I Ran the New York City Marathon

Training: 10 Days to Go!

Ten days out and all I can say now is thank god for my team. The long runs were over and we were into our tapering stage. But the full-on obsession of the race had set in. Everything I did was focused on the marathon.

"Honey, I can't go to our friends' house tonight because what if they have a cold and I get sick."

"Oh, I can't eat that. What if it makes me sick?"

"Can you open the door for me? I don't want to get any germs on my hand."

My husband and my non-running friends had about all they could take. The only people who understood were my teammates. We e-mailed, texted, and talked no fewer than 23 times a day.

"Luke, what are you eating for breakfast on race day?"
"Rachel, have you seen the extended 8-day forecast? What if it rains?" (That discussion alone produced 37 freaked out texts back and forth.)
"Joanna, are you taking the ferry or the bus?"

It was like a full time job, but one that was fun. And then finally....