Finding My Legs Again in Tokyo

MARY BETH EZRA

On Sunday March 3, I joyfully ran-walked the Tokyo Marathon, earning my fifth star 🌟 in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series. I’m not typically a run-walker, so let me explain how I got there.

In April of last year, I completed California’s Big Sur Marathon. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the course, it’s very hilly 🌄 with almost 2,200 feet of elevation gain and over 2,500 feet of descent along the beautiful Central Coast. Miles 10-12 are particularly beastly, featuring a 500+ foot ascent to Hurricane Point. In preparation for this iconic race I spent a lot of time training on hills, including nearly 20 ascents of Harlem Hill in a week, 11 of them on a single long run. Little did I know I was overworking my body and would pay for it dearly after the race.😓

My husband David Ezra and I ran Big Sur together, and we had a lovely experience taking in the scenery along the Pacific Coast while being challenged by the topography. We enjoyed a few days afterwards on the Monterey Peninsula and tasting wines 🍷🍷🍇 in Paso Robles, recovering from the marathon.

Back in New York a week later, I took my first running steps and immediately felt pain in my left hamstring that grew worse as I continued. The same thing happened on a subsequent run the next day, so I stopped and made an appointment with my physical therapist that turned into three months of treatment. When I resumed running, the pain discouragingly returned. It was time to figure out what was happening inside my body. 

An MRI revealed two high partial tears of my left hamstring tendons along with moderate tendinosis. Plans to attempt to train for the Amsterdam Marathon in October were abandoned, and after some rest and time moping around feeling sorry for myself it was time to find a new PT who could nurse me back to health. Adding to the pressure were the Tokyo and London marathons looming in Spring 2024, for which David and I had each secured charity bibs and which would mark the end of our World Marathon Majors six-star journey.

Friend and fellow Flyer Shitij Arora recommended Josh Grahlman at Clutch PT, with whom I got to work on a careful program for recovery. I committed to daily strength training and performed all of the exercises he gave me, of which there were many.💪 At the same time, I began communicating with Flyers Coach Amy Sitar. Both were a little unsure of my ambitions to run Tokyo in just a few months but we set our sights on it.

After two months with Josh and as the December holidays passed, he gave me permission to start working with Amy. With only about eight weeks to get ready for the race she devised a training plan, which she and I evaluated from week to week, to get me to the starting line in Japan. The secret sauce would be run-walking, which I’d had no experience with before, along with runs only every other day to lessen the impact on my hamstring and continue to give it time to heal. We would rely on my decade of experience running marathons to make up for the short and light training cycle.

The plan worked, amazingly. My body held up. I packed my bag for Tokyo cautiously excited, and off David and I went on a journey halfway across the world. Four days later on a cool and sunny morning, having (mostly) adjusted to the fourteen-hour time difference, I stood in the corral with a big grin on my face. It was showtime.

Never was I so appreciative for the opportunity to run a race. As I crossed the starting line, I found a run-walk rhythm. I took in all of the sights and sounds, looking at the inspiring people around me, from my fellow amateurs to Eliud Kipchoge and all of the other elite runners as they passed by across the road during an out-and-back section of the course. As I grew tired and began to fade, I kept smiling and thinking about how lucky I was to be racing again.😊

When I finally crossed the finish line, I jumped for joy and began to cry. I had feared maybe my marathoning days were behind me. But no, with the help of Josh and Amy, it was possible once again. After receiving my medal, I found David and we slowly walked back to the hotel together, ready to rest and enjoy a beautiful visit in Tokyo and Kyoto. And to think about London, up next.

-Mary Beth Ezra

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Running Safely in the Dark

Mary Beth Ezra

The days have grown shorter and temperatures are dropping, which can only mean one thing: the winter running season is upon us!

Since there are fewer daylight hours at this time of year, it’s inevitable that most Flyers will end up doing at least some of their runs in the dark, whether in the chilly pre-dawn or in the evening after work.

At the same time, there are fewer runners (and pedestrians) outside when it’s cold so it can get pretty quiet out there, especially in the parks and on running paths.

Given these two realities – darkness and fewer people outside – runner safety becomes important for everyone, and especially women. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a safe winter running season:

Jillian and Debbie Light Up the Night!
Flyers Thursday 7pm Group Run

• Run with a partner if you can. Flyers can take advantage of morning and evening group runs throughout the week. Or post to the Flyers Facebook group that you’re looking for a buddy and someone will likely join you!
  

• Leave your headphones off so you’ll be more attuned to your surroundings.

• Run in well-lit areas. For instance, if you typically run in Central Park stay on the main loop…but even then, lighting can be spotty in places!

• Add your own lighting or reflectivity so you’re more likely to be seen.
  
  A variety of personal lighting products are available these days at all price points, from headlamps and light clips you attach to your arm, belt, or shoes, to this lighted vest that I and a few other Flyers sport on our runs. More and more running companies are producing reflective apparel these days too, such as Brooks’ Nightlife and Nike’s Flash lines.

• Take advantage of today’s runner tracking technology. I wear a personal safety bracelet called run angel, which sounds a loud alarm to attract attention in an emergency. The companion app alerts designated family and friends by text and email of your location when the device is activated. Strava also recently launched a new Safety Pack with real-time run tracking. Similar to run angel, your “safety contact” sees when you veer off course.

• Consider a self-defense class. They’re occasionally arranged by Flyers members, or you can learn more about self defense by reading this 2011 Flyers blog post. You also can carry a self-defense product, such as pepper spray.

• Finally, use your judgment. If it doesn’t feel right, it might be time to come up with an alternate plan.

With proper planning and common sense, you can enjoy a safe winter training season. I hope to see you out there!

Disclaimer: I don’t benefit financially or otherwise from endorsing any particular running safety products. I’m sharing what I’ve found when searching for products for my own use.

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