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Athlete Journal: Narisa Wild, Entry 4 – My Goals For 2013

The New Year got off to a rough start -the whole family got sick - but we're recovering and I'm getting back into training. I'm also excited about my resolutions for this year!

Narisa Wild

Written by Last updated on Oct 20, 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 4 – My Goals for 2013

First and foremost, I’m sorry for the hiatus in posts. It’s been a very long holiday season (but so much fun!), which was then overshadowed by a whopping flu and sickness season. I was hit with a bad strain of flu (I think, who knows anymore?) that really took me off the road for almost five weeks. Who knew I could actually not run for five whole weeks? It was tough, but I did some Soul Cycling, lots of yoga and plenty of resting.

Then my whole family got sick – that’s a lot of nose wiping, whining, and general misery in one household, I can tell you. We are finally all almost better now. I was hit with yet another bout this week, not as severe, but enough to make flying this past Friday feel like the most miserable day of my life. Blocked up nose and high altitudes are very bad for your ears. I didn’t even think.

But enough about snotty noses and feeling sorry for myself, this is what I did discover: it takes a long time to lose your base fitness so long as you’re doing some aerobic exercise. For me, that has been a lot more Soul Cycling (I love it!). When I finally got out on the road again two weeks ago, I ran an easy 7-miler and maintained an eight minute per mile pace. I couldn’t believe it, to be honest. So I’m trying this for a bit longer to see if I can avoid ITB problems and maintain fitness: run harder and faster, but run less. Intermix with cross training and yoga and will I be fitter and injury-free? We shall see.

So 2013 is a big year for me: I am turning the big 4-0 in March. I’ve been apprehensive about this to say the least. I’ve been downright miserable about it, if I’m truthfully honest. Now, I have decided to make it MY year, not my age’s.

Here is my hit list so far:

  1. Spend more time with my family.
  2. Manage stress at work better.
  3. Run two marathons at least (Long Island marathon in May and NYC marathon in November already booked – considering some others).
  4. And here is the big one for me: fulfill a lifelong ambition to complete my Yoga Teacher Training. I begin class on January 26 with Yogaworks and will complete an 8-month training program. I am beyond excited and so very grateful to my husband for his support to do this. I’ll keep you posted on progress.

What are your resolutions for 2013? Wishing you all a healthy and happy year.

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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