On April 27th 2011, The New York Road Runners club announced the winners of the ING New York City Marathon lottery. I came to the office early that day and told my co-workers "I have this dream since I am 10 years old. It might come true today so forgive me if I become too emotional" and without further explanations I closed my office door and launched a web browser. The event was broadcast live online.
Half an hour later, I saw my husband's name scrolling down the screen. I literally jumped up and down. I was happy, excited, and sad at the same time. I thought all the names were picked first and then announced in alphabetic order. Since we share the same last name I thought "ok, next year". I was sort of prepared for this as everyone told me that the chances of getting in on the first try are minimal, a 12% perhaps.
An hour later, my name was announced. Now, what are the chances that both of us win the lottery on the first try? If you know for certain, please let me know. I can't described how I felt except that I cried and cried and cried. I cried a lot ! I opened my office door and gave a couple of hugs to my co-workers. I called my boss and told him "I won the lottery. I am not working today". His reaction was "huh?". I was so excited I couldn't articulate. Then, I placed an international call to my mom "I won ! I am running NY". Her reply was "do I need to send you that poster?" and "do you know what I am talking about?". Yes, of course!
When I was 10 years old, a "New York City Marathon" poster made it to my home in the Canary Islands. I remember staring at it thinking "I am going to run NYC when I am old". I forgot all about it until I reunited with an old friend in Facebook last year. I was telling her about my husband and 2 kids, my work, my studies, the places I lived when she asked me "are you still dreaming about running the New York Marathon?". My heart stopped. I have lived in NYC from 1999-2004 and it never occurred to me to participate in the race. I was too busy with my full time job and studies.
Needless to say, as soon as registration opened in November, I signed up for it. My rollercoaster thoughts that day were something like this: "I've been running on and off since high school. I've just ran a half marathon. I can do it" and "26.2 miles is crazy!! I am not ready yet" and "ok, If I win the NYC lottery, I can always postpone it for 2 years".
For the past year, I've been telling everyone that my first full marathon is going to be the New York City. No matter how long it takes me to get there, even if it's 4 years. Then, at the beginning of April ( a couple of weeks before the ING NYC lotto) , the organizers of the Rock 'N" Roll series announced their first international race, in my hometown. Rock 'N' Roll Madrid 2012. Rollercoaster thoughts again: "OMG, I am in trouble. If I win NYC, I gotta run it. NYC gotta be my first, then Madrid". There was never a "what if". Lucky me, I got in. I get to run in my 2 favorite cities in the world, 5 months apart.
I don't have words to express how I feel about running the New York City Marathon. It's been my life's dream and now I get to run it with my husband. I am happy, excited, nervous, scared ... I won the lottery after all !!
