As I am writing, I can’t help but think that next week at this time I will be in Staten Island anxiously and excitedly awaiting the start of the New York City Marathon. It will be my 14th New York City Marathon since 1996. I have to finish two more by 2015 to get guaranteed entry for life. So, you know where I will be next year, too, I hope! The New York Marathon is one of my favorite things to do and I guess it has become a tradition.
Since we moved to Chicago, we have been hosting a party for the husband’s birthday (which was last night). I like to joke that it is the same party every year and people even ask what day “[the husband’s] party” will be. I suggested a change of venue, size or theme and he simply said (with the cutest expression on his face), “people like ‘my party’.” And he loves it, so it is all good. And it is pretty easy for me as the formula is set. This year’s party was a great success with friends old and new. And, we are really grateful to have such good friends here in Chicago after only seven years here. All that was missing was our friends and family from the east and west coasts (and other places in between.) When I was joking that we never change anything in our apartment/years, the husband said that he “liked his life and was very content – is that so bad?” No, in fact, it is awesome. Here is to many more years of his party, traditions and contentedness. That said, I am still planning to change up a few small decorating things in the year ahead. [Sorry, hon.]
As I said, I have run the NYC marathon 13 times. I still get nervous and I am still a bit superstitious. As I have mentioned, I changed my diet a few months ago and eliminated wheat, dairy and eggs. I tested all of these foods to reintroduce them into my diet. I felt great and made it through the 80 some days without to much trouble. It was supposed to be 90, but I didn’t want to get so close to the marathon! I didn’t have a super strong reaction to any of the foods I added back except milk. Milk made me itchy and made my nose run, etc. Wheat made me a bit foggy. I am adding wheat and eggs back (in lesser quantities than I used to eat), but will have dairy only infrequently. The cleaner diet (except the candy corn – ha ha) has made me feel a lot better. I am not sure if it was the elimination per se that helped, but the awareness of these ingredients in EVERYTHING caused me to be more aware of what I was eating and really limited the amount of processed foods I ate. I also found a ton of new healthy snacks and food options from awesome vendors. I have highlighted many of them here and have a bunch more great giveaways (ongoing and) coming up – so stay tuned!
So back to the superstition regarding the marathon, I have eaten pretty much the same thing before all of my NYC marathons: Powerbars. The retro ones in the gold wrappers. Chocolate or Peanut Butter. I have never had any stomach issues or “bonked” from nutrition issues (just from running too fast in the front half but that is a story for another day.) Now I am wondering if I should stick to my usual NYC plans – clothes, rituals and food or trust my training and go with one of the newer cleaner, more natural (and dairy free) options that I have been using in my training and half marathons this year. It is tempting to be superstitious – or just to rely on traditions/what worked in the past. I am a bit torn but am leaning toward bucking the tradition this year.
Do you have traditions and superstitions that stick with you? Do they make you happy or do they make you long for a change? And an important question for runners – stick with time tested Powerbars or get into the 2010s with something better?
PS. Don’t forget my “Not Your Standard Energy Bar” and my Sony Sports MP3 Player giveaways, too! And, if you really want to win a Sony Sport MP3 Player, Kelly is giving one away, too!