 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
WEEK of NOVEMBER 17, 2003 |
|
BFS Staffers/NYC Marathoners: by Jeffrey Stanley Head of Lower School Jackie Condie and 4th grade teacher Emily Zucal both ran the grueling 26.2-mile New York City Marathon on November 2nd, and still managed to show up for work fresh as daisies Monday morning. “I ran a marathon 17 years ago, but last Sunday felt like the first time,” says Condie (left in photo). “I've always been a very casual runner—you know, go out for a two mile jog every once in awhile. I started officially training for the marathon June 30th.” The more seasoned Zucal has run four marathons to date, and this was her second New York City marathon, which snakes through all five boroughs, beginning on Staten Island and ending in Central Park. For her, running year-round and training for marathons gives her an athletic outlet to replace that which she lost after graduating from college. “I played team sports—field hockey and lacrosse. After college, though, there wasn't really an avenue for me to continue my athletic career. To fill the void, I started running. And I haven’t stopped!” Condie is more droll in defining her decision to try long-distance running after a 17-year break. “Stupidity?” However, she quickly points out, “There is something to setting a goal for yourself: making exercise more purposeful, accomplishing something really difficult, turning 40 plus. These are some of the reasons I ran.” She says her biggest challenge during the run was “just to keep going at various points when you really want to stop. The whole event was fun-slash-torture.” Zucal’s biggest challenge was “finding the time to train. It’s a huge time commitment not only to run the marathon, but finding the time to get ready for it.” Although the two women ran alone, they did spend time together early Sunday morning while the crowd of some 30,000 runners massed at the starting point on Staten Island. “Emily actually inspired me to enter the lottery last May,” says Condie. “As I was interviewing her for the 4th grade position we got to talking about running and the fact that she had run a few marathons. I told her that I had a secret desire to run the marathon, but I was not in shape at all. She told me I had plenty of time to train, so on a whim I entered the marathon lottery and got in! I do have to say I was a little overwhelmed,” she says, adding wryly that “now I really had to commit to this foolish idea.” But having indeed carried out that idea, “I think I might do it again.” “I’ll do it again,” says Zucal. “I’m already training for next year’s marathon, and I’m planning on running the Long Island Marathon again in May.” Her advice to anyone thinking of trying the marathon for the first time? “Get good shoes!” |
||
|
home
| site map |
contact BFS
|
||
