Running & distance… or not the distance

I’ve trained for and run two marathons. I completely understand the focus and hard work it takes to get to that finish line. I know all to well how all-consuming 26.2 miles can be for months at a time. And I wholeheartedly believe that reading articles and hooking up with other marathoners can be a HUGE support system during training. HUGE.

But when did all the running blogs become marathon blogs?

Why did people stop talking about running just for the joy and strength of running? What ever happened to running WITHOUT a training plan? Where are the runners who are out there logging miles, getting stronger, putting their all into the miles but not racking up 16, 18, 20 mile runs?

How about the half marathoners? The no-way-in-hell-ever-gonna-run-a-race-with-marathon-in-the-title runners? The runners who are signing up for the occasional 5k or 10k just for fun? The don’t need to race, just want to run runners?

I’m not necessarily talking about the individual’s blog who is currently training for a marathon. That person’s blog is likely about more than marathons and just dominated by the topic for a few months. I get that. It’s good. I’m talking about the blogs that have become running publications (because that’s what they are – online publications with huge readership). And suddenly these publications are raising the marathon up to such heights that the rest of us (or just me) are left behind.

It’s certainly inspiring to read about a person lacing up and making the marathon go from a dream to reality. But I’m at a point where it would be inspiring to hear from someone who just likes running and isn’t slogging through a training plan. Someone who shares the joy of a trail run or the conversation they had when they took a walk break (gasp). I’d love it if my blog feed stopped having the word marathon in 50% of the titles.

Maybe I’m just being grouchy and I need to unfollow a few blogs. But I feel a little like the lonely voice in an echoing room… Hello?? I like to run too! Sometimes I train for longer races but sometimes I like to walk and swim and ride my bike. It would be nice to find something that talks about the casual exerciser who sometimes trains for big races but always wants to be healthy.

Being thankful for: inspiration

Week #3 of the gratitude challenge: Who has inspired you?

When I saw this question pop up during my reflection time today I was bombarded with ideas. And while I could write an essay about nearly any single one of these people, I decided that since no one instantly rose to the top on their own – this was a post where I could do something broader. So today I am expressing gratitude for…

People who have inspired me

When I think of being inspired I think of action. I think of someone causing me to do something in a different way or that I would not have done without their nudge. Today this question of who has inspired me made me first think of running. And when I think of running… I think of runners… and when I think of runners I think of a whole host of people who have inspired me (consciously or unconsciously). I think of:

• Lori who inspired me to try my very first 5K when I adamantly insisted I wasn’t a runner.
• Barb who inspired me to tackle my very first half marathon even though the thought of it made me ill.
• Lisa who inspired me to dream of doing a marathon because a person I actually know and run with could do it.
• Jen who inspired me through her first Olympic triathlon to put myself out there and tackle one myself.
• My husband whose belief in my determination inspired me to give the marathon a second chance.
• The speedwork trainer – a program that I did on a whim – for inspiring me to believe I could run faster.
• Every person with gray hair that lines up at the starting line for inspiring me to a lifetime of staying active.
• The runners on the race course with whom I’ve exchanged heartfelt words for inspiring me to not give up.
• The online community of runners who share in celebrations and knowingly commiserate the tough runs for inspiring me to get out and run even on those days when I don’t want to.

I’m not inspired by a runner’s speed or form or physical fitness. I’m inspired by their determination, their work ethic, their willingness to take on a challenge, their ability to laugh while running in the rain.

Side note: This reminded me of a poem so I just stopped writing to look it up and I want to share this last stanza.

The Song of the Ungirt Runners
by Charles Hamilton Sorley

The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
But the storm the water whips
And the wave howls to the skies.
The winds arise and strike it
And scatter it like sand,
And we run because we like it
Through the broad bright land.

Thank you runners for inspiring me to go beyond myself… and to keep doing it because I like it.

Read about the gratitude challenge here.

Race Report: Indy Monumental Marathon

The full 26.2 is finally under my belt.

