UPDATE #2

“There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” – Bruce Lee

And here I go beyond the plateau…

A few months ago, I ran a half marathon at Rutgers University and finished in 2.5 hrs with an 11:32 pace. Not bad for a gal who walked more than she ran. Did I mention that it was cold and rainy? I’m hoping for blue skies in November and if I stick to running for 3 min then walking for 1 min, I may have a shot at finishing before sunset. Training is also less stressful since I’ve moved out of NYC and into suburbia. I don’t have to worry about weaving in and out of people, strollers, vehicles, lights, bikers, and rats. I won’t be distracted by pinkberry, halal trucks and all the other yummy food places anymore. My goal is to cross the finish line in central park on November 4th, holding an ice cold beer bottle or flask of whiskey.

In all seriousness, I’d like to just finish the marathon alive and in one piece. I would also like to pay it forward by raising at least $5k for the Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation. I'm very grateful for the continued support from my amazing friends, family and colleagues. Thank you so much for your donations!

Hwaiting/fighting! (Korean expression for support) 

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UPDATE #1

I will be running (more like speed walking) in the 2012 ING NYC Marathon on November 4. I qualified via lottery and don’t know what possessed me to enter in the first place-maybe I was testing my luck and well, I guess I’m lucky. [insert sad face here]

I know it will take me at least 4 hours to cross the Verrazano Bridge and another 5 hours to cross the finish line. I’m hoping that by repeating the words “you are lucky to be loved by friends and family, healthy and still living” over and over again, this will motivate me from not keeling over at mile 2.

Motivation is important to running in marathons but so is being inspired.  I’ve decided to run for the Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation (CCBF), a foundation dedicated to helping children who suffer from cancers and blood diseases.  I’ve been inspired by the tremendous amount of dedication and work the foundation has done and if anyone knows me, they know my love for kids is immeasurable. I’ll do what I can to help relieve their sufferings, be it from illness, poverty, or hunger.

Donate now to support the cause and please keep me in your thoughts as I crawl across the finish line in November.

Yours truly,

Elle Choi

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.... Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." – Helen Keller on fear

"Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus