Running is like childbirth  • August 30, 2006 | 5:30 p.m.

A little more than 10 weeks to go until the big day … marathon day! The big question is whether I will be ready for it, again. And will Karen, a first-time marathoner, be ready? Actually, the nice thing about doing this with Karen is that she and I have motivated and encouraged each other through good runs and bad ones, by comparing notes and exchanging e-mails. And we’ve kept each other honest.

On Sunday, I completed the NYC half marathon and when I crossed the finish and felt that huge rush again, I remembered exactly why I was doing this again. It has been a difficult two weeks of training though. I have been busier than ever at work and my husband was traveling for work and spending time with his family in Colorado. So that made me have to be more efficient in my training — getting in more miles in less time. (Gulp!) But what has kept me going is great the response I’ve gotten from “Today” viewers and readers so far. And a lot of you have had some great questions for me that I thought I would try and answer. So here it goes:

Jennifer from Claypool, Ind., asked me how I stay in shape besides running, especially as a parent (which she is also).

Jennifer, I have to be honest, running is my primary source of exercise (as is chasing after my son). I have been a runner since high school, though I didn’t really do a marathon until 11 years ago. I do try to do some cross-training too though on days when I’m not running, like taking a spinning class or yoga. I hate lifting weights, but at least once a week I force myself to do a session of light weights after a run, as well as doing abdominals, crunches, etc… all torture. But I think running is the best exercise there is.

Andrea in Lexington, Ky., asked me what I eat and what my diet is when training for a marathon.  

Andrea, diet is very important for marathoners, because you want to give your body enough calories and fuel to make up for all the calories you burn up in long runs. The great thing is calories are actually your friend when training for a marathon. So I eat up. However, it’s important to eat healthy foods and ones that won’t aggravate your stomach too much. Before long runs, I try to carbo-load, though that doesn’t mean overdoing it. It’s important to have a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, protein and carbohydrates … but most importantly, tons of water!

A typical breakfast for me is a bowl of cereal, fruit, coffee and, yes, sometimes a doughnut. Lunch is a sandwich or salad with chicken or another protein source. And for dinner, for example, I’ll make chicken or meat with brown rice and a vegetable or salad. I also am a big believer in mini-meals … or healthy snacks throughout the day to keep my energy level up.

Wendy from St. Louis is a mother of three, and she asked me how she could get started and stay in the game, after setting a goal to run a marathon.

First, Wendy, congratulations on the new baby and you are to be commended for setting a marathon as your goal with three little ones. Running a marathon is a lot like getting ready for childbirth (though less painful, I think). You really have to get your mind in the game as well as your body. I think it’s important not to get discouraged early on, so maybe start off with a smaller goal, like running in a 5K or 10K race. I do think it’s good to sign up for some kind of organized run, because it will force you to get out and actually train.

Second, there is nothing wrong with walking and running to get started and don’t worry about how long it takes you to run now. It should be fun, and not torture. Eventually, you’ll grow to like it — at least I hope so. Also, I run with my son (who weighs 32 pounds) in our baby jogger, but I know his attention span is limited as is my ability to push that jogger … so I know I can only go about three miles with him. But I have made it fun for him too. We like to run down a stretch in my town to a nearby park where we’ll play for a time, then we'll run back home. The key is he knows there’s also something in it for him, when I put him in the baby jogger. Good luck!

Denise in Brighton, Minn., asked me what I used for running shoes and which ones I think are the best. She also asked if running with an iPod is helpful.

Denise, I will tell you for my foot and the way I run, I tend to prefer Nikes. I have had many other brands before though, like Saucony and Asics. I like the Nike Shox, because I have had good results with them with little or no blistering. I think you really have to try them out and find what works for you though. Everyone’s feet are different. My observations: Nike seems to be better for people who have medium width or slender feet and need arch support. Saucony was good for a runner with a wider foot. Asics shoes have a new gel system, which I don’t know much about, but they look cool. Anyway, one thing you should do, if you’re a regular runner, is be aware of how many miles you put on your shoes. Just like tires, the treads and shock absorption go, so you need to replace your running shoes about every 500 miles. Sounds like a lot of mileage, but when you’re training for a marathon or other big race, it usually means your shoes last a couple of months. As for running with an iPod, again, if it works for you, do it. I usually run with mine, but sometimes silence can be nice too. Also, keep an ear out, as always, for traffic.

Perry in Leesburg, Va., asked me what my goal is for a finish time.  

Perry, New York is a difficult marathon. I would love to qualify for Boston, which would mean around a 3:40 marathon for my age group; however, if I do it in under four hours, that would be fantastic. The last marathon I did was Hartford in 3:43, so I would like to beat that, but I’m going to be realistic because after having a child, my body isn’t what it used to be.

Anyway, I will answer more questions next time, but again thanks for the great response and support so far. I hope Karen and I have helped motivate you in some way.  But please keep the emails and questions coming!

Extra motivation • August 15, 2006 | 11:00 am

What would possess me to run a marathon again, I thought to myself as I struggled through a six-mile run this past weekend. That was on top of having a terrible running week; I barely put in any miles with traveling for work and rushing to get home in time to have fun with my son. And did I mention how early I have to get up? I have a lot of reasons for procrastinating when it comes to training for a marathon. This is not my first, so I know I can get it done. It’s just that finding the time is half the battle. It always is. But this time, I have extra motivation.  

NBC VIDEO Cancer survivor's challenge is a marathon Aug. 17: The "Today" show's Natalie Morales and Al Roker talk with Karen Gorrell, who beat breast cancer, about her decision to run the New York City Marathon in November. Today Show Health

This will be my fifth marathon, but it is my first as a busy working mom. And I hope over the course of the next three months, as you read my blog and follow along with my training, you will be inspired, not just to run a marathon, but to accomplish whatever long-term goal you set for yourself.  How many times have you said, “Someday”?  Well, that’s one word I decided to eliminate from my vocabulary 11 years ago, when I caught the marathon bug for the very first time. I had always dreamed of running New York's marathon, but it seemed like too lofty a goal and too much of a physical challenge. However, I had just met my future husband and he too caught the running bug, and next thing I knew, we were training together. We crossed the finish line later that year — together — and he’s hoping to join me once more for a fifth try at running 26.2 miles.

There are many parallels in life to running a marathon, and that is so very true this time around. After having a child, I thought my marathon days were over. I’ve always kept in shape, but certainly not marathon shape. According to the training log I’m following, I should be running about 35 miles a week (yeah, right!) Well, there’s still time, I keep telling myself. Besides, running a marathon is not an impossible task. Sure, it’s a big time commitment and you do have to really train, but it is doable with the right attitude and motivation. And I have plenty of both. Joining me in the 12-week “Today Runs a Marathon” series is Karen Gorrell, who is training for her very first marathon. A working mother of two, Karen beat advanced breast cancer a little more than a year ago.

Karen says she confronted cancer with the same attitude that she does long-distance running: her head down and her mind focused on finishing — no matter what. In May 2005, after completing her treatment at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, she started running to get healthy again. Karen and I are running for the center’s Fred’s Team, which raises money for cancer research. (I’m joining the team in Karen’s honor.) Training for this marathon during the next couple of months will be a lot of fun — and a lot of hard miles, but the best part may be watching Karen cross the finish line on November 5.

If you'd like to sponsor Natalie and help her raise funds for cancer research, check out her page on Fred's Team. Natalie Morales joined “Today” as a national correspondent in February 2006. If you'd like to learn more about Natalie, check out her bio.

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