yours, whatever it is you do. You can do it!"

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Designed by Alycea Ungaro, owner of Real Pilates in New York City, these 7 exercises are the foundation of Pilates. Eliminates lower back pain. Â¿ Strengthens your core.

side. The Single Leg Stretch works your abs and your obliques. The Spine Stretch Forward: Sit tall on your mat with your legs extended and your feet flexed and hip-width apart. Extend your arms out in front of your shoulders parallel with the floor, reaching toward your feet with your fingers. Without moving your hips or lower back, exhale and lower your head as if diving through your arms. Round your upper back forward and curl your chin toward your chest. Now, inhale and slowly return to the starting position. Repeat this exercise 5 times. As you stretch, pull your navel toward your spine and aim the top of your head toward the mat , reaching forward with your fingers and neck. Keep your legs as straight as possible. The Spine Stretch Forward works your abs. Side Kicks Front: Lie down on your mat and roll onto your right side cradling your head in your hand. Place your left hand in front of you and bring

Welcome to this low-impact Pilates workout. These 7 mat exercises make up the basic foundation of a Pilates program. It's a great way to eliminate lower back pain. Plus, this workout will help you strengthen your core and work your upper and lower body. You will need an exercise mat or a plush carpet for these Pilates exercises. To get the best results, it's important to do each move using the correct

workout. When rounding your head forward, maintain a fit distance between your chin and your chest. The Hundred: Sit tall on the mat with your knees bent by your chest and your hands by your side. Lie down with your knees bent and your palms facing down. Exhale and raise your head and shoulders off the mat . Now, vigorously pump your arms -- 6 inches up-and-down -- or reaching with your fingertips. Inhale for 5 pumps and then exhale for 5 pumps. Be sure to curl your chin toward your chest. Do 100 pumps or 10 full breaths. Try to keep your lower back pressed into the floor and pull your abs in towards your spine . You should keep your abs engaged this way throughout the workout. The Hundred works your abs and your inner thighs. The Roll-

Down: Sit tall with your knees bent and your feet on the mat . Set your legs hip-width apart. Place your hands behind your thighs, keeping your elbows wide. Inhale and start to roll back on the mat , curling your pelvis under and pressing your lower back into the floor. Stop this roll halfway down with your arms nearly straight.

your deepest abdominal muscles. The Single Leg Circle: Lie back on the mat with your arms by your sides and your palms facing down. Begin by pointing your left foot as if reaching out with your toes toward the ceiling and rotate your legs slightly outward. Inhale and trace a circle on

outer thighs. Rolling Like A Ball: Sit on the front of your mat with your legs hip- width apart and your hands holding your shins. Round your back, tilting your head in toward your navel and lean back slightly so that your weight is balanced just behind your pelvic bones. Begin by inhaling and then rock backward until your shoulder blades touch the mat . Now, exhale and come back to balance in the starting position. You should repeat this exercise 10 times, remaining in a tight

abs. The Single Leg Stretch: Lie back in the center of your mat with your knees bent. Lift your head and shoulders and curl your chin in toward your chest. Inhale as you draw your left knee in toward your chest, placing your left hand on your ankle

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fifth. Write your name -- Clap your hands together and take your elbows into default. Use your elbows scraped the letters -- your first and last name twice. Seemed to didn't move for thirty to 45 seconds. -- First you're going to form a letter Y. Raising the rates from in front of you to diagonally over head so that your palms are facing up slightly. -- eight repetitions of the letter Y and then you going to switch to the letter T. -- the -- here is to stay in this half squat position. And kings forward from the -- the that your back it's nearly parallel to the floor. We've completed all the wives

reach forward. Then your knee and that you're doing a single leg squat . Bring the -- melts your shoulder and Preston overhead so that your palm faces forward. How to make this move a little easier you can do it without a -- forced to switch your standing leg for better balance. Keep -- nice and tight. You're going to do twelve repetitions . Then switched sides and repeat.