Bed-Stuy's NYC Marathon Runner: David Courage

Name: David Courage

Age: 34

Hometown: Bethesda, MD

How long you've been running: 

Pretty much my entire life, off and on for more than 25 years. I can still remember some of my first races, in Wilton, NH, where, instead of trophies or cash prizes, the winners received cases of Stonyfield Farm yogurt, which at the time, was just a local start-up. I grew up running 5Ks and 10Ks, and some of the souvenir t-shirts are still in my closet to this day. 

Why you are running:

The YMCA played an important role in my getting healthy again after a serious running injury a few years ago. After a month in the hospital and a few more months off my feet, I finally started walking and then running. I joined the Y and ran 5 minutes on the treadmill, then 10, then 30. But then I learned that I wasn't the only one the Y was helping. I joined the board so that I could help other people who needed the Y like I did- as a channel for healthy living.  

On the board, I had the opportunity to join the marathon team as a fundraiser. I knew that I'd have a lot of work to get to 26 miles, but I'm running to raise money for the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign, which funds tons of scholarships given to local kids and families who are actively trying to live better, healthier lives but can't afford the programs and services on their own. It's an opportunity to get back in shape, to thank the YMCA for their role in my recovery and to support a great cause! Please consider contributing here.

What inspires me:

People who find success and happiness by working hard, like my dad.

Training routine:

I follow the basic marathon training schedule, which starts at about 15 miles per week and over about 20 weeks, gradually increases to about 35 miles per week. During weekdays, I wake up, run, stretch, eat, pack a lunch, and bike to work (I think the regular biking helps a lot). I work on increasing speed with the weekday runs (4 miles). Saturdays are the long runs, which I do very leisurely. I'm learning how important it is to be patient (not being able to run 26 miles today, but building up to it slowly), to stretch (can make a lot of pain go away), to eat healthy and time your food right (eating and drinking before and even during a run), and to just enjoy myself (I listen to podcasts, especially on long runs).

Other tidbit:

I have a rescued pit bull, Raz, who can comfortably run about 6 miles and accompanies me on many of my shorter runs. When he's not running after squirrels or getting distracted by attractive lady dogs, he makes a half-decent training partner.