I have always admired marathon runners. To be able to run, miles and miles, in all kinds of weather. So, it is only fitting that I relate to you my good running story.
It was in the mid-70’s, and I was in my mid-30’s. I was living in the West Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan which is downtown, and working as an art director for an advertising agency uptown on the east side.
My morning routine was to go to the West Side YMCA, which is located in the 60’s on the west side of Central Park, at 7AM for my workout and then head to the office.
One day I decided that I wanted to try running for my exercise. There was a track above the gym, but it was small, and to do a mile you had to run 20 laps. Talk about boring!! For the first week I struggled everyday wondering if this running thing was really for me. One day as I was running, this young guy, probably in his mid-20’s suggested that we run together and talk so it would make the run a lot easier. Well, it worked! So, we started this daily workout together.
When the spring came, he invited me to run with his friends in the park. Definitely a big change from the gym. So now there were five of us running in the park every morning. Now these guys were much better runners than I was. Also, they were a lot younger, but I was determined to keep up with them, if I could.
As the days and weeks passed, we were going a little faster and further each day. I was up to 5 miles a day and close to a 7- or 8-minute mile. Of course, that was short lived. The problem was that these four guys were getting faster and running longer than I was, even though I was trying my best.
Then one day after our run, I commented nonchalantly about how good they were. They replied that hopefully they would get much better since they were training for the New York City Marathon that year.
The Marathon!! Well, that was it! I wished them success, and just started to do my own thing.
