YIOL WEB STAFF: How long have you been running and what was the sequence and timing of the different stages that eventually got you into longer distance running. We usually think of those whose pastime is to run for fitness purposes, as people who go out for a jog of two or three or even five miles a few times a week. It looks to be quite a big jump to graduate to ten to twenty miles or longer distances. How did this happen with you?
LYNDA: Well, as I said, I began running in 1985. There wasn’t, and still isn’t, any game plan to the running – it’s all kind of "just evolved". You’re right though – Aaron and I ran together primarily to stay in shape. The running gave us time to talk about things too. Then Aaron started running in some local races – for the fun of it. The girls and I would go and cheer him on. Then one 3 mile race we both ran. Aaron finished long before I did. In fact, he had stopped sweating by the time I finished. I think I came in last (or close to it). But it was fun. When I used to work in New York, I use to captain our firm’s team for a few years, for what was known as the Corporate Challenge – a 5K race in Central Park. The 5K races led to 10K races. Over time Aaron and I would increase our runs, just to see if we could. We found that we could actually do 8 miles, then 10, and so on.

A little refreshment at 18 miles...

YIOL WEB STAFF: How do you fit your running into a busy schedule and, also, how do you discipline yourself to keep going at it?
LYNDA: We’ve always been early risers in my family, so I guess I’m used to getting up early, and I like running in the morning (though this time of year, it’s hard to tell it’s morning!). It’s slow going at first, but as I get into the run, it’s really enjoyable. It’s my "quiet time" to think, or just take in the morning air. I’m "rewarded" by spotting an occasional deer or beautiful sunrise. I feel kind of energized after I get back from a run.

YIOL WEB STAFF: What role does Aaron play in this pastime and what does he think about your running?
LYNDA: Aaron’s my running partner and my "coach". I don’t think Aaron realizes how much his support meant to me while I was training for the Marathon. (Well, I guess he will after he reads this!) He knew the routes I would take for my "long" run (18-20 miles), and he’d show up in the car with water, or a towel, or just some encouragement…

YIOL WEB STAFF: How do you train, in general, for distance events and for marathons, in particular?
LYNDA: Except for when I was training for the New York Marathon, my training for the other races, whether they are 9 miles or 13, is to mix long runs (9 miles) with speedwork and hill running. I also try to stay hydrated. I try and drink a lot of water, and I eat low fat, high protein and high carbohydrate foods.

YIOL WEB STAFF: Is the NYC marathon different from other marathons and, if so, how?
LYNDA: The NYC marathon was my first, so I can’t compare it to any others I’ve run. But I can tell you that I’d heard the crowds were unbelievable – and that is very true!

YIOL WEB STAFF: When did you first start thinking about participating in the NY marathon and what made you do so? When did you actually make up your mind to enter?
LYNDA: When my girls were little, we would go to New York with my brother, and his children, to watch a high school classmate run it. We all had a great time being there, but at the time I could never have imagined I’d ever actual run it! I’d seen this classmate periodically over the years – most recently at a fund raiser for his brother. It was there that he told me how to apply to enter. I really didn’t think seriously about actually doing it until April – when the application had to be mailed in.

Only 8 more miles!

YIOL WEB STAFF: Did you ever have any second thoughts about your decision and, if so, when and why?
LYNDA: During my training, I’d had a particularly hard 18 mile run. I remember feeling that if I felt this bad at 18 miles, how could I ever do 26.2!

YIOL WEB STAFF: Can you briefly describe the process of training for the race and, in particular, how did you familiarize yourself with the course? Did you have any rehearsals by running part of the course beforehand?
LYNDA: First, let me tell you that you have to be accepted into the race. Not like the Boston Marathon, where you have to qualify by time. You first have to send away for an application (this costs $7). You can’t mail it in before April. Then you wait to hear if your application has been selected. This happens around June or July. If you’re not selected at this time, there is a lottery where 3000 names are selected randomly by a computer – this is what happened to me! Once I got it, I started seriously training.

