Why We Run: By Ron Acquavita
Our latest "In Their Own Words" submissions were written by four members of "Team Autism Speaks", recounting their experiences with the NYC Marathon and telling why they run to promote autism awareness and fundraising.
Read more and view photos and video from the Marathon here.
Donate to "Team Autism Speaks" here.
Our latest "In Their Own Words" submissions were written by four members of "Team Autism Speaks", recounting their experiences with the NYC Marathon and telling why they run to promote autism awareness and fundraising.
Read more and view photos and video from the Marathon here.
Donate to "Team Autism Speaks" here.
New York City has a lot to offer, as there is an almost never-ending variety of sights and sounds and things to do. Visitors spend countless days just drinking it in. However, if you are a native New Yorker, the ultimate New York experience has to be running the New York City Marathon. When the cannon fires and Frank Sinatra starts singing “New York, New York” as you head for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, it's just an indescribable moment - the entire city is yours for a day.
It's very emotional for me all along the way. I was born in Brooklyn, lived in Queens and now live in Manhattan. New Yorkers are very loyal to our city. This is now my second time running and I seriously don't think I can stop. Oh and by the way, if you'd like to get this feeling, or something similar, all you have to do is run 26.2 miles.
I've been running for about 10 years, having transitioned from long-distance biking, and had been threatening to run the Marathon for a few years. Last year I finally committed and made it an even more special undertaking by joining the Autism Speaks team.
I'm sure I don't need to remind the team about all of the stepped up training, the heat, the rain, the darkness and the pain and soreness. All of the days that we love to hate - they all pay off big time in the end.
I've come to see that running is a very Zen thing. It is, of course, very physical, but it's more mental (especially at mile 22). It's you against you. And you say to yourself, how far you are willing to push it? I stand at the finish line and look back at where I started and think, how did I do that? It's an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment.
It's been a pleasure to run with the Autism Speaks team twice now and to make my small contribution to such a worthy cause. Having said that, I will leave you with what keeps me going on the long runs: “Your life is defined by what you do, not what you say, and conquering yourself and your perceived limitations is the greatest achievement.”
It's very emotional for me all along the way. I was born in Brooklyn, lived in Queens and now live in Manhattan. New Yorkers are very loyal to our city. This is now my second time running and I seriously don't think I can stop. Oh and by the way, if you'd like to get this feeling, or something similar, all you have to do is run 26.2 miles.
I've been running for about 10 years, having transitioned from long-distance biking, and had been threatening to run the Marathon for a few years. Last year I finally committed and made it an even more special undertaking by joining the Autism Speaks team.
I'm sure I don't need to remind the team about all of the stepped up training, the heat, the rain, the darkness and the pain and soreness. All of the days that we love to hate - they all pay off big time in the end.
I've come to see that running is a very Zen thing. It is, of course, very physical, but it's more mental (especially at mile 22). It's you against you. And you say to yourself, how far you are willing to push it? I stand at the finish line and look back at where I started and think, how did I do that? It's an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment.
It's been a pleasure to run with the Autism Speaks team twice now and to make my small contribution to such a worthy cause. Having said that, I will leave you with what keeps me going on the long runs: “Your life is defined by what you do, not what you say, and conquering yourself and your perceived limitations is the greatest achievement.”
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