Extraordinary Strides
Welcome to Extraordinary Strides, the podcast that celebrates the spirit of running and the inspiring stories of those who lace up their shoes and hit the pavement.
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Extraordinary Strides
Running New York's 5 Boroughs: Balancing Life and Racing through NYC with Kimberly Darling
Kimberly Darling joins us as we explore her inspiring journey through the New York Road Runners 5 Borough Series, balancing life as a military spouse and a full-time working mom. Revel in the unique energy that propels her from the bustling Times Square of the United Airlines NYC Half to the idyllic streets of the Brooklyn Half.
Kimberly opens up about how these races reignited her passion for running, setting new goals for 2024. Each run presents its own challenges and triumphs, from the mental hurdles of the Bronx 10 Miler to the iconic experience of running under the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island. Her vivid storytelling paints a picture of New York’s vibrant spirit, fueled by enthusiastic spectators and the incredible camaraderie found on the road.
Join the conversation as we uncover the nuances of maintaining fitness routines while on vacation and the surprising difficulty of a few of the courses.
Kimberly shares logistical insights for future NYRR participants, offering tips on navigating its unexpected terrain. We also touch on the importance of flexibility and adaptability in achieving long-term running ambitions, illustrating the balance between structured training and life’s unpredictability.
A lighthearted chat about New York's iconic foods rounds out the episode. Kimberly’s journey through the five boroughs is an inspiring testament to determination, community, and the sheer joy of running.
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Welcome back to Extraordinary Strides, the podcast where we celebrate ordinary people achieving extraordinary things through running and movement. I'm your host, coach Christine, and today, my friend. Oh, my goodness, I've got something truly special for you all because we're diving into one of the most iconic race series in the entire country, maybe even the world the New York Roadrunners 5 Borough Series. And joining me is someone who knows this series inside and out because they just did it Kimberly Darling. Kimberly is not just a runner, she's a military spouse, a full-time career mama of busy boys. I don't know how she does it, because she is truly a superhero in her own right. She's been so diligent, focused and absolutely inspiring as she's tackled all five races.
Speaker 1:We're going to do a deep dive into the five boroughs, hear her race reports for each one and get a feel for what it takes to tackle this specific, unique race series. So, without further ado, hello, kim, how are you doing? Hello, how are you? Coach, I am so ecstatic You've done so incredible during all of this race series. But I want to hear more from you about the energy, the vibrancy of everything that there is to experience with the five borough series. So give me, in your words, just three. What would they be to describe this series?
Speaker 2:Definitely exciting, memorable, challenging. And I'm going to cheat, I'm going to throw in a fourth one, emotional.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love it. I think that if you're going to have a fourth one, that's a great one.
Speaker 2:Tell me why emotional just because, well, I'm just an emotional runner, so just things like when you get to certain parts of a race, the finish line, before the start line, everything is tears and excitement. So I just kind of get over into it, so like the good emotional, but it's just all the happiness sometimes overtakes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, that's why we run right, because we are able to, like, feel our feels and not be judged by others. Okay, so you kicked off this series with the United Airlines NYC half. It is truly iconic and I think it's one of those amazing opportunities to kind of run in different areas that you wouldn't normally get to, including Times Square. How did it feel to be part of that race? What stood out to you most during that journey?
Speaker 2:The New York City half is a very great race. It's great for many reasons. It kick-started off the series. It was the first one in the series so, having that as the first one, I went into it with a goal in mind. I was able to hit that goal. So that really just kind of set the tone for the rest of the series. Times Square is great to run through. One I mean it's Times Square, the energy, the people. It is loud, people are screaming, it's cheering. There's the buildings, the lights, the views. Like it's Times Square is definitely epic to run through. But it's also exciting because it's kind of like the start to the end of it. So once you hit Times Square you know it's not much further to that finish line. So it's also like that final push that you need to get to the finish. It's exciting.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love that. Okay, so I guess I should have started even before that conversation. And what made you decide to do the five boroughs I wanted?
