so you are thinking of running a marathon

Last year at this time I said yes to running my first marathon.  I  had been toying with the idea for years but never actually got up the courage to say yes.  For some reason last year was different and without even thinking much about it I committed.  Once I hit the submit button on my registration form I knew there was no turning back.  I had to take this running thing seriously and I had to train.  

If you are thinking about saying yes to your first marathon below are some things you may want to know about training.  There is whole other list for race day, but I 'll save that for another time.  

1 :: Get yourself two pairs of the exact same shoe

You can go with two different colors, but find the shoe that you love and buy two of them.  You are going to be putting in a lot of miles and just like you your shoes are going to need to rest.  There will also be days when it is raining and you will be stomping your way through puddles.  Your shoes are going to need some time to dry out.  So get two pairs.  As you train alternate between each pair.  Don't save up one for when the other is all worn out.  

2 :: There are two types of belts that will become your favorite running gear {I wish I had bought mine sooner}

Number One :: A belt for shorter runs.
For this you just need something to hold your keys and cell phone.  My all time favorite item I ever bought for running was the Flip Belt.  It is amazing!  You don't even realize it is there and all of your stuff stays neatly in place

Number Two :: A hydration belt
On your longer runs the last thing you want to do is carry around bottle of water, but believe me you are going to need water.  For some silly reason I put off this purchase for to long and was trying to carry my water with me.  Half filled water bottles in your hand will drive you nuts for seven miles.  I even tried to use a camelback that I had which ended in a call to Dustin to pick me up because the straps of the bag were rubbing my on my shoulders and I started to bleed.  

A good hydration belt will get you through your long runs.  Look for is a hydration belt with a pocket to hold you other fuel - such as gels or gummy bears.  On your long runs those are going to be your go to!  I love the Nathan Trail Mix Hydration belt because there is a zipper pocket which can hold your phone and also rubber chords along the side to hold your gels.  

3 :: Be prepared to say no, a lot 

Running is going to consume many of your hours.  Friends and family are going to ask you to hang out on Friday night but you have a long run the next morning and will need your rest.  Don't feel bad about saying no even when they tease you {and they will tease you}.  Just know that it is only temporary and you will be so glad the next say when you are out there running with clarity and not exhausted from the previous nights shenanigans.  

4 :: Find some good music to keep you going, but also run without the tunes

With out tunes?!? Did I just say that?  Yes indeed because a time may come when you are seven miles from home and your phone dies.  There you will be in silence and you will have to navigate your way back by the sound of your breathe and the thoughts in your head.  Before you get to that moment take some runs without your music and soak in the silence.  You will be surprised that you can actually run without music.  

However, stack up your playlist with some songs to keep you going.  You are inevitably going to encounter hills and that song may be the only thing that helps you get to the top.  Find what works for you and turn it up.  

5 :: Add hills into your training  

They will feel torturous as you try to climb them but you will be thanking those hills on race day for the strength they have given you.  Me and Airmount {the hill I usually climb} are not friends at all but it is that beast who has made me strong, even when I first running up it at a snails pace.  

6 :: Running is a practice and your only job is to keep showing up

There are no perfect runs or a strict recipe to have the best run ever.  Some days you will feel amazing and other days just two miles will feel like torture.  All you need to do is keep showing up and putting one foot in front of the other.  Do not let the rough times get you down and celebrate the ones that feel great.  

7 :: Find a schedule and stick to it, you will be glad you did

Having a schedule will help you stay on track.  Unless you have ran a marathon before you will most likely be like me and have no idea where to even start.  So seek out a schedule, pin it to your wall, and make sure it fits the days that work for you.  You want to set yourself up for success.  On the weekends you will be doing one long run . . . if Saturday isn't a good day for you to do that then shift the entire schedule so that it lands on Sunday.  It will be so much easier for you to stick to when it works for you.  

8 :: You are so much stronger than you think you are

As you begin to train you will start to rack up miles that you didn't ever think you could run.  When I first started training running three miles was tough.  Then somehow I was running five, seven, ten.  It was incredible.  The training schedule helps you ease into it and you begin to see that you are so much stronger than you ever thought you were.  Be proud of yourself and celebrate the milestones when you hit them.  

9 :: Visualize the cheers, it will help get you through

There are going to be times when you are dragging and you won't even want to take one more step.  Visualize your friends and family cheering for you up ahead and you will be amazed how much motivation it brings you.  

Another thing I do, that I can't actually recommend because it is dangerous ... is close my eyes.  When I am running up a hill and struggling I close my eyes for a moment.  For some reason it helps me make it up.  But please, do this with extreme caution!

