Ten years ago, I started my running journey off a bet. Although I had jogged occasionally during my time as a student in Kansas City and a few years prior while living in Harlem, June 2014 marks my beginning. While I wrote about my running origins a few years ago on my Musings blog, I truly had no idea what this would morph into when starting out. I learned more about the sport than I bargained for at times; experiencing many ups-and-downs along the way. Moving ahead, I progressed from a 5:18 to a 4:46 road mile, a 16:41 to a 16:26 road 5k, a 1:29 to a 1:13 half marathon and a 3:14 marathon in San Francisco (hills!) to a 2:45 in NYC. I’ve also made the podium at races and have won numerous age group awards. At the age of 37, I definitely don’t feel like my best years are behind me. Like in music, I needed to see the fuller picture of possibilities while studying theory to make sense of what I aimed to create and play. I also need the time to devote to training. I plan to increase training capacity in 2025.
My first marathon in San Francisco, CA (2015)
I view my running journey in three parts: improving rapidly at the beginning (2014 – 2017) to plateauing and experiencing subpar races (2018 – 2019). I’m currently in my renewal process (2021 – ). Truthfully, three years in the beginning wasn’t enough time to gain experience and assimilate knowledge, especially when starting from scratch. After all, learning a new skill and finding the correct information to improve takes time. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. God’s will, I can use what I’ve learned throughout my experience to help others. Moreover, I would not trade the knowledge and insight I’ve gained over a quick and easy path to success. After all, development isn’t linear.
The NYRR Scotland 10K Run (2016)
The running landscape has gone through many changes during my first decade participating in the sport. When I started, Meb Keflezighi had just won Boston. Every serious runner in NYC knew of the Bronx-based Ethiopian runner, Buzunesh Deba. The BAA officially awarded her the 2014 Boston Marathon win later on after Rita Jeptoo’s doping ban. Only people who seriously followed the sport knew about Eliud Kipchoge. West Side Runner’s Ethiopian squad dominated all the NYRR races. My journey began three years shy of super shoes arriving on the scene. Yes, people still debate the legitimacy of wearing them! Fortunately, most brands have caught up to level out the playing field, even though some athletes respond better than others while wearing them. My take? No shortcuts exist in running—whether investing in a pair or not, people should know how to run with proper form while taking the precautions to avoid injury.
My 2nd Marathon and First BQ: The Colorado Marathon in Fort Collins (2016)
Training partners come and go. The landscape post-covid changed a little bit, too. However, running remains the same. It provides an outlet to escape from all the noise in the world today. What initially started as a way to escape from working 6-10 hours on music morphed into another side of self-discovery for me in a different discipline. I studied the sport and became well informed about the physiology and the mechanics of running. Through experience and realization over time, I’ve managed to keep improving while staying healthy. It’s my knowledge, patience, experience and self-belief that inspires my confidence to keep moving.
NYRR Team Championship 5 Mile (2017)
Having run well over 22,500 miles thus far, I’ve learned a lot cycling through the running gait on the streets of New York City—often times listening to the music I’ve needed to learn for gigs. I perfected my running stroller technique for six years. Usually runs dealt with the unpleasant NY headwinds during the winter while Axel or Zoe took naps comfortably. On a side note, yay for universal 3k starting this September! I learned the importance of hip extension and the difference between active and passive biomechanics. I figured out how to strengthen my body to handle the demands of running faster. More force (higher speeds) needs more stability! Fortunately, I count only three minor hiccups with injury in my ten-year journey. None from 2020 to the present!
The 2023 New York City Marathon
My mindset has changed as I’ve progressed in my training and racing abilities. I enact many little details to achieve the end goal of reaching my potential as a runner. I know the pathway to success involves showing up. Moreover, a successful training program that yields strong performances balances stress and recovery, which leads to adaptation. Instead of hitting a mileage quota, I analyze strengths and weaknesses. I look at the components I need to develop in my athletic endeavors and maintain them over time. Furthermore, taking the time to mentally prepare for a workout will elicit confidence in a race.
My latest race: The 2024 RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon
I approach training objectively while not purposefully trying to impress people by running at a certain pace. I’ve reached this same maturity with music. As I’ve matured and gained more experience, I feel the need to play less for show and more for the quality of the music. I remain young in my mind as I continue my journey. I plan to use my previous experiences and growth to springboard into becoming a fast and competitive masters athlete when I turn 40. In the meantime, the goal is to improve some areas that will result in bettering my times from the mile to the marathon distance. Here is to the next ten years.