Speaker 2:to get back into training. I had ran a half marathon in my local town and it was one of the races that kind of puts you back into like, oh, I probably need to get back into training a little bit more. So I was looking into goals for 2024, because that half was in the end of 2023. And when I started looking at it, I came across the five borough series, and it did span across the whole year. It started in March, the last one was just now, you know in October. So it was kind of like the perfect way to set the tone for the year, and that's this is what I was going to kind of keep you motivated.
Speaker 1:There's always something to work towards.
Speaker 2:I was like this is kind of what I want to do to get back into it. You know, it'll just be fun to complete for the year. So that's how I kind of fell on it.
Speaker 1:Okay, that sounds perfect. Now I will say you've tackled other NYRR races or you've done like you did. This wasn't your first time doing the NYC half, was it?
Speaker 2:No, I've done the New York City half a few times. I have done the New York City full once, about like five years ago, but I have never ran the Bronx, queens, brooklyn. You know, I haven't ran any of those, so those are all new.
Speaker 1:Okay, well then you set us up for the exact perfect next question, because then we went on to Brooklyn. What do you think? I feel like it should have a very different vibe, but does it and how does it compare?
Speaker 2:It's very, very different. So the Brooklyn half it was a completely different feel as the city. So, yes, there was buildings, but it was more kind of residential buildings. It was not, you know, skyscraper buildings. We got to run through Prospect Park, which was absolutely, absolutely beautiful and you don't think about it being in Brooklyn, but we're talking like the overhang of the trees, like it was just greenery and like almost like I don't would like it was just trees all along the side but you still got to run on the street. So it's not like a trail run per se, but you kind of got that feel of all the greenery around you. The monuments were beautiful. We ran around a cul-de-sac, almost. It was the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, which is a huge stone archway and I just remember kind of coming up to that turnaround and I was just looking around. I mean the structures were just beautiful. So it was just very, very different than what you would see like the city skylines.
Speaker 1:Okay. So that's where I'm hearing the emotional aspect, like a cue, a little bit of that choking, sobbing. Oh my God, it's just. It's so powerful to see that it's really beautiful and we're talking about now. The weather's starting to change a little bit from, like, nyc to Brooklyn. It's a little bit warmer, I would think, because we're in spring, almost touching on summer. It was.
Speaker 2:So it was kind of fun because as we were going through Prospect Park I don't know how they finagled it, but they were able to get a hose through, so there was also a stream of wave water spritzing down. So you got to kind of run through the water, kind of like a kid through a sprinkler, through Prospect Park on the road port. So it was a lot of fun. So everyone was kind of dancing through the rain like water.
Speaker 1:Shut the front door it was a lot of fun. Oh my gosh, okay, and then you have this incredible finish line at Coney Island. How was?
Speaker 2:that it was a lot of fun no-transcript.
Speaker 1:You give the Brooklyn half.
Speaker 2:Um, I would definitely give it four hot dogs, four hot dogs.
Speaker 1:Okay. What would it take for them to get five? Would they need more time at Coney Island or less hills?
Speaker 2:Yeah, more time. Yes, that would be the only thing, but it was. I mean, it was a lot of fun, it really was.
Speaker 1:Okay, I mean, I saw your photos and I was like I want to do this. This looks incredible, okay, so we go from here and I clearly NYRR New York Roadrunners. They know exactly what they're doing. They do not, at this point, ask you guys to run half marathons because it's officially summer. We go into Queens and it's a 10K at that point. Now it's considered the world's borough. How did it feel running through this area, and what made Queens stand out as part of this series?
Speaker 2:This was actually almost a contender for my favorite, and not just because it was the shortest distance, but it was. So we got to run past city fields. Corona Park, the World's Fair monument, was absolutely beautiful. That huge sphere that you get to run past the course itself was just amazing and there was no spectators, it was very quiet. It wasn't a huge spectator course because it was very narrow the way that it was. It wasn't massive street. You know that you had all this room, so spectator wise it was quiet. But there was so much to see.
