HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Having conquered the jitters of his first wedding day, Ryan Reynolds is ready to take on his newest challenge — the New York City Marathon.
"I am not a runner. I am a running joke," admits the 31-year-old Reynolds, who married actress Scarlett Johansson last month in Canada, in a letter posted on The Huffington Post. "Waking up at 4:30 am and jogging anywhere from 11 to 23 miles has been nothing short of horrifying. Although, I've never given birth to a professional basketball player through one of my tear ducts, I can't imagine a worse way to start the day."
The actor says taking the plunge for the Nov. 2 run is nothing short of a miraculous turnaround. Two years ago, Reynolds says he took in the race as a spectator, where he witnessed "guys coming in to finish with bleeding nipples."
"Why in the hell were their nipples bleeding? People were crying. People were limping, hobbling, screaming, crawling. But most importantly, people were experiencing a sublime rapture that I couldn't even hope to understand," he writes. "They were touching something magical no stalk-still mortal simply watching the race could comprehend."
Reynolds is in this current position thanks to an encounter with Michael J. Fox a year and a half ago, which led him to take on the 26-mile challenge to raise money for Parkinson's disease.
"Like so many before me, I found it impossible not to be touched by his story of overwhelming strength, passion and relentless commitment to help those afflicted with this insidious disease. The man is inspiration exemplified," the "Definitely, Maybe" star writes of Fox.
The Canadian native also decided to take on the challenge as a tribute to his father, Jim Reynolds, who he says "spent the last 15 years in a life or death struggle with Parkinson's Disease."
"Witnessing my Dad suffer over the years galvanized my need to step up," he says.
Reynolds says he's hoping others will join him in his effort to raise money.
"I know we're in rough times and there are literally millions of causes worthy of your hard earned cash," he writes. "It's my hope the story of my father combined with my own goal of becoming the first person in history to sob uncontrollably for 26.2 miles straight, may inspire you to give something too.
"If you happen to be in New York on November 2nd, come down and watch. Feel free to bring a smile, automated defibrillator, or a fresh set of nipples."
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