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Greg Ricken

@runwithricken

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@gricken916
12 X Half Marathon (1:32:36 PR)
4 X Broad Street 10M (1:08:09 PR)
3 X Marathon (3:28:30 PR)

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After getting hurt last year, I made the decision to push myself to run 2 marathons within 3 weeks in2025. Everyone said I was nuts and that it was too much but I never second guessed myself. Running 600 miles since July and in 6 states, I knew I was ready. Unfortunately the NYC result wasn’t what I wanted but I was excited to have a second chance 21 days later.

Breaking 3:30 finally happened yesterday and I still can’t stop smiling. Thanks to my parents, Dan and Ben for seeing me 4 times on the course, to my friends who cheered me on or who texted me all the time about training, and to the best running group in the country, Endorphins. Wouldn’t have been able to do it all without my amazing support team! Now time to relax! taken in Philadelphia Marathon by @runwithricken

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a year ago

2nd NYC Marathon complete! Best day of the year in New York Ciry! Although the time isn’t what I hoped for, I’m proud of myself for finishing it. Was feeling amazing until my legs locked up really bad at 23 to the point I couldn’t walk and could barely lift my foot on curb to stretch. Luckily, Dan was spectating at the block where it happened and encouraged me to keep going. Big thanks to the medical volunteer who sprayed me with biofreeze and also to a lady spectator at mile 24 who gave me a pickle when it happened again. While thinking I would DNF, the saying “marathons don’t owe you anything” really hit me. It didn’t matter how hard I trained, or how well I was doing for the first 3 hours, my time goal was gone. I did my best to jog the rest of the way and never was happier to cross a finish line!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the course, cheered me on, texted and called me and just supported me throughout the training block.

Fortunately, I’ll be racing the Philly Marathon in 3 weeks and will be hoping for a better result. But if it doesn’t go well, after Sunday, I know I can handle anything. taken in TCS New York City Marathon by @runwithricken

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a year ago

Officially hit 1300 miles and sub 1:36 half for 2023. Very proud of these goals but I know I can get a lot better. Thanks everyone for their encouragement and joining me on a bunch of these runs. Looking forward to doing more group runs and getting more involved in running community. 2024 goals: 1500 miles/ sub 90 half/ sub 3:25 full. What are everyone’s goals for 2024?? taken in White Plains, New York by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

NYC Marathon recap/ what’s next?

I crossed the finish line at 3:34:05. Leading up to the race, my goal was under 3:30. I came up with a pace plan for every mile basically going 8:20s on miles with uphills and 7:50s for flat and downhill miles.
That plan went to shit coming down from Verrazzano Bridge into Brooklyn when I went to mid 7:40s right away. I wanted to slow down a bit but Brooklyn was just one gigantic party so I just didn’t. I passed so many friends and people yelling “Go Greg” (until the sign fell off) that I just let adrenaline take over. Seeing my family at mile 4 also gave me an incredible boost so I pushed through. I was a bit nervous for Queensborough Bridge by mile 15 but that came and went with no problem. I was CRUISING so well that I actually beat my parents to 100th street (18) but luckily I had my cousins there to provide major encouragement.
I was way ahead of schedule that I stopped for bathroom break by mile 19 and was still 3-4 minutes ahead of 3:30 pace I was feeling great! Until the wall hit me just as I hit mile 20. I walked for few seconds through water station and told myself just get to 23 to see parents. I got to them still just ahead of schedule but I knew my goal was over then. They cheered so loud but unfortunately I was no match for 5th ave hill so I had to walk a bit a few minutes after. This pattern happened once more around 40K but after that I told myself I’m not walking again so I finished it.
Overall, although I’m a bit disappointed in last 6 miles I’m so proud that I broke 3:35 on first marathon (and run over 21 miles.)

So what’s next?? Right now I will continue to chip away at my goal of 1300 miles for 2023 (currently at 1125) and I’ll also be running 2 half’s in March. I have my eyes on Philly marathon next November and NYC again in 2025.
I know it sounds crazy, but I believe that I’m still in the beginning chapters of my running journey and can’t wait to see what will come.
Thank you to everyone who has followed, liked, commented, texted, cheered and congratulated me through every step so far. It means the world that I have your support. by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

Yesterday was one for the books as I completed the NYC Marathon. As if finally making my dream a reality wasn’t special enough, I was lucky to do it with two of my closest friends and my brother. It was easily the best and hardest (last video) things I’ve ever done in my life.

