PUBLISHED 10/30/2007
Mike Richter has never run a marathon. Sort of.
The former New York Rangers ice hockey player (one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of ice), who will run this year's ING New York City Marathon actually ran a marathon earlier this year - as part of the Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid. "This is the first time that I said I'll train specifically for (a marathon)," says Richter. "It's been very interesting."
So without that pesky 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bike ride prelude, New York should be a snap, right? "Well, you can get yourself into more trouble here," says Richter. "You have so much motivation to go out fast."
Richter will be running on behalf of the ING Run for Something Better program, which "advocates a healthy and active lifestyle in the fight against childhood obesity." (During the race, Richter will be wearing a pair of the program's orange shoelaces; for your own pair, make a charitable contribution to the Run For Something Better program at www.orangelaces.com.)
RW: So, how long have you been running?
Probably about six, seven days. (laughs) Actually, I never really considered myself a great runner but I always enjoyed running. I used it more to prepare for a football season, or hockey. I was never on the cross-country team or anything like that. But I really did enjoy it.
Was there any one point in time where you thought, "Now I'm a runner?"
You know, that's funny because I don't know if I'll ever hit that milestone where I feel like I'm a runner. Look, if I could break 3 hours in a marathon, I'd want to break 2:30. You're always kind of arriving, you never really were there. But maybe where it clicked for me was when I started running not just to say, "This is of value to get me to play well," or "This is good for my cardiovascular system." It's something I do for the sake of doing it.
And not a means to an end.
Yeah. I mean it always is that, to get you in shape and make you lose weight and feel good, all those things. But it's just very enjoyable. I don't practice hours on end on a daily basis anymore, but whether I'm preparing for an Ironman or a shorter triathlon or a marathon, I can always run and always will.
About a year after I was injured, I was able to start working out again. Weights I really couldn't do. Sprints still gave me dizzy spells. But running was a way for me to start getting my fitness back. Then it was just something that I did as part of the day, like getting up and having breakfast. It becomes part of your makeup. And I think that's when it's valuable, when it's not just something you do once in a while. It's a lifestyle.
This will be your first New York Marathon, but your wife has run it a couple of times. Will she run with you this year?
She will not run this year, no. We've got little kids, so someone's going to be home watching those little crazies. She still runs; she just didn't train for this one. I think you can fake it for, maybe, a half-marathon and get through it - but this is one you probably don't want to fake too much.
As a two-time veteran herself, has your wife given you any New York-specific tips?
Yeah, the general ones, I mean the hills that are involved. Things like pacing yourself, nutrition. All the things you should know but can't hear enough. These are basic things, but people can get themselves into trouble even if they've done it 10 times. So I don't think I can hear that stuff enough.
You're a bit of a boldfaced name. Are you going to get any special treatment at New York? Or will you be in there with the hoi polloi?
We'll be in there with the hoi polloi. I think that's a nice way to go, for sure. One of the things about this is, it doesn't matter what your name is or anything else. No one else can run it for you so when the gun goes off, it's up to you to perform. That's really kind of a beautiful thing.
Lance Armstrong is planning to be back this year, again trying to break 3 hours. Are you going to kick his ass, or what?
Boy oh boy. I'm setting my sights more for Oprah than Lance. You know, this guy, I think it's really telling, won the Tour De France seven times. He's truly a gifted endurance athlete and even he got out of (his first marathon in last year's New York) and said it was the hardest thing he's ever done, and was nowhere really close to the elite runners, although he had an amazing time. I think it just speaks to how difficult the race is and how specialized these guys are and how great they are, the guys that are winning these things.
Do you have a goal time yourself? Or are you just going to go out and enjoy yourself?
All those things. I mean, thankfully I'm not relying on my running ability to put food on my table. So if I don't feel well, obviously it's going to be one of those days. My goal is to break 4 hours. It's not an insane goal. It's attainable. If I feel better, I'll certainly push it. I'd love to break 3 1/2.