Speaker 2:I took so many pictures during this 10K. I don't think I've taken that many ever on a race before. Everything was like I said. We got to run right past Citi Field I have a picture of that Again the greenery, the park, it was kind of flat. So you got to kind of see like the rolling I say rolling hills, I mean it's Queens rolling hills. There's not many, but for Queens you know the rolling, you know atmosphere. And again, coming up to the World's Fair, I remember it was all the way down we'll call it the path, the street, and it looked very small and it was all the trees. And as you got closer it got bigger and bigger and bigger. So I kept stopping in the middle along with every other runner, trying to get the pictures as you got closer, and I mean it was just a beautiful sight, it really was?
Speaker 1:And then, how was your experience with the weather, specifically Because again now we're in summer when Queens 10K takes place.
Speaker 2:It was very warm but I have to say, the course itself, a lot of it, was very shady, like I didn't really have. There really wasn't too many parts that were in direct sun. Maybe towards the finish line I feel like the last five minutes maybe were in the heat, because I remember feeling that, feeling it the most then, but there were a lot of underpasses that we got to go under. So, like I said, there was actually a lot of shade. That's what I'm saying. If you're going to come to New York, I'll run the Queens one with you. If anyone wants a nice fun run, that's the one to do.
Speaker 1:Ooh, okay. Well, you have a personal invitation from somebody who knows the ropes my friend so it sounds like this is a great opportunity to take her up on that offer. Okay, so I'm actually surprised to hear that answer, because I don't know that I would have taken that as my number one.
Speaker 2:I said the same thing. I came home and I myself was surprised. I did not think that was going to be one that I walked away like bragging about and talking about the most, but I think it just cause it surprised me so much. I wasn't. I didn't know what to expect, right, but yeah it just. I was pleasantly surprised.
Speaker 1:How did it compare to when you did it with New York city Cause a lot of folks that are listening in are likely going to tackle New York city or have wanted to tackle New York City, and I feel like Queens doesn't get a lot of love in that specific course.
Speaker 2:No, well, the parts that you run through are completely different. If you're going to, you know, running that race, you are not going to see kind of what I got to see. So it was very, very different. So it's almost hard to compare or kind of give like a heads up to what they'll see. So no, it's kind of hard to bring the two together.
Speaker 1:They're literally not the Big Apple to the Big Apple at all here.
Speaker 2:It's not. It's like the Big Apple to the Big Orange, I guess. Yeah, it's very different.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, that's good to know. So I love to hear that you could do the New York City Marathon and still come back for this series and have a completely different experience. Yeah, that's always exciting to hear.
Speaker 1:So you keep rocking and rolling around here and we're making it seem like it's super easy, right, like life isn't in between all of this going on. So paint me a picture what's going on in life as we start to rock and roll from the 10K into the 10 miler Because you're again I mentioned in the intro incredibly busy. How are you balancing all these different things and your training? Very early mornings are my friend.
Speaker 2:So I am the that 5 am runner. You have to get it in early. I'd like to say, if I don't get it in the morning, we'll get it in the afternoon. But that never happens. So if I miss the morning, unfortunately the day is shut. So that's also what kind of keeps me getting up in the morning, because I know I will not be able to get it done in the afternoon. There are a few times, though, that, you know, if I keep the kids busy in the backyard I mean, we have enough back there you would think that they would be able to kind of entertain themselves. But for, you know, I can usually get some strength, and that's when it's easy to get in the afternoon. If I do, you know, have to miss a morning for whatever reason, it's easy to get the strength in the afternoon. So if I was going to kind of have to play around with the schedule, I always try not to miss a run day in the morning, but I will push strength to the afternoon, which helps.