To my parents, who came all the way from Florida, who ran all over NYC to try to see us 3 times and then organized an after party for all our friends

To Ben for being the “tour guide” for my parents and his parents (who drove all the way from Ohio) to watch us race

To all of my friends and family from all over the country and the world (Canadensis ties run deep), who either reached out on social media or texted me before and after, or who showed up ALL over the city screaming and yelling for me and celebrating afterwards

Thank you so much for making this day so special. It was a day I’ll never forget.

Not sure when but I’ll be back, NYC marathon #nycmarathon #firsttimemarathoner #nyrr by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

Last hard workout! 20 miles 2E+8M+1E+3E+1E+3M+2E.
So happy about this one. Lot of stopping and starting on last 10 though because of lights and quick pit stops at CVS and Jack in Box but the 8M had no stopping. Straight through, paced in mid 7:20’s!
22 days till the marathon, time to recover and stay fresh! Sub 3:30 or even 3:25 is definitely possible!

Also , such a beautiful run but didn’t want to keep digging through pockets and take photos.

NYC friends and family planning on watching the marathon, scroll through to see my race day fit 🔥 taken in Scottsdale, Arizona by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

3.fucking.hours. 3.5 miles longer than ever before!
Plan was originally 20 miles but got permission from @evanbwood to increase to 3 hours.
Felt great for the large majority of the run but last 3-4 struggled a bit with the hills. Took more stoppage time than I would’ve liked but went to bathroom twice, had to find which tree I hid water bottle in twice, red lights, and stopped to talk to my friend who bikes 45 miles today! (Awesome job boys, @chipperjacobson12 @alexanderregissienko )….took a minute to catch breath later on too.
All in all, successful run! Longest of training bc I won’t do more than 20 in 2 weeks! Bonus footage: had to run up the Rocky steps!! taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

The main purpose of this account is to hold myself accountable so that means I will post good AND bad runs. Well, I can’t remember a worse run than this, even way prior to start of plan

Workout was 2E(8:20-8:45)+2M (sub 7:25)+1E+3M+1E+3M+1E+3M+2E. I felt great for the beginning and was doing my M about 5-7 seconds per mile faster but then mile 12 came. Struggled on the easy and went about 9:00. I planted a bottle at 13 and stopped run to drink it. Still had 3M left but as I started going for last 5, literally had nothing left. Had no energy and every step off ground has no power so went last 5 at 8:30ish. Had gels at mile 5 and 10 and felt good about that but can’t go 13 miles until water. Need to fix that. Not end of world, real only BAD run of training so far.

Total run: 18 miles/2:25:25 (8:05 pace) taken in Kensico Dam by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

18 mile long run today. Longest of my life. Best part is I only stopped for a minute around 1.8 for bathroom and then ran continuously rest of way!
Big thanks to the FJXC team for the birthday singing this morning, handing me water bottles and cheering me on along the way today.
At 30 now, I’m so glad that I fell back in love with running after barely running from 18-25. 10 years ago. I would’ve thought you were nuts if you said in 10 years I’d be back to running and now training for Marathon! 50 days till NYC let’s get it! taken in Lorimer Park by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

16 mile hard run today at Kensico Dam!
2E+6M+2E+4M+2E
Almost ran myself out of it by mile 3 but settled into pace. At 3rd mile, my watch kept saying 7:50 pace so i kept pushing harder until I split 7:04 (when I was supposed to hit 7:35)

Smooth sailing for most part rest of way. Stopped for water by mile 11 and also had to stop for traffic a couple times. Easy week coming up and then halfway done with training! taken in Kensico Dam by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

Workout day on the home turf.
1.7 warmup
6 X800m all 3:10-3:13 with 3 min jog in between
1.3 mile cooldown

Huge workout after long run on Sunday. Most importantly…140.58 miles in August! 💪🏻🏃🏼 taken in Father Judge High School by @runwithricken

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3 years ago

16.2 miles today! Proud of myself for running 2.2 more miles than ever before but honestly, bummed I had to stop. I probably ran too fast for first 11 and combined with not hydrating well enough before, it makes sense that I had to run into CVS to get water bottle.

First time during training that I had to stop on a run. Should’ve known not every run would be perfect. I’ll bounce back from this. See you in 10 weeks, @nycmarathon taken in Schuylkill River Trail by @runwithricken

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3 years ago