Your GREATEST moments will come when you feel the weakest!

November 5, 2017, I RAN the NYC Marathon… and I SWORE I would never do this whole 26.2 thing again… well kinda… ya know in the moment when you forget WHY you did this and WHY you're fighting so hard... take a journey with ME as I share HOW I became NYC Famous...

In February 2017, Jason and I entered into the 2017 NYC Marathon lottery for the THIRD time! This has been a bucket list item for myself for many many MANY years and as each year passed, my hopes of one day getting accepted was getting smaller and smaller--- it really does get to a point where you’re like WTH is going on; this shit is RIGGED! So like every other anxious runner, we entered and tucked away that excitement for the next month… #literallycountingEVERYdayasitpassed

Well come March 2, 2017 aka LOTTERY DAY… our credit card was charged ONE entry fee! For those that do not know how these lotteries work, basically you enter and secure your spot with a credit card. When the drawing takes place, the FIRST sign that you are IN is that your credit card is charged #BOOMgoodbye250dollars; later your account on their racing site is updated and you’re able to SEE that you are officially in. Only little mishap for us was that I kinda entered the SAME credit card for Jason and I so when that credit card got charged ONCE, EVERY emotion took place--- tears, excitement, anxiety, fear… and a little anger; OMG, what if JASON got picked and not me. {This is MY bucket list item, not his! Of course I’d be happy no matter what but let’s be real here, I wanted this SOOOOO bad! Please please please let it be ME--- hahaha} So choked up and all, I pick up the phone and call him, calm as ever for a quick second and then I scream “ONE OF US IS IN THE NYC MARATHON”… and then I cried! I was SOOO excited that one of us was in but WHO WHO WHO is it?!?!! What would we do if it was me… but what if it was HIM?! I made him swear that he wouldn’t run it without me. #whatsmineisMINEwhatshisisMINE (hahaha) Refreshing our accounts over and over again for the next 6 hours was all I had in me to do that day--- which I know it’s hard to understand but IMAGINE crossing the finish line in one of the most PRESTIGIOUS races of all. IMAGINE getting that award that you’ve worked so hard for. ENVISION what it would be like to graduate with that degree you’ve dreamed about. Yeah… this falls up there too when racing and fitness is your LIFE! #fit4lyfeSTRONG

Patiently waiting to see WHO it was… I refreshed one more time around 3PM and like a ray of light…IT WAS ME! KICKING and SCREAMING like an excited yet nervous 4 year old... and then...TEARSSSSSS!

Knowing that this is something that Jason and I really wanted to do together, we decided to join the amazing St. Jude organization and raise funds for their charity. Doing so would grant Jason entry into the NYC Marathon as well as race week/weekend perks. This was honestly one of the BEST things we could have done for our NYC marathon experience. Not only did Jason raise an incredible $3600 but each and EVERY person supported this beautiful organization AND a dream that Jason and I had--- THANK YOU from both of us; YOU made this possible for us to do it together! St. Jude was ahhhhh MAZING! Day before the race we had a beautiful lunch where we got to meet other runners as well as get a pep talk from their very own racing Coach. Race day, we were transported from Central Park to Staten Island via a courtesy bus and then provided a heated tent with food/coffee/etc etc as we waited the 3 hours for our start time. For those that race, you KNOW how hectic this “waiting” period can be. You’re already nervous and stressed that the LAST THING you want to do is be uncomfortable for an extended period of time. St. Jude and the entire CHARITY VILLAGE at Staten Island was ON THEIR GAME! I highly encourage anyone that wants to run a race like this to research and get on board; it was an incredible perk and you’re supporting something GREAT!

OK so back to getting accepted and deciding WHAT to do next. Training plans went into full effect as soon as I found out. For me, this would be my 3rd Marathon (Miami 2015 and 2017) and for Jason, this would be his 1st. Being gym owners, coaches and trainers, I was able to take my own experience and knowledge to put together a plan that would work for us. I designed the 20-week schedule around our already HECTIC lifestyle (Jason working full time, both of us teaching classes/running Fit4Lyfe, 3 kids, activities, school, home, keeping our interval training, running, RACES, etc etc etc… ya’ll parents KNOW what I’m talking about!). This 20 week schedule would allow us to train separately during the week (cause ya know these little minions of ours need to be watched every now and then) and then complete our weekly long run together; which is an experience in its own because Jason and I do not race nor train together. Jason and I train “differently”--- I like to blame it on he’s a guy, I’m a girl, and it’s just DIFFERENT and we’ve got different goals and he runs different and I train different and I like to run with no music and he likes music and I like to take small breaks and he doesn’t… the list goes so long that you would think our training together would be a total bust. BUT, we sucked it up, got to work and took it ONE run at a time. We had our arguments and struggles. We’d run and he’d put me in my place and remind me of my goals and well… I just decided to huff and puff and remain quite. What I really wanted to say was…this is my 3rd marathon and I know what I’m doing… but I SAVED my words for race day! #toldyouSO ;-)

With the INCREDIBLE support of our parents and working together to care for our little dudes, Jason and I were able to COMPLETE all but THREE long runs together (one while he was away at OCRWC and two because he got injured)--- this deserved a GOLD MEDAL in itself because it really wasn’t in our cards to be able to stick to this plan! We had doubts when we first started training that we wouldn’t be able to run together BUT we kinda make this commitment that we would just START and figure it out as we went along. Life is like that anyways; you don’t always know HOW you’ll do something but you just gotta put one foot in front of the other and figure it out as you need to.

