A Million Runners, A Million Stories
From non-runner to runner, Eric Fleisher is an athlete in transition. Having never competed in a road race, much less considered doing so, at some point this winter Eric looked in the mirror and saw a heavier, out of shape version of himself and was disgusted. Seems that $100-a-month gym membership he owned wasn't the motivation he thought he needed to come out of hibernation. For him, it was about more than that though. Ever since he graduated from college and took a job in New York as an accountant, he had been struggling to find something, anything, to keep him active. Fact is, it's tough. Long work hours and limited space make exercise alternatives like organized sports a challenge for anyone living in the Big Apple.
Enter RUN NYC and the Nike+ Human Race. When Eric began training with RUN NYC a month ago, it was just to shed some weight and stay in shape. Then one night after a run with the group, he sat in on one of the popular Speaker Series at NIKETOWN New York, which discussed the importance of incorporating different kinds of running — tempo workouts, speed workouts and long distance runs — into a runner's training schedules. For Eric, it piquéd his interest. He realized he wanted to take his training to the next level.
That same week, he heard about the Nike+ Human Race and it all clicked. He decided then he would dedicate his summer to training for the 6.2 mile road race on Randall's Island on 08.31.08.
On a grander scale, he is just one of a million other Nike+ Human Race participants, each with his or her own story, working towards a common goal that will culminate on 08.31.08 in 25 cities worldwide. All in the name of a common good.
But to Eric, his quest is one in a million. He has his own reasons, his own goals for running in NYC this summer and the Nike+ Human Race is just one of them. To get there, that means he'll be out there pounding the pavement with RUN NYC during the dog days in the hot, humid city air. That means he'll start going to Wednesday night track workouts to work on his speed and strength. And that means his happy hours will now be spent logging miles instead of drinks. But rather than seeing training as drudgery, Eric is elated. He is on his way to a better, healthier life.
Yes, for Eric, the transformation has already begun, but he has a long way to go. Having never been a runner before, much less run competitively, he is in for a summer of challenges -- ups and downs, aches and pains, highs and lows. The NYC Nike+ Human Race blog will be following him the whole time, checking in regularly to see how he's doing. Stay tuned!
Enter RUN NYC and the Nike+ Human Race. When Eric began training with RUN NYC a month ago, it was just to shed some weight and stay in shape. Then one night after a run with the group, he sat in on one of the popular Speaker Series at NIKETOWN New York, which discussed the importance of incorporating different kinds of running — tempo workouts, speed workouts and long distance runs — into a runner's training schedules. For Eric, it piquéd his interest. He realized he wanted to take his training to the next level.
That same week, he heard about the Nike+ Human Race and it all clicked. He decided then he would dedicate his summer to training for the 6.2 mile road race on Randall's Island on 08.31.08.
On a grander scale, he is just one of a million other Nike+ Human Race participants, each with his or her own story, working towards a common goal that will culminate on 08.31.08 in 25 cities worldwide. All in the name of a common good.
But to Eric, his quest is one in a million. He has his own reasons, his own goals for running in NYC this summer and the Nike+ Human Race is just one of them. To get there, that means he'll be out there pounding the pavement with RUN NYC during the dog days in the hot, humid city air. That means he'll start going to Wednesday night track workouts to work on his speed and strength. And that means his happy hours will now be spent logging miles instead of drinks. But rather than seeing training as drudgery, Eric is elated. He is on his way to a better, healthier life.
Yes, for Eric, the transformation has already begun, but he has a long way to go. Having never been a runner before, much less run competitively, he is in for a summer of challenges -- ups and downs, aches and pains, highs and lows. The NYC Nike+ Human Race blog will be following him the whole time, checking in regularly to see how he's doing. Stay tuned!
