Karen Crawshaw's Marathon Mission

WOOHOO THIS IS IT! TOMORROW I'M ON THE START LINE...YAAAAY IT'S NEW YORK BABY!!!

On Sunday 3 November I'm running the New York City Marathon. It's a bit of a big deal.

Not just because it's far, but because I haven't run 42.195km before and I have expectations of actually crossing the finish line. Not hanging onto a barrier on the side of the road with my legs all giving in behind me, like a first-time ice skater. I want to finish to meet the goal I set for myself a year ago.

I want to finish for other reasons too. I'm running for people who for any reason, not just heart-related, can't run. I'm running for Anna Mardon who came to NYC last year but got temporarily blown off course by Hurricane Sandy. I run in thanks to Anna who inspired me to want to take on the NYC Marathon in the first place, and to run half marathons in training. I run in thanks to Carolyn Enting who also ran a half marathon and got me thinking about doing one.

I run in thanks to Mark who has supported me every joyous and gnarly step of the way throughout 2013, a true champion and a rare gem of a human being. I run in thanks to my awesome family for supporting me always and for the funny stories they can't help but tell! I run in thanks to Mark's family who have backed me throughout my fundraising journey. Massive snaps go to Kellie Winter, who gave freely of her time and expertise organising the trivia nights, and who brought her family and friends to every event. I run in thanks to a grand and beautifully varied cast of friends who have given such wonderful support, both financial and emotional, and laughs. I run in thanks to the friends of friends who donated to this fundraising page because they wanted to help the Heart Foundation and were optimistic enough to think I would cross the finish line upright without blowing a gasket. Bless them! xo

I'm running to keep the kilos from piling on to my frame in New York City, where life throbs and bedazzles, and you can get a banana and peanut butter smoothie on almond milk for breakfast followed by a California sun cake which is really a hockey puck of several flours, which plonks in your gut and goes straight to your butt if you don't get up off it.

I'm running the New York City Marathon because I wanted to set a goal bigger than I was, that planted fear in my belly, and achieve it.

I'm running the New York City Marathon to raise much needed ka-ching for the Heart Foundation. That's 42.195km of sightseeing on foot from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan.

http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/images/pdf/INGNYCM13_Course_Map_ForWeb.pdf

It was my dream to be in New York when I turned 40. Last year I thought about signing up for a running event while I was there, maybe even training up to a half marathon, way outside my scope and experience. Then there was a moment when I thought, if I can train for a half marathon, I'm going to give the full Monty a go. I had nothing to go on, no idea how I would do it, just that I wanted to give running a marathon a rip.

Now the day will be be even more poignant, as my family's close friend passed away from a heart attack suddenly last Thursday. I can't yet accept that he is gone. I'm going to have up to five hours to think about it.

Looking back over the past year I've transformed from training for a 7km run to getting ready to run six times that distance. After three half marathons this year I still don't think of myself as a distance runner. It's as much a journey of the mind as the body. I look at photos every now and then when I need to relate to what I'm doing.

Canberra Half Marathon, April 2013

Husky Half Marathon, September 2013

Thanks to the generosity of my family and friends my $7500.00 fundraising target has been met. You guys absolutely rock!

What's all the fundraising about then?

As you read, victims of heart failure are being trucked to hospital under lights and sirens, and trolleyed into theatre. Their lives hang in the balance and there are no guarantees. Doctors and nurses will do all they can to keep their hearts pumping another day. Some will make it. Some won't.

I will push physical boundaries to finish the New York City Marathon. It won't tickle. But people with heart problems have to survive another minute, another day, their lives in the hands of others. Which is why I'm busting my book-reading butt around the city that never sleeps to raise money and awareness for this cause.

We Aussies have got to become better educated about heart attacks. They are as common as water in our country and many are preventable; we just have to know how.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Australian women. Nearly three times more women die from heart disease than breast cancer. On average it kills almost 9,708 women each year or 27 women every day.

Every day, 98 Australian men have a heart attack; one in seven of these men will die.

More than 30% of childhood deaths are caused by heart disease. It kills more Australian children than all other childhood diseases combined. These kids don't even have the chance to grow up and experience the world.

How you can help:

Be healthy - prioritise looking after yourself. Your life is worth it! It doesn't mean going without, or radically changing your lifestyle, it means finding balance. Just by doing this you help others. People are influenced by those they keep company with. Eat mostly proper food that looks like where it came from, be active and take a break from situations and people that cause you stress.

Be educated. Hop onto the Heart Foundation website and commit to learning a handful of simple facts that will see you heading towards a healthier future. You have the right to be healthy, to look good and to feel good! It's worth it: laziness and "I can't be bothered" catches up with you. Who wants to spend time in hospital if they can help it? Nobody! www.heartfoundation.org.au.

Make a donation to the Heart Foundation of any size. Donating via this webpage is taking action and making positive change

The Heart Foundation website has easy-to-follow information including activity suggestions, recipes, tips for parents and survivors' stories. There's also a heart attack fact sheet with warning signs, and an action plan available in 10 languages: http://www.heartattackfacts.org.au.

Supporting the Heart Foundation helps save lives.

* $580 raised at the Valentine's Day Bake Sale at work, with the help of awesome people who baked generously and well

Heart Foundation recipe: Chilli Soy Roasted Nuts / Low Fat Cupcakes

* $640 raised by the generous punters at the Gladesville Sporties Trivia and Games night - Saturday 16 March

* $625 raised by the generous punters at The Crest Hotel Sylvania Triva and Games night - Saturday 20 April

* $485 raised as we ate our way through Cabramatta on the Foodie Walking Tour - Saturday 21 September

Thank you very much for your support! It all counts and it's all appreciated.   

My Facebook Page - NYC Marathon for the Heart Foundation

https://www.facebook.com/pages/2013-NYC-Marathon-for-the-Heart-Foundation/437693782975870?ref=tn_tnmn

My marathon blog

I'm blogging about learning to become a marathon runner at http://karencrawshawmarathon.blogspot.com.au. Thank you for taking the time to check it out. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Thank you again for your support for the Heart Foundation. You are making a real difference.

Karen