Speaker 1:I think that a picture that comes to mind is during a summer vacation, where it was the afternoon and you're sneaking in your strength while the kids are on the trampoline. You like packed and traveled with your strength training components so you could make it happen. So definitely it's like a forethought planning to make it happen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's kind of the eye rolls from the husband like we're on vacation. Do you really have to pack? You know your bands and everything and I'm like absolutely.
Speaker 2:And I'm like okay, so we have the hotel trying to plan out the course. He's like you know we're on vacation. I'm like, yeah, and I get to do a travel run. So even more reason why I'm going to run. So you know, along with the eye rolls. But there he's like as long as I get to sleep I'll watch the kids. He's like I'll see you when you come back. So I kind of worked out.
Speaker 1:Awesome, okay, so, yeah, so it's really early morning runs, I can't stress it enough, friends. She definitely is up there out there getting it in on the treadmill or wherever she needs to to make it happen. So, because there is that consistency, it does feel like we're getting to see so much fun things happen when you actually do hit race day. But we're making our way now to the Bronx 10 miler, which there's not enough 10 milers, and everybody talks about how much they love them, but this one's known for being a little bit on the tougher side. So how did you handle those 10 miles and what did you think about the specific race?
Speaker 2:This one was a lot harder, I think, mentally for me than I was ready for, because it was the flattest of all the courses, but for me I felt like it was the hardest of all the courses, to be honest. I kind of went in thinking, oh, this is just going to be a simple little easy training run. And come mile seven, eight, I was like wow, this is, I am struggling. At mile seven and eight, I think it was because of it was a down and back, and now we all know what down and backs, you know, the views don't really change much. So it's kind of just kind of seeing the same stuff. And again it was right through the neighborhood, which was interesting in itself to kind of get to kind of see the heart of the Bronx, and through the neighborhood, and but there was nothing extravagant, there were no major landmarks, no major buildings, so that kind of threw off just a little bit. So, like I said, so I think mentally it was a little bit harder than the other races.
Speaker 1:So this one has to, you have to kind of keep that mindset. You're in it to win it for the long-term, necessarily, Cause it sounds like again you're not going to have all those things to kind of, you don't have the spectators or the energy or the landmarks to distract you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, the spectators definitely still came out. You know they came out, the street was still lined, but if there weren't spectators it would have been even worse. So you know, bronx, I appreciate Bronx came out to represent themselves as the viewers, but I think they would have been. They were the highlight of that run. Without them I think it would have been even a little bit harder.
Speaker 1:Oh, they were the heart of the run. I love that they were the Bronx. That makes me think exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Bronx still came out to represent.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we are making our way to the final, like the cherry on top of this incredible Sunday of this series, and that is, of course, staten Island, which I feel like Staten Island doesn't get a lot of love, so I want to know what you think about it being the final race in the five boroughs, and how did it feel crossing that finish line with views of the verrazano I can see why it is one of the bigger races.
Speaker 2:The course itself again, I really enjoyed the the course. I think there was a lot of water views. You know there was a slight down and back but, to be very honest, for some reason with this course, when we were coming back around the back end, I didn't realize I was coming back around the back end Like other than like the runners on the other side. I think it's because I was looking at the right and looking at the houses and the row houses and then on the left it was all water view. So you kind of it was nice because it was down and back, but you got a completely different view Right.
Speaker 2:But the Verrazano, that was quite a view, I have to say. I mean, you know how big a bridge is, especially the Verrazano, but the way that they had us come down directly underneath it, you just got to look up and have this massive structure like standing on top of your head. You know it was pretty cool. I wanted to stop and take pictures but it was kind of I was kind of in the mood and I didn't want to stop. But I have to thank New York Roadrunners because I think that they knew this and they planned and they had several cameramen along that piece right there. So like every picture from the race is like that scene. So I think they were smart and they thought ahead.
Speaker 1:So I mean again, they know what they're doing. They put on a race or two in their time.
Speaker 2:That was pretty spot on. But yeah, I have to say the view for that was it was amazing just to see how big it was and it literally felt like it was right on top of you.
