The countdown to the NYC Marathon is on! There are 49 days left until Joseph runs across the 5 boroughs – 26.2 miles.I get tired just thinking about it. I am not a runner. I don’t get the whole runner’s high. I run 2 miles and I want to cry. I just came home from the gym and did 2 miles on the treadmill. And I’m trying really hard not to whine about it.
But Joseph likes running and it’s been his personal goal to run the marathon. He’s actually been training for it (on and off) over the last four years – somehow life has always gotten in the way of him running.
Earlier today he ran the NY Road Runners tune up race – 18 miles (3 times around Central Park). As I type this, he’s laying on the sofa watching the Giants, icing his legs.
I am so proud of him, seeing him work so hard to achieve this goal. And while I don’t understand the runner’s mentality – I want to be as supportive as possible. Especially since he’s been so supportive of me all these years.
Also Read: The Special Olympics Gave My Son The Opportunity To Be Brave
If there’s a special runner in your life – here are 7 ways you can support them while they train for the NYC marathon (or any race/marathon).
Give them guilt free time to train. Training can be intense and it takes time. Blocks of time. For us it’s meant sacrificing our weekend outings or cutting them short so that Joseph has time to run. It’s kind of tough since Joseph is the driver and I depend on him to take me out but so far we’ve managed.
Show up at the big race. Nothing says support like showing up. I will be there on the day of the NYC marathon cheering him on as he crosses the finish line!
Buy them things that will help their training. Training will put wear and tear on the body. Ask them if there’s anything specific that would make things easier for them – like KT Tape & Body Glide Balm. The KT Tape has been really helpful for Joseph. And the balm helps with chaffing – but vaseline works well too.
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Remind them to hydrate hydrate hydrate. Staying hydrated is super important. But sometimes it’s easy to forget. I keep water bottles in the fridge and I remind Joseph to drink up throughout the day.
Have a cool/ice bath waiting for them when they return. I always ask Joseph how long he’ll be out. Just as I think he’s about to come home, I fill the tub with cool water and cubes of ice to soothe his aching muscles.
Encourage them to go out and run on those days they don’t want to. After a long day of work sometimes the last thing Joseph wants to do is go out and run. Or he feels guilty about going out and leaving me to take care of things around the house. But I assure him that I’ll be fine and that I want him to run.
Give them time to recover after a long run. Give them to veg on the sofa or go to sleep early. Their bodies need to recuperate.
I’m not a runner but I know Joseph appreciates when Norrin and I join him on race days. Sometimes it’s nice for us to run as a family. And every so often, we do.
And for the BIG DAY: How to Cheer On & Feed Your NYC Marathon Runner
What kind of support would you want when training for a NYC Marathon?
Cheering for Joseph during the NYC Marathon as he runs by on 115th Street & 5th Avenue
My husband has been great this year about my training for the Philadelphia Marathon – he's had to get up earlier when our son wakes up before I get back (I was always the first person the kiddo saw in the morning before), sometimes I'm gone for 2+ hours at a time & then there's the time I need to shower & if it's a long-run day, to take a nap. And he has never complained. (As an aside, the first 2 or 3 miles of runs don't usually give you much of a high & are usually the hardest miles I run – try to train to get beyond 35 minutes – it might not stink so bad after that
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