We ran just about EVERY SUNDAY together! We ran HARD; like faster than I ever have. We trained HARD; like almost EVERY day with one day being an active recovery. We went out on Friday and Saturday nights and still got up EARLY AF on Sundays to TRAIN (double workouts in our earlier weeks of training). We drank so much water and electrolyte mix and we ate so many CARBS on our carb heavy days and enjoyed EVERY SINGLE moment of it… and oh yeah, we went VEGAN [well me more so LACTO-VEGETARIAN (Google it)] 3 weeks into our plan too--- WTF were we thinking?!?! Not sure on that one BUT that’s another blog in itself because it truly was one of the BEST things we could’ve done for ourselves and our HEALTH. We made NO excuses for ourselves and even on weeks that were really hard and we had no energy and felt like running was the LAST thing we wanted to do, we set like 3 alarms, pulled our shit together, laced up our shoes and did what needed to be done; not saying one word because sometimes life is just HARD. It wasn’t easy but it WAS possible! And it WAS 100% worth it! CORRECTION... 200% worth it!

Training went well! I put together a very precise plan that included runs, sprints, Fit4Lyfe workouts, lifting and one longer run weekly. It worked with OUR schedule and not a plan that you or your partner could follow; it was personalized and the way EVERY plan should be. This was tailored to our life, our needs, our schedules and more. It worked for US! We fueled our bodies according to our goals and we had FUN doing it--- many times hitting goals that we once thought were impossible!

On October 14, 2017, Jason participated in the 15K portion of the OCRWC in Canada and got injured; we were DEVASTED! Happy that he did AMAZING in this race and marked off another bucket list item but NERVOUS that now we are sitting at 3-weeks prior to the marathon with no telling if he could recover, walk, run or even finish the training that we were doing SOOOOO good with! Talk about an upper cut right hook with a side kick in the gut when you least expect it--- this was NOT in the plan and if you know me well, you KNOW I’ve got NO time for this nonsense! We got plans, goals, a schedule… booked trip… a MARATHON to run! Tears… AGAIN!

Jason returned home… limping and in pain! My heart BROKE for him. He trained SOOOO hard for this and deserved every ounce of that glory. #BAMF BUT I knew that being strong is also part of the plan. He got checked out by the best of the best at OAUSA (well deserved shameless plug) and they determined that he had a bruised heel with some plantar fasciitis. FORTUNATELY it wasn’t anything worse BUT nervous that we were cutting it really CLOSE with healing time. He was in a boot for a week with doctors orders to NOT run and really take it easy. SOOOOO that’s what he did. He RESTED... in silence because I’m sure it hurt him more to talk about it.

Race week was upon us and as we made our final preparations, I fell into an anxiety overhaul!!! Kids! Pets! Weather! Travel! Its one thing to race close to home BUT now to travel to another STATE and stay in a hotel with an unfamiliar bed and eating foods you may normally eat and well the list goes on and YES, I’m THAT paranoid person. Running 26.2 freaking miles is not easy and sticking to your schedule is ideal. BUT all in all, everything fell into place the way it should and I was able to CHILL .

We arrive in NYC on Friday morning before the race and head over to the EXPO. This is where the energy and excitement begins. Packet pick-up, shopping, pictures and more. You get to ask questions, meet other racers, and determine your day of plan and so on. I could honestly say that I stood there, the MOST prepared that I’ve ever been with a feeling that I’ve never had before. I’ve waited soooooo long for this and after weeks and weeks of training, this was IT.

Jason and I took those two days prior to reflect on the journey, to enjoy NYC, to eat really good food and to attend as many race events as we could. We were honored to be a part of the St. Jude’s luncheon where we got a pep talk from their very own Coach Kevin. Kevin was real and RAW! Everything he talked about was sooooo real and soooo relatable. I held Jason because I KNEW he was about to face one of the hardest things he’s EVER encountered—we were NOT in Kansas anymore babes, this shit was going down!!!

RACE DAY! Waking up at 4am to catch a 530am bus was not something that was new to us. Our mornings at home START at 420am and our days are just are crazy. Taking the St. Jude bus from Central Park to Staten Island was beautiful— but all I could think about was “did I eat enough” “did I drink enough” “I don’t think I went to the bathroom” “shit did I rest enough”. Tears... again! F$$K!!!!! St. Jude provided a heated tent, food, drinks, hangout area and more. Our 3-hour wait was much more comforting knowing we had these amenities.

