August 2011: I took my first @instagram photo of the race bib for my very first 5k.

March 2013: I’ll run my third 5k and third @nyrr race of 2013 (with 6+ more to go this year!)

#WHPfirstphotoredo #running #nyrr #coogans5k

I’m kind of a big deal.

One more then I’ll go back to flooding your feed with food pics!

#running #nyrr #nyc #superbowl #niners #49ers #gridironclassic (at The Snakehole Lounge)

Post-race bagels done right!
#running #nyrr #nyc #astoria (at Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co.)

SUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAY!!
#running #nyc #nyrr

I am very happy to announce that I will be running my first half marathon ever! The 2013 More/Fitness Women’s Half Marathon will take place in Central Park on April 14th. YAY! I am nervous but extremely excited.

This being my first half, I wanted to participate fully in all aspects of the race, including fundraising. While there is no requirement for it for this race, participants still have an opportunity to support a charity if we so desire.

Often times with these sorts of events, the organizations that are chosen are large, national, easily recognizable (and research-able) entities like the American Red Cross or Feeding America. This race’s preferred charity, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, while perhaps lesser-known, is actually one I had come across a few months ago while watching an episode of “CBS Sunday Morning.” I immediately fell in love with their story and their work.

Founded in 1988 by the late Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is dedicated to providing “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families throughout the Northeast, free of charge. The Camp helps children battling cancer, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDs and other serious illnesses to fight isolation and fear with fun, friendship and joy.

The Camp served 288 children in its first summer. In 2013, through Camp programs, year-round outreach to hospitals and clinics and ongoing services, the Camp will serve more than 20,000 children and families thanks to the generosity of friends like you. (While they do received a small portion of their operating budget from the Newman’s Own Foundation, they still need community support to keep their services free.)

I have until April 1st to reach my initial fundraising goal of $500, and if you could toss in a few pennies, I’d greatly appreciate it! (Of course it’s okay if you can’t!) I promise I won’t bug you for race donations again…until 2014 when I run the NYC/ING Marathon. :)

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

> Donate Here Please and Thank You <

PS Full disclosure: I recently found out that if I get all the way to $2500, I get a complimentary yoga stretch class with Hilaria Thomas Baldwin (aka Alec Baldwin’s wife)!! LET’S MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY!

So, I’ve started training again and have set “running in the NYC/ING marathon” as a goal for myself in 2014. Why 2014? Well…

1. The NY Road Runners 9+1 rule: run nine qualifying, scored races with them AND volunteer once or donate $1000 during the calendar year, and you’ll qualify to run in the following calendar year’s ING. I missed the 2012 deadline, and I don’t think my body is in good enough shape to start running a lot of long-distance races just yet. So, I would join by next January; run in nine races in 2013 (and volunteer/donate); and then qualify for the 2014 race. (See how that works?)
2. Also, I’ll have turned 30 that July (wow, that’s scary to see typed out), and I, like so many before me, would like to be able to say I’ve accomplished something as big as a marathon as I enter into my fourth decade.

My question to all, oh, 20 followers I have on tumblr/twitter: Is there a better way to go about qualifying for the ING? I like the idea of having something/someone pushing me to run regularly, and I don’t really want to leave my entry up to chance. What are people’s thoughts on NYRR?