I went on the Internet, where I accessed the NY Road Runners Club training schedule which I followed religiously (if you’ll pardon the expression.) This schedule brought me from a base of 30 miles a week to a high of 48 miles a week then slowly tapered down to 16 the week of the race. I ran about three 20-mile runs before the race. They say not to run the entire 26.2. The only familiarity I had with the race was having driven over the Verrazano Bridge, and "spectating" on First Avenue.

I think it’s a good idea not to run the entire distance. There’s a certain curiosity every time you run a longer distance – there’s this "unknown" about how your body is going to feel. I found it interesting to observe my mental and physical "being" during the long runs.

YIOL WEB STAFF: On the day of the race itself, can you describe what you felt and what you saw before you began the race?
LYNDA: I was thrilled the weather was perfect. I was nervous, excited, full of anticipation, hopeful that I was properly hydrated and nourished. I kept imagining what it would feel like at the finish. The gathering place at the start was an incredible mix of camaraderie and high spirits.

YIOL WEB STAFF: Please tell us about the race itself, what did it feel like at different times and were there any really memorable happenings? Were there any really bad periods? What did it feel like to cross the finishing line?
LYNDA: Memorable happenings? How about these…The baseball cap I’d gotten from my children the night before the race saying, "Marathon Mom" -- the stranger who gave me his jacket to wear before the race, because I was cold – seeing hundreds of volunteers collecting the clothes the runners discarded at the start to be given to the homeless – the 6’9" Dutch runner who held my camera over his head to get a picture of the thousands of runners at the start for me – the small children along the course holding out their hands for you to "high five" them – a different band playing at about each mile marker – the thousands and thousands of strangers cheering you and encouraging you – my family waiting for me at mile 18 –– the sign at the infamous 20-mile "wall" saying, "walls have doors…"– my left knee bothering me at mile 23 – my family waiting for me at mile 24 – the absolute roar of the crowds at the last 382 uphill yards to the finish – the exhilaration of knowing you’re going to do it – being able to reach the finish with your arms up in the air and tears in your eyes – memorable? You bet!

YIOL WEB STAFF: How many supporters did you have on the day? Who were they and what did they do to help you?
LYNDA: The thousands of spectators cheering on all the runners. But of course, my family. They held up a sign for me and surprised me by having one hung up on the garage when I returned home after the race. Aaron ran a short while with me handing me water and his encouragement. You can’t imagine how happy I was to see them during the race. Just knowing they were waiting for me helped me go on.

What a Thrill!

YIOL WEB STAFF: Would you do it again? What are your future running plans? Won’t everything seem a little anti-climatic, now?
LYNDA: I don’t know. It was just so much fun, and all the pieces just came together for the race, I’d hate to "spoil" the memory. But, this past weekend I’d received in the mail an application for the 1999 New York City Marathon—or maybe I’ll do one somewhere else – I told Aaron there’s one in San Diego in May!

YIOL WEB STAFF: What advice do you have for others who might wish to emulate your accomplishment, particularly those of us, who to put it delicately, unlike you, are approaching, our maturity?
LYNDA: Don’t make it a job. Stick to a training program that works for you, but don’t lose sight of the beauty of just being outdoors. E N J O Y.

YIOL WEB STAFF: Is there anything else you’d like to add about the experience that we haven’t covered already? Are there any downsides to the experience, apart from all the fame, attention and having to be interviewed?
LYNDA: The enthusiastic responses from Rabbi and the members of Young Israel has been really heart-warming and completely unexpected.

Well, Lynda, our heartiest congratulations again! I am sure that even though some of our readers might have thought you just maybe were a tiny little bit meshugah, now they can better understand your thinking. Without doubt, however, they will all share great admiration for your determination and courage and your obvious fitness. Also, I am sure that they recognize what a splendid example you have set all of us of someone setting high goals and achieving them. Your drive and enthusiasm really comes through in your comments.

Thank you for agreeing to participate in this interview.