After a few more potty breaks, it’s 1045am and we line up for our 11am corral! It’s OFFICIAL, we’re IN this. 3...2...1... we’re OFF! I quickly fall into my pace while Jason whispers in my ear “you need to slow down”. LOL is exactly what I did!!! #truth. Up and over the first bridge and we’re immediately at our training pace— F$$K YESSSS!!! I have NEVER felt this good. No music. No worries. Just us and thousandsss of runners on the same mission; to hit 26.2 ALIVE!

We hit mile 8 and were being cheered on by our incredible squad, my sister Jessica and our two good friends Kevin and Wendy. EVERY mile was an accomplishment and EVERY step of the way was filled with fans! You honestly felt like EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON was screaming YOUR name—NYC is something else!

At mile 13 was when it happened... Jason was hurting and of course he needed to pee. HOW this man peed so much is beyond me BUT we stopped, drank some electrolytes and we got right back into it; reaching our pace once again. #YESweareGOOD

Mile 16, he’s hurting bad; or so his mind says! His hamstrings hurt more than anything. I could see it in his face and I had to turn away before I started crying. #tearsAGAIN I reminded him of what Coach Kevin said “your mind is going to tell you everything hurts... it’s a LIE”! He told me to keep going and to leave him. I wanted to. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about it. I trained SOOOO hard for this. My training was immaculate. My body was in the best physical shape it’s been. I’ve fought the Marathon mind games and I knew how to push myself and him. BUT we talked about doing this together. The thought of crossing that finish line without him was not something I came here to do. I wanted to PR my marathon at a SUB 4:00:00 and I KNEW we could do it but at that moment, I also knew that I needed to accept that wasn’t going to happen. So I looked at him and told him “NO, we’re in this together”. We took it ONE mile at a time from that point on. He struggled and I struggled from having to stop and go stop and go. We met our squad at mile 19 and that was the BEST everrrrr. Mike and Ike’s and Vitamin Water was EXACTLY what we needed!!!! Quick stretch and back to it. Through the boroughs we continued, making memories together. I remember telling Jason that no matter WHAT, he needed to leave it ALLLLL on those streets. His hamstrings were not gonna pop and he was gonna be FINE. He probably won’t remember half the shit I said because he was in so much pain and I was probably annoying him but whatever; that’s what wives do.

Take a journey with me down the FINAL 2.5 miles through Central Park...

“Its SUPER BOWL DAY and you are one of the top 2 teams in the NFL. You’re jumping up and down getting ready to run out on the field. You can hear the fans yelling YOUR name... TOCCI TOCCI TOCCI... as you say another prayer and take a deep breath. It’s about to go DOWN. This is IT. The day you’ve been waiting for, the FINAL game. The final run. Make it this final stretch and you’re the WINNER! BUT wait... calm down now... don't get too cocky now... you've still got a game to play and it’s NOT over until it’s over!”

And just like that, the small street was LINED shoulder to shoulder with fans; young and old. No matter HOW you were feeling at that moment, it didn't matter, you couldn’t stop now. You’ve been running the last 4-6 miles 100% with your heart. These last few steps were filled with EMOTION! Cold! Rain! Soreness! Exhaustion! Mental GAMES! It was ALLLLL worth it! The fight was WORTH IT!

Jason and I crossed that finish line just as we started--- TOGETHER! This journey would NOT have been what it was without him by my side and I'm completely humbled knowing that NO MATTER WHAT happened, we were WINNERS--- TOGETHER! NO ONE could take away this victory and TOGETHER, we become 2017 NYC FAMOUS! #tearsAGAIN

Jason, babe, THANK YOU for everything! Thank you for supporting my dream. Thank you for ALWAYS pushing me. Thank you for NEVER giving up on me and US. I would NEVER be able to do any of this without you. Words will never express how blessed I feel. THANK YOU!

Thank you again to EVERYONE that has supported us in the past, present and future! Our parents and Isabella for helping to make this possible and to our FIT4LYFE FAM that is truly our BACKBONE in everything we do. We believe in leading from the FRONT because there is NOTHING that you cannot do. Set your mind to it and GOOOOOOO!

So some ask whats next... WELL, now that I am fully recovered, I had some time to pull myself together and work on a few future goals. I could not stay away from the marathon course too long so I'm headed to prove to MYSELF that the SUB 4:00:00 IS possible for me. I will tackle the MIAMI MARATHON come January 28, 2018 and I'm training my little tail off to be BETTER than I was yesterday. 2018 is going to be a different year for me, I'm going to transition into the swim-bike-run world and tackle some TRIATHLONS! Life is a JOURNEY and I believe in constantly challenging your mind, body and SOUL to become who you've always wanted to be. My motto is SIMPLE... "If you never GO for something, HOW do you know you won't be good at it? The ONLY way to know is DOING and DOING is the first step to ACCOMPLISHING"!

Until next time... Peace.Love.Lift.RUN.Fit4Lyfe! <3

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So I ran the NYC Marathon {Coach Sandy's Journey}

December 10, 2017Sandy Tocci