Just Do It Anyway

My half-marathon was called off, but my run was still on

Last Sunday, I ran a race in Central Park called the Doing It Anyway Half-Marathon. There were no mile markers, water stations or spectators. No souvenir t-shirts or medals. No volunteers handing out post-race bagels. And there was only one participant — me. In all the years I’ve been running competitively, it was hands down the least remarkable event I’ve ever participated in and one of the most meaningful.

I’ve been a member of New York Road Runners for more than two decades. I’ve completed 193 races, logging 1288.8 miles. Among my favorites are the 10K Mini-Marathon, the world’s original women-only road race; the Retro Run, where participants are encouraged to bust out their tie-dye, sweatbands, and short-shorts, and, of course, the crown jewel, the New York City Marathon.

Over the years, I’ve run in snow, rain, heat, and at midnight on New Year’s Eve. I’ve run on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and with a baby in my belly. I’ve run to raise money for healthy kidneys, lungs, and brains. In 2013, in the first race following the Boston Marathon bombing, I wore a back bib that said “I run for Boston”. Two years later, I wore an equals sign sticker on my shirt during the LGBT Pride Run, which was the day after the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage would be legal in all 50 states.