As most of you know, I’m running in the New York City marathon on November 3rd.

It took me a few tries to qualify for this prestigious event (Then the Wheels Came Off), but I managed to meet the time standard last Spring at the Mississauga half marathon (Race Report and Reflection).  This has allowed me to bypass the general lottery system that New York implements to meet the huge demand for their race, and I’m grateful for an automatic entry.

But I haven’t run a full marathon in 12 years.

Two kids, a husband, a business, and a very busy life, are going to make this training plan feel very different than it did for 27-year-old me.  I turn 40 this year, and what better way to celebrate than to challenge my limits again and run in one of the biggest races in the world.  I have several friends and training partners running in this race too, and I can’t wait to be side by side with my dear friend Michaela, who will be running in her first marathon (21.1kms of Friendship).

• Are you interested in seeing what’s involved in marathon training?
• Have you ever wondered how someone can run 42.2km?
• Would you like to see how I balance it all?

Many of you have asked me questions like this over the years, so I started a shiny new Instagram account to show you exactly how I’m going about this.  You’ll see my workouts, my paces, what I eat, when I go to bed, and how I recover.  I’ll show you the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, and the highs and lows of the next 19 weeks.

It’s 131 days until I toe the line on Staten Island and cross that finish line in Central Park.

Come along for the ride: follow me @thisismymarathonlife.