You can do it! I've run 6, and I am not in nearly as good of shape as you. In a lot of ways you have been training because you take spin class and work out frequently. I imagine the accelerated training period will be really painful and you will curse yourself, Christy, mothers in countries with poor healthcare, and your trainer about 7 billion times a day BUT! You are stubborn, motivated, you care a lot, and you WANT to do this- so you will.

Marathoning is predominantly mental. You got this.

You can do it, dude!

Distance running is such a great way to zone the hell out. Good luck training in such a short amount of time. If you're barfing alot after your runs, you aren't doing it right. Learned that one the hard way.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I decided to the Breast Cancer 3-day next year (October 2011) so I understand the training part, but I gave myself a year. Well, mostly because A) I've never walked 20 miles in one day and B) I've never walked 60 miles in one weekend.

We can do this! GO DOOCE!

You will do great! I'll be there running my first full marathon! Take an ice bath after your long runs....it sounds awful, but it's so worth it.

Go, Heather! I live in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and we are the first neighborhood you hit after crossing the Verrazano Bridge. I'm there each year cheering--so I'll look for you all. Be strong!

You CAN do this. My 250 pound husband has run 3 (granted, none of them recent.) I'm sure you'll be the valedictorian of marathoning!

You are going to be the Valedictorian of marathon running lady!! You've got this & then some!!! Have a great run, a great time, and good luck with the fundraising!

My husband has run 3 or so marathons. He ran the Chicago Marathon twice and I assume it's similar to the NYC in that there's going to be a butt-load of people cheering from the sidelines. They'll keep you going. That's the reason he loves to run marathons. Just the cheering and the adrenalin and the experience. You'll make it and probably do better than you think. If he can do it (and mind you he was out of shape and trained minimally whereas you are completely in shape and will train more than he did) you'll be great! Also, he never pooped his pants. My brother pulled himself over to the side to poop once (in a woods) but they've got tons of port-a-johns right after you start running so you'll be able to drop a load if needed. I don't foresee you loosing your bodily functions. Break a leg!

When I was pregnant I had a woman tell me that she had run a marathon and had a natural child birth, the natural child birth was easier...

Running my first 1/2 marathon at the end of October. We can both do it.

Good luck!

I have run 4 marathons, 3 half-marathons, and 2 half ironman races in the last in the last two and a half years. At the end of each of those races I have cried. I find proving to myself that I can do it (and maybe even being able to improve my PR)is a very emotional experience. I can only imagine that running for such a great cause will make the event even more meaningful.

Good Luck!

I really wanted to post some sort of snarky comment about continuing to make the rest of look lame compared to your awesomeness, & your whole, "I must bring social awareness & peace to the world!" mission, but instead I'll just say, DAMN, WOMAN. Good job. Thank you for doing what many of us feel we can't accomplish, & for proving that YES WE CAN. Money has been donated in my daughter's name to your team :)

Seeing the strengh in others has a tendency to propel one's own ass into gear.....not that I'm going to go out & sign up for a marathon, oh HELL NO, but I guarantee you I will finish today believing I'm capable of doing something I didn't think I would have the personal strength or conviction to do. It's big, and it will forever change my & my daughter's life.

And now that I've said I'm going to do it in front of your entire (comment reading) audience, I can't NOT do it.

I will keep you posted.....

FUCK YEAH!

Whenever I'm coming back from a running lull and have to get back in shape a bit, I get a song in my head when I start to get tired, and turn myself into a choo choo train.

Let me try to explain this further...
The song acts as kind of an engine. I hear it in my head, and match my feet hitting the pavement to the beat of the song, and match my breathing to the lyrics. One thing propels the other. The Strokes work well for this!

Also (and this will serve your valedictorian personality well), I played lacrosse in high school, and a few times a week we would have to do 5-6 mile runs. If I ever found myself wanting to stop, I would pick someone a few yards ahead and tell myself "Just catch up to Kate" or whoever, and then match her pace.

So in your case, I guess this would be "Just catch up to Dude with Wedgie" or "Lady with Sweat Stain that looks like Bob Barker," etc.

Also, congrats on the EMC posish!

I ran this race last year and it was incredible. The crowds are incredible and will pull you through. As I rounded a corner about 5K away from the finish line I was faced with about a 500 meter uphill climb I stopped in the middle of the road and burst into tears. A woman jumped out of the crowd and yelled at the top of her lungs "WIPE THOSE TEARS AWAY JENN (my name was on my bib). YOU OWN THIS RACE, GET RUNNING". I owe my finish to her.
Good Luck Heather! Can't wait to read all about your experience.
PS - beware of the bridges

This year, I decided to run a marathon-and-a-half: 39.3 miles in my 39th year. I didn't have a ton of time to train, but I followed Jeff Galloways run/walk system and I was able to do it. I trained in 3 months.

The philosophy is simple: build walk breaks into your running to increase stamina. But the difference this made for me MENTALLY was invaluable. I ran for 5 minutes, then walked for 60 seconds for 39 miles. I wore a walk/run timer. When my whole body was in revolt, I could say "I can do this for five minutes. I can do anything for five minutes... I have 2 more minutes, two minutes is nothing." Then I'd walk for a minute when I could do my relaxation breathing (or take a drink, pee, eat some glucose). Once I hit a good rhythm, it was like a meditation.

This method is tough if you're trying to stay with a group, but here is my advice: DON'T TRY TO STICK WITH A GROUP. Like labor, you need to go to a very quiet place inside of yourself where you can listen to your body, find your pace, and go. I find that running with others (unless they're my support buddy, following my pace) can cause me to run too fast or too slowly.

Also- I am prone to 'trots' so I take an Immodium about an hour before the start, and again at the halfway point.

What you're doing is really amazing.