Speaker 1:I can see why you said the word emotional, because I can feel the almost just the magnitude of seeing such an iconic architectural point and just all of the aspects of this specific race series. So we have so many questions. What would you tell somebody who's thinking that they want to tackle this race? What are some logistics that they should take into consideration?
Speaker 2:Incline. Who knew Staten Island had? So what is it about the islands? I live on Long Island and it's flat. I don't get how Manhattan and Staten Island are full of hills. I don't know where it comes from. But even though it's New York, you still think plan ahead for some inclines. They're there.
Speaker 1:We have them. Okay, so incline. What about the weekend in terms of getting to expos or picking up bibs? Is there any additional?
Speaker 2:I never had a problem with the expos. Expos are great. I never had to wait in line because they stretch it out so long. It's not just the two days prior, you can go a week in advance almost. So if they give you a lot of time to pick it up, I personally this entire series did not have to fight a single crowd, Even going all the way back to the New York City in the beginning of the year, everything was a very smooth transition. They even offer you can have someone pick up for you for the like the Queens and the Brooklyn. I know I had my husband go pick up those for me, so that's a huge help that they allow you to do that.
Speaker 1:Okay, I feel like I have to throw in a couple more puns. So they make it as easy as a big apple pie for you to be able to tackle getting the bib and expos. But I am curious, though they made it smooth in terms of logistics. What was your biggest challenge, if any, during this series?
Speaker 2:The course wise, I don't think is anything that someone really wouldn't be too shocked at. I would say probably just getting there and trying to get home is kind of one of the more stressful pieces because everything you do have to rely on is public transportation. Because it is Queens and the Bronx, parking is so limited in those cities it's not huge areas, there's no street parking, parking garages are hard, you know, so that it that does make it a little bit more difficult. But all more of the experiences of me and my public transportation getting there, so those are whole other stories, but some of them were very interesting, but you got there, you got. But some of them were very interesting, but you got there.
Speaker 2:You got there for all of them, though I got there for all of them, and actually I think it was the Bronx one. I think I was almost more impressed that I got there and got home than I've been completing the race.
Speaker 1:So I mean that in and of itself is definitely an extra aspect. I think that's also something that intimidates people with any of the New York road running races, specifically New York City. I know it's definitely overwhelming for folks, but I think there's always where there's a will is a way and if all else fails, follow the crowd of runners. They usually know where they're going.
Speaker 2:And that's kind of what I did At one point. I got out of Penn Station in the city and I just saw runners and I was like you, can I follow you through the subway? And they're like sure, I'm like great. So I just made friends along the subway. That's exactly what you have to do.
Speaker 1:I love it, okay. So what advice would you give to someone who is maybe not tackling this series, but they do want to tackle some big running goals and having to juggle all the different aspects of life Because, again, you did it so flawlessly?
Speaker 2:Thank you. I would say honestly, the long-term goals is kind of what really helps because it allows you to adjust your schedule without really overstressing. So you know, if I said I wanted to do a big race in two months time, well, with a busy schedule two months time, you might as well say two weeks, the way things kind of have to change. But because I had you know a nice pace to kind of help see out into the weeks the way things kind of have to change, but because I had you know a nice pace to kind of help see out into the future, the couple of months, plan it out, I was still able to plan the birthday parties and what the kids wanted to do and activities.
Speaker 2:It kind of helped ease that stress of that, you know. And the other thing is just you have to, you know, understand that things are going to change, you know your schedule is going to change and just can't really beat yourself up over it. You know just have to get what you can. I know I've had to shorten some runs before, I've had to switch long weekends to a different day, but because I know I had time before runs, I know nothing was going to get hindered, or training wasn't going to get you know, completely on hold.
Speaker 1:So be steadfast toward your goal, but be flexible and adaptable towards the day to day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I know, you know I'm a planner and that's always kind of easier said than done to those who'd like to have that structure, you know schedule, and as soon as kind of something changes, I know it can throw, like you know, throw you off your game a little bit, but you just have to kind of unfortunately, just kind of unfortunately, just kind of roll with it and know that the next day you'll pick it up.
