948km to NYC

I’m five days out from the NYC Marathon.  As you can imagine, it’s on my mind a lot right now.  My friend Michaela and I began tossing around the idea of running New York a few years ago, and after a couple of failed attempts (Then the Wheels Came Off) at meeting the qualification standard (the only way to guarantee that we would both be accepted into the race on the same year), I met the standard in Mississauga in May 2018.

This dream has been a long time coming.

Here’s what my physical journey has looked like since my training “officially” kicked off on June 20th, more than four months ago:

  • 948km running
  • 77 runs
  • 13 one-on-one Pilates classes
  • 11 hot yoga classes
  • 10 Crossfit classes

I feel ready.  I don’t feel the “fear” that I often feel about an upcoming race.  I’m not scared of the challenge, I’m not afraid of the pain, I’m not worried about the event.  I AM EXCITED.  I am looking forward to soaking it all in and experiencing the famous roar of the 1 million spectators that line the route, the energy of Brooklyn, the deafening silence of the Queensboro Bridge, and the 5.5km of rolling hills in Central Park to finish.

If you want to follow along on Sunday morning, download the NYC Marathon app (iPhone or Android) and search “Ashley Worobec” in the athlete tracking section.  If you allow push notifications, it will alert you at checkpoints along the course as I progress through 42.2km of NYC streets.  My start time is 9:40am.

And above all, THANK YOU for your support thus far.  It takes a village, and you’ve all been a part of my village.

marathon app logo


@thisismymarathonlife

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

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.

131It’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.