Women Who Travel Podcast: An Extreme Runner on Tackling Mountain Trails in Bhutan, New Zealand, and More

I’d do lengthy runs with my sister or with different mates who’re working. My associate additionally ran, so we’d rise up at 6:00 AM and get in our miles earlier than work. And my sister and I have been on trip in Canada and went out and ran a half marathon, as a result of that was- we have been at that time in our coaching the place that is how lengthy we needed to run. And so by the point the day got here, I felt like I nearly had a private de-transplant of, like, simply this being this big a part of my life. After which on the really day, I believe I knew what to anticipate, however it- it’s- it… I believe it might blow anybody away.

You are taking the ferry to Staten Island, the place you are with all the opposite runners. Uh, you go over to this camp, the place they’re giving out bagels, entire bagels, that individuals are shoving of their mouths to carb load earlier than they run. And- and also you’re ready in your time and everybody’s sitting on the bottom, stretching. And I believe simply the chatter you hear in that course of additionally assist me understand how large this was. I wasn’t there only for the working; I used to be there for the expertise, and it appeared actually clear I’d get such an expertise. It is loopy. Instantly, it is your time and so they name out your begin time and, you already know, I used to be within the final wave as a result of, after all, I anticipated my ending time can be fairly lengthy and I used to be very nice with that. I simply wished to get to the top. And also you’re simply standing with all these individuals and so they… When you get type of within the crowd, they’ve a bit the place they shut you off.

You already know, we have been standing on the Verrazzano Bride in Staten Island, which usually you may solely drive over and I’ve pushed over lots over occasions. It is simply very surreal at the start as a result of there is not any crowds once you begin on the bridge, so you may actually simply, like… You have got this second to- to appreciate that, “Okay, this factor is going on.” Like, “I am in the beginning of a protracted day of one thing I’ve by no means skilled.” You already know, if you happen to’re a primary time runner like I used to be, you begin on the bridge. I imply, there’s different runners and a few individuals are type of, like, whooping and hollering and- and getting everybody excited. However then you- you enter Brooklyn and it is identical to… It’s a get together. There’s individuals, there are children with indicators which can be like, “We love the runners.” There are individuals holding out cups of Gatorade. There are, you already know, grandmas shaking cowbells and there are bands exterior of gasoline stations which can be, you already know, with some a- promoting banner, after all.

For the remaining 26.2 miles, there was by no means a block the place there weren’t individuals cheering for us. And, like, each time I’d really feel drained, I’d run to the facet, you already know, you- you are… The streets are closed, so there is a vast area. I would go to the sideway the place individuals have been and I’d simply hear all these strangers, like, trying within the eye and be like, “Come on, Megan.” And it is unimaginable. Like, it is emotional to even take into consideration, as a result of I believe it is such a cool expertise. I ended up working for 4 hours and, I believe, 43 minutes, which is definitely quicker than I excepted. I believed I’d take lots longer, however that’s a very long time to be doing one factor. Nevertheless it feels such as you’re type of simply watching a film of the town popping out within the greatest approach it may well. At- at sure factors, the crowds are, like, 10 individuals deep. And what struck me throughout it was trying round, appreciating, like, the individuals who got here out to cheer us on a lot, as a result of it- it assist me neglect that I used to be working, proper? It assist me neglect that, like, like… I used to be beginning to get a ache within the arch of my left foot or, like, I had a facet ache for some time ‘trigger I drank a lot water, as a result of it was the most well liked marathon day on document, I imagine.