Speaker 1:I don't know if I ever really fully iterated to you how impressed I was from the very first time that we had a chance to have a phone call. Because you are a planner, you also do think very long term, like macro goals, and you don't necessarily get so hung up into aiming for something to be perfect tomorrow. You're willing to kind of just lay the foundation down towards those longer term goals and I think that that's such an incredible marker for the success that you've had and will continue to have with your running goals, which is super exciting. But I do want to also say maybe it's time to get into a little bit of the fun aspects of thing, because of course we also love so much about New York is the different aspects of these different boroughs, which is the food. So if you had to pick one post-race meal for each borough that maybe would be representative of that area, what would it be? Bagels.
Speaker 2:For all five Bagels Always eat bagels. When in doubt Hands down, just eat a bagel and you'll be fine.
Speaker 2:Before, during and after, always. Before I mean the delis, the bakeries. They're amazing. They're huge bacon, egg and cheese bagels right from the deli. There's nothing better, but, I have to say, if not bagels. The other stereotype would be pizza. In Staten Island we did go to a famous pizza place called Joe and Pat's Pizzeria and that place was absolutely amazing. They had the best pizza I've had in a very long time. It was like the good thin crust but didn't break off. But it was. I mean, it was very good though. So, and I was kind of surprised, but Staten Island has the best pizza.
Speaker 1:I believe you 100%. So you hear that people who love Chicago deep dish right here. Not only is it just New York pizza's better, staten Island's pizza is better.
Speaker 2:Staten Island pizza is better. Staten Island had great. I have to say I was very impressed with Staten Island pizza. The kids loved it. We had different sauces and even my kids were like, can I have more of that one? I was like, oh okay, like I was kind of shocked, but it was very good. So bagels and pizza.
Speaker 1:Okay, so all the carbs, basically that are delicious, that we can find there. It sounds perfect to me If you could go back and rerun one of these races, or maybe a section. What would you choose?
Speaker 2:I would say I am going to go bring it back to the New York City one and I will say the Manhattan Bridge, because if you had to compare it because it is the half, so you don't get the full experience of running over the Verrazano it would be it's the half marathons, verrazano, if you have to compare it. So it has. It is beautiful, it's absolutely beautiful. You have 360 views of the city on both sides. The bridge itself is beautiful. You still get the struggle of going up the bridge so you kind of still get that feel of having to go over it and then the awesome sprint down on the other side. But I have been over that bridge a couple of times and I, every single time I have stopped to film and kind of done the 360 turn to kind of get the views. So that one is just absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 1:I love how, though you're very serious about your running goals, you don't ever let it impede you taking in the full experience of the race. I feel like that's a big takeaway that people should really, really take heart when they're doing some of these races.
Speaker 2:It is because you know my always thing you never know when you're going to run it again. You know, and a couple of these runs are lottery, it's not just a sign up and they sell out super, super quick. So I was even just shocked that I got in all of the five races within one year. That really wasn't something I was planning on getting, but thrilled that I got it and the chances of getting the lottery again, for even I think it was the Brooklyn. That's a lottery, not guaranteed next year, you know. So, as you were running it like, I really was just trying to make sure I was taking it in because I don't know the next time I would get the chance again.
Speaker 1:I love that. Okay, so you, if we had to do the great spectators of New York, which one would you say? Which borough brought it the best? Oh, that's a good one. I want to make sure that everybody is aware. This is her personal opinion.
Speaker 2:Don't come at her If you know, I mean, these are my boroughs, here I don't need anyone coming after me.
Speaker 1:I love all of New York.
