Half-Marathon Training Continues

By Diana Williams

We ran the loop in Central park Tuesday night. The picture on our Web site shows us after our six-mile jaunt. Lori Schulweis, Tara Zimmerman and I are all running about the same pace, which puts us two steps ahead of a tortise. Our goal isn't speed. It's just to finish the race, and we are feeling pretty confident we can do that. We have all run at least one long run, and now we are shortening our distance, while increasing our speed. It does get a bit maddening when everyone running in the park keeps passing us. The only people we jog past are those who are walking. 

I said yesterday that I was almost sidelined from the More Magazine Half Marathon. It's funny how getting into shape can throw a body out of whack. After a month of running, I began to have excruciating pain. I ended up needing surgery for what turned out to be endometriosis.

I was off my feet for a full week, but back up and running 13 days later. It took me a while to get back on track, and I will probably finish slower because of the surgery, but I'm glad to have it out of the way and to be back in good health.

Speaking of good health, I interviewed legendary Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter today about his battle with cancer. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. He writes about it in a new book, and his advice applies as much to cancer as it does to our race. He quotes Winston Churchill who said, "Never give in." It's the title of his book, and I'm sure that thought will come in handy as we hit the hills in Central Park on race day.