10 :: It's going to be challenging, but enjoy it

Training for a marathon is going to test you in ways that you didn't even realize.  There will days when it is freezing or down pouring and you have to get out there and put in those miles.  The hardest part is going to come in lacing up your sneakers and stepping out the door.  Once you are out there you will be so glad that you got off the couch. Remember each mile you put in will make it easier for you come race day.  

When I watched my first marathon in person I was blown away by the courage and dedication that each individual had.  It inspired me to want to run, but I never thought that I could actually do it.  But I did, and you can to.  It takes a lot of work and an incredible amount of dedication.  My biggest struggle was overcoming my mind.  When the little voice in my head kept repeating ... stop ... stop ... stop, I had to keep going.  And each time I kept going my mind became a little bit stronger.  And some how, some way I ran the NYC Marathon.  It was glorious and the memories from that day will live in my heart forever.  

Are you thinking about running a marathon?  Do you have a million questions about it?  Are you feeling a little scared and timid about saying yes?  Drop me a note at jbelthoff@gmail.com and we can chat.  It is life changing for sure! 

getting back in the groove

Being in the warm sunshine inspired me to get moving again.  Each morning I showed up on the beach, barefoot and ran for as long as the beach allowed.  It was divine.  There was no watch to tell me how fast I was going and no mile marker to tell me how far I ran.  I just listened to the sound of my breathe, splashed my feet in the ocean, and moved my body.  It felt so good!  

Back in NJ the weather is chilly but the sun is shining after work.  That alone is motivation enough to lace up my sneakers and move my body.  On Monday I tackled Airmount for the first time this year.  While training for the NYC Marathon Airmount and I met often and never truly became friends.  It wasn't until during the marathon that I grew an incredible appreciation for my time spent running up that monstrous hill.  

I realized that all the time I spent on that hill made me stronger.  It pushed me to my edge and made me realize that I can do things I never thought I could.  It also prepared me for the challenges I faced during the marathon.  

So here I am getting back in the groove.  Showing up again and again even though it feels challenging.  I am pushing myself forward even when my breathe is labored and I am struggling.  It feels good to be back!  

the biggest lesson I learned this year

2014 was a monumental year for me.  A lot of my focus and dedication was on one massive goal - running the NYC Marathon.  This is something I never imagined I would be able to accomplish.  Running three miles was a challenge for me.  Running 26.2 felt nearly impossible.

So I started small with what I knew I could do.  On these smaller runs I challenged myself by finding the hills and struggling my way up them.  It wasn't always easy and I am sure it never looked pretty but I made it to the top, and each time I did my body was a little bit stronger.   

Then slowly I increased my mileage. Step by step and with each bump up I was in awe that I had did it and proud of myself for making it that far.  Three miles became five miles.  Five miles became ten miles.  Ten miles became 20 miles.  I couldn't believe it.  I was doing it.  I was actually doing it.  

Sometime between fighting myself to run just three miles and still standing and smiling at mile 15 I fell in love with running.  I was grateful for the time it gave me to be with my thoughts, lose myself, travel down roads I never knew existed, and experience cheers from complete strangers.  Training for the NYC Marathon shifted something in me that I didn't realize needed shifting.  

With each new run under my belt I felt stronger, braver, and more fierce.  I held pride in my heart for showing up even when I didn't want to.  I had set a goal for myself and I didn't give up on it, even when it was hard I kept on going.  

I learned that when I put my mind to something I can accomplish it.  
I learned that I have an enormous support system cheering me on each step of the way.  
I learned that it isn't always going to be easy.  
I learned that there will be days when I won't want to do it but then I will show up and be so glad that I did.
I learned that there is still opportunity to fall in love 
I learned that when I stay open I find my way.  

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to run the NYC Marathon. Grateful to those who inspired me to give it a try and to those who supported me along my journey.  I never thought that running would teach me so much, but it has and for that I am in awe.  ​

surviving post marathon

In the end of March this year I decided that I was going to run the NYC Marathon.  That was seven months ago.  Seven months of life changing dedication to one single thing.  My habits changed.  My conversations with others shifted.  Everything was focused around the marathon.  There was many times I had to say no to things I really wanted to say yes to simply because I had to run.  

As I type these words I am on the other side of that accomplishment.  The training has been done.  The race has been complete.  Where do I go from here?  How do I adjust to life that does not include hours and hours of marathon training?  What do I do with myself now?  

Having one lofty goal to concentrate on narrowed my focused.  It made me see that I can push myself towards one thing and make it happen.  Usually my mind is all over the place, jumping from one thing to the next.  Training made me hone in and stay on track.  It also made me realize how much stronger I am than I ever thought I was mentally.  

