The Year of the Push Goal

What exactly is a push goal?

It’s not necessarily the most important goal you set, but it IS the one that makes others possible—like a domino effect. Achieving your push goal will help catapult you through the others.

A couple of weeks ago, I found out I was among the 18 percent of applicants selected to run in the 2015 New York City Marathon. In total, 80,080 runners applied for the 2015 lottery, and all told, more than 130,000 runners applied to participate in this year’s race. Officials say the size of the field will be similar to last year’s, which had 50,530 runners. The marathon will take place on November 1.

I had very mixed emotions when I received the news. First, I was shocked that I’d been selected. Second, I was a bit scared. This past November I had the joint in my big toe fused together with a plate and six screws, and was unable to walk for six weeks. I then spent the next six weeks in a walking boot. No exercise for three months. I had just started slow jogs on the treadmill when I heard from the Marathon officials.

Can I run the race? Can I make it through months of training? What will happen with my right big toe, slated for the same surgery this mid-November? I collected all my doubts into a pile and reread the blog post I wrote after I ran my first marathon in 2012. The post is reprinted below.

I have a history of working through adversity. If I can stay healthy, I can do it. My goal is not to achieve a personal record, but to cross the finish line. Coupled with that goal is the completion and publication of my fourth novel, The Emerald Brooch.

I cannot achieve either of these goals without a support team: my family and friends, a fantastic editor (Faith Freewoman), trainer (Erin Rock), and massage therapist (Anne Tsamas).

The heroines in my books are always challenged far beyond what they believe they are capable of. They have doubts and insecurities. Kenzie Wallis-Manning, the heroine of The Emerald Brooch, will be far more challenged physically and emotionally than she would have been if I had decided to pass up the NYC Marathon.

Over the next few months, I will share the emotional highs and lows and pain and exhilaration of long runs with you, my readers, and the lessons I learn that hopefully will see Kenzie through the trauma and drama of World War II. And me through to the finish line. I hope you’ll stop by on Mondays to read about my week and cheer me on.

Happy reading, Kathy