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Athlete Journal: Narisa Wild, Entry 3 – What’s Next?

The biggest question posed by a runner about a minute after completing a marathon is: "What's next?" There is such elation, but marathon runner isn't happy unless they are working towards a goal.

Narisa Wild

Written by Last updated on Nov 22, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to journal of marathon runner, mother, and busy New Yorker, Narisa Wild. Look for more from Narisa as she trains for and runs in marathons all over the world.

Journal Entry 3 – What’s Next?

The biggest question posed by a runner about a minute after completing a marathon is: “What’s next?” There is such elation with the accomplishment that with it follows a big crash and sometimes mild sadness about what one’s next goal should be. A marathon runner isn’t happy unless they are working towards a goal.

So that’s where I am currently. I’ve been focusing on my family and on letting my leg rest properly with lots of physical therapy and stretching.

I’ve got a new obsession called Soul Cycle, which is like a club mixed with serious hardcore spin cycling. It incorporates leg, arms and abdominal work all at once – love it. My other strength training is through Pure Barre, which is like yoga meets Pilates meets core strength work. I can definitely feel the benefits of doing this once a week coupled with intense marathon training.

I’ll get back to running over turkeyweekend for sure. Two weeks of no running is about all I can bear.

So now I’ll be maintaining a base level of fitness, with around 20-30 miles per week, and I hope to find a spring marathon in May to compete in. Any suggestions are very welcome.

Wishing you all a happy and restful Thanksgiving.

Narisa Wild

About Narisa Wild

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Narisa is a wife and mother of three living in Westchester, New York. A keen runner for almost thirty years, she still remembers her first track trial when her dad took her to the local athletic club at the age of nine. She grew up running cross country and track at national level and eventually moved into longer distances (half marathons mainly) during early adulthood.

Narisa ran her first full marathon in the year 2000, finishing in 3hrs 29min and realizing she enjoyed the whole 26.2 miles. Between 2000 and 2007 she ran 11 marathons, 4 ultras, and achieved competitive level with her fastest marathon time of 3hrs 14mins in 2003. This time allowed her to start the London marathon (which she competed in 6 times overall) of 2004 at the same start line as the amazing Paula Radcliffe! (Right at the back of this start line we might add!)

She moved to the U.S. in 2007 with three suitcases, a husband, an 8-month-old baby girl, and a 1-year-old golden retriever called Roger. Moving countries can be hard to do but running was the tool Narisa adopted to discover and become acquainted with her new home in Manhattan, to make new friends and to get to grips with the "grid system." Narisa works for Scripps Networks Interactive, the parent company of Food Network, HGTV, The Travel Channel, and Cooking Channel in their interactive division.

Being so central in the city, Narisa joined NYRR and began to participate in all the local races: NY Half, NY mini 10km, and a handful of other races. Not able to run with the same speed she once had, Narisa now runs to raise money for charity, usually Memorial Sloan-Kettering and feels good putting her talents and passion to real use. 2012 has a new twist with the challenge for sponsorship being: to complete two marathons in three weeks. She ran Nike Womens' Marathon in San Fran on Oct 14th and finished in 3hrs 44min (her best time in five years) which also qualified her for Boston in 2014.

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