However, all of that is gone now.  I still desire to run but when I struggle up that hill I am no longer thinking; "you have to push yourself in order to prepare for the marathon."  Now it just another run.  The roads that I trained on are now just roads again. Before they were a glimmer of hope, a challenge. 

What is the next hill I want to climb?  What is the next journey that I want to take.  I know that I will never be complacent in this world.  I constantly must be pushing myself forward. Seeking out new challenges and discovering new things that bring joy to my life.  I never thought running would be a place of joy, but it has become that.  

Life after a marathon isn't easy.  I took a bath with epsom salts the day after to help heal my legs, but how do I heal this yearning in my heart that is sad that it is over?  I know that I must remember the way I felt.  The accomplishment.  The joy.  The pride.  Hold onto all of those feelings and bring them with me on my next challenge.  Because the roads of training aren't always filled those types of feelings.  

Today I am stepping into new territory.  Navigating a braver me.  Stronger. Ready to take on anything that comes my way.  

nyc marathon: a day i will never forget

When I told people I was running  the NYC Marathon they would ask me if I had a particular goal in mind.  I always answered the same way; I just want to finish smiling and standing up.  And I did just that, with my hands in the air filled with excitement.  

Running the NYC Marathon was one THE BEST days of my life.  I felt like the city was mine.  It was euphoric.  Everything fell into place perfectly even amongst high winds that were knocking me around as I made my way across the bridges.  

There are so many stories.  So many moments.  So many memories.  This day will forever be etched in my mind for so many reasons.  

As I sat on the couch that night after the race I was looking through my instagram feed and my sister Erika commented on one of my first running photos.  She said; "So amazing you get to see where you started and what you've accomplished today.  So awesome."  I love that she took me back to that moment.  The moment when three miles was a struggle and I had just conquered 26.2.  

There was months and months of training.  Miles and miles in the heat, in the cold,  in the rain, in the bright sunlight, and in the dark.  I ran through it all.  My mantra was; just show up.  And that is exactly what I did.  I showed up for each training run even if I didn't feel good, even if I didn't want to do it, even if I would rather have been doing something else.  I showed up.  

Three miles became six miles.  Six miles became ten miles.  Slowly it added up and before I knew it I was running 16, 18, and even 20 miles.  The words "I 'only' have to run 12 miles" came out of my mouth, and it didn't even shock me.  12 miles felt like a short run.  It was incredible.  

I did not do it alone.  Through all of my training I had people supporting me and cheering me on.  They gave me strength when I didn't have it and they believed in me when I doubted myself.  Without them I would not have been able to take on this crazy adventure.  

I am so grateful for the ones who were able to show up for the marathon.  Spending the entire day on the cold and windy streets of NYC.  They cheered with their whole hearts and gave me strength to keep on going.  Without them the race would have been a much different race.  They were amazing!!  

Each time I saw my cheering squad I was elated and had the biggest smile on my face.  I wrote on my wrist each mile I would see them at.  When I was struggling I looked down at those numbers and knew I just had to make it to that next mile.  Once I made it there and saw them all would be ok.  And it was.  

More stories will be coming as the week unfolds and I process the moments.  For now I am just basking in the glow.  I am still can't believe that I did it!  It seriously was THE BEST DAY EVER!

i close my eyes

Sometimes when I run I close my eyes
Sure it may not be the safest way,
but it helps me get up a steep hill or take that next step forward

I close my eyes and picture myself running the NYC Marathon
Surrounded by tall buildings
People running beside me
The cheers from the crowd
The tears welling up as each step takes me closer to the finish line

I close my eyes and picture each person I am running for
Those who have lost their battle with cancer, or those who are still fighting
Friends, loved ones, strangers
Their stories play on repeat in my mind
Each step I take, I take for them

I close my eyes and picture those who are supporting me on this journey
Cheering me on
Standing tall beside me
Encouraging me
Getting me one step closer to raising $3000 for the Sloan Memorial Hospital

I close my eyes and picture my friends and family
I can see them cheering 
I hear their clapping
It all feels so real
It is this vision that pushes me forward

I close my eyes and I continue on
Knowing that I am supported
Knowing that I am supporting others
Knowing that each dollar raised is important
As I get one step closer so does that day when we will be a world without cancer

This is why I have chosen to run the NYC Marathon with Fred's Team
To do what I can to help 
To raise awareness and funds
To support those who are fighting
And to get one step closer to finding a cure

If you are drawn to supporting me on this journey you can find my donation page HERE.  Each dollar makes a difference and no donation is to small.  When we join together we make big things happen.  Let's do this together!