Speaker 2:Exactly. I mean they were all. It's hard to say because they are so different, like if I was going to, I mean I would love to say obviously probably New York city half, just because of the size of it, but things like the Brooklyn half it is a smaller scale, you know. But I mean I know I was running through the Brooklyn half and people had confetti guns. I didn't see confetti guns at the New York so I was trying to get caught up in the confetti gun. So I mean it's a little bit it's hard to say because they everyone came out in so much force for each of them, and in their own, such vastly unique ways.
Speaker 2:And their own ways. Yeah, I mean volume, wise size. Spectator would have to be the New York city half, but just you know, for their own neighborhoods with the smaller boroughs, I mean it was pretty intense. I mean they did make you knew that they were there you know I mean again it's.
Speaker 1:You can't go wrong with any of these iconic locations. So it's just about like what you said soak it in, appreciate the aspect of having people come out and cheer us on. It's just absolutely wonderful. What would you say that for somebody who maybe is listening to this heading to New York City or they know that they're going to do one of these races, like what should they definitely keep in mind for race weekend to prepare for being in such a high energy city?
Speaker 2:A lot of times I didn't even have my music on, to be very honest with you. So I know everyone. You kind of get you know into, you know. All right, I'm just going to kind of zone into my own mindset, my own music. A lot of the times I kept hitting the pause button. I just kind of fed off of the energy or the surroundings.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like I said, the only one that I really didn't have to do that was Queen, you know, because it was a smaller course, you know. So there were really no spectators. But the main thing is, with some of those, the bridges, like the Manhattan Bridge, there are no spectators on those spots though. So you do think of New York and it's loud and it's intense and it's going to be a lot of spectators. There are pieces, because of the bridges and the underpasses, there are no spectators.
Speaker 2:But just hold tight, because once you get to the other side of that, they're going to make up for it. They're there, they're letting you know, they see you coming, and as long as you can just get past that little piece of a little bit of quiet, don't worry, they're going to welcome you back into the street. So they'll be there. So it's like the calm before the roar, yes, and it is, like I said, is fun because you you start to hear them, you start to see them coming up, so like kind of gets you to to move forward. So it may be quiet. You may be thinking this is something. There's really no one here. I'm on another bridge, but don't worry, they're there when you get off, I promise.
Speaker 1:So do we keep the playlist like queued up for those bridges, or is there something that you use to help you get through those more quiet sections?
Speaker 2:No, I definitely need my playlist for that one. Okay, I mean that. Or just look around, try not to focus on you know kind of what direct is in front of you, look around, look from the sides kind of, try to find that scenery, and you know kind of use that to kind of keep you busy.
Speaker 1:Okay. So with that, we know that you've done this incredible series. We know that you still have some more races locally that you're going to be tackling and having fun with. But what's next for you, as somebody who does plan further in advance and set some long-term goals, what do you have as a big, audacious goal?
Speaker 2:Well, because of the five-barrel series with the New York Roadrunners, when you do complete all five, you do qualify for guaranteed entry to the New York City half the following year. So March 2025, I will be running the New York City half again. So March 2025, I will be running the New York City half again and I'm gonna shoot for my PR. So I am getting much closer. This year was my year to focus on halves and try to really kind of bring down my time and I'm I'm not too far off, so I have a couple more months, so we're gonna shoot for March 2025.
Speaker 1:I love it. I do, friends, so we're gonna cheer you on every single step of the way and thank you so much for sharing the series with us and your experience with it. So, friends, we're going to keep cheering her on. I want to thank you so much for coming on and inspiring us all with your incredible information and journey. Thank you so much. I'm so excited. Friends. Kimberly's really helped bring each of these spectacular races to life. I know that listeners are going to walk away inspired not just by the races, but by her dedication and her commitment to her training. Trust me, I really do think she has a superhero cape somewhere in her closet. So, whether you're juggling the demands of family, career or life as a military spouse, like Kim, she's shown us that with focus and heart, you can achieve big things. So, to all of our listeners, if you're thinking of tackling anything like this, definitely do know that anything is possible with the right mindset. So until next time, keep striding toward your extraordinary and we'll see you out on the road.