I wanted this race to be a celebration. Oh, I knew it was going to hurt (and it did) but I wanted to tackle it with joy and revel in the fact that I can run 26.2 miles. No time goal – I was just hoping to not give up on myself, to run my plan and finish with a smile.

I stood in the start corral all by myself (surrounded by a few thousand other runners). I turned on one of my favorite podcasts. I tuned out the distractions around me. I remembered my key scripture quotes. I prayed for a strong race and a strong finish.

I honestly don’t remember much about miles 1-9. I felt great. This part of the course is fun. I was cold (below freezing at the start with a brisk wind out of the north) but I had no real complaints. I saw my family (my husband, son & oldest daughter) for the first time in the 10th mile. My oldest brought her best friend from here and her best friend from Indy joined her too – they were an awesome cheer squad. They ran alongside me until I got to my 10 mile “snack break” and they walked with me for that. I saw them again just before the halfway mark. I was still all smiles and loved having them there. I was also happy to be turning out of the wind at the halfway mark. (I wished more than once that I kept my gloves with me – my fingers were painfully cold. Brrr!)

The support in miles 10-17 was fantastic. HUGE shoutout to the Meridian/Kessler, Broad Ripple & Butler/Tarkington neighborhoods! They were out with music playing. Handing out Halloween candy, sliced oranges, bananas, tissues. At mile 12 there was a table with two guys pouring beer into shot glasses and banging a gong whenever someone took a beer. At mile 15 I stopped to stretch when I saw my family again. I was starting to hurt in a few places, but nothing I wasn’t prepared for. Somewhere between miles 16 & 17 was a party in the street, people dancing, giving high fives and pats on the back – hysterical. Really – this part of the course was so very fun.

And then the course was so NOT fun. Mile 17 was on the campus of Butler University and there were students out walking along oblivious that a marathon was running past them. And then miles 18-23 were dead. Yes, the Indianapolis Museum of Art is in the 19th mile and it was truly beautiful but only for about 1/2 of a mile. After that there was nothing… no people… no distractions… nothing but the increasing pain in my legs and the voices in my head.

Did I hit the infamous wall in this stretch? I don’t know. There was never a point where I wanted to stop. There was however a long stretch of nagging doubts. “You aren’t good enough to run a marathon. Who do you think you’re kidding?” My family drove past at mile 18 and saw that I was struggling. I don’t know my husband’s plan prior to that drive-by but after it he managed to see me every two miles. I just kept focusing on that. “Just get through two more miles and you’ll get a boost. Just two more miles.” That’s what I said to myself over & over in mile 19, 20 (got to see them!), 21, 22 (got to see them!). I started to feel better knowing I could count the remaining miles on one hand. I think my daughter is the one who said to me – “4 miles, mom! You do that all the time, you’ve got this.”

I went into the race with a run/walk plan of 6/1 and was determined to stick to it. However, I blew off two run intervals and walked at different points in this 5 mile stretch. That was the only time I did so the entire race. Of course, when I was walking people were passing me which only added to my mental struggles. It didn’t help that this was the only stretch of the course I didn’t know. We used to live in Indy and I was very familiar with the course – except this section. I told my husband it was bothering me so he started giving me course previews when I saw him. That was a huge help. I got some texts from friends and I read them on my walk breaks. Those helped a lot. It sounds silly but I also started talking to myself (don’t worry, not out loud) and telling my feet, calves, knees, quads that they were strong enough. That I was not going to walk the rest of the way because I didn’t need to. I focused hard on my mantra:

Be truly glad there is wonderful joy ahead. 1 Peter 1:6

I didn’t blow off another run interval after that. Just past mile 23 you turn back onto Meridian for the final stretch. You can see the Soldiers & Sailors Monument straight ahead and you know that you’re not far from the finish. My mood lightened tremendously. When I saw my family again at mile 24 I think my husband was surprised to see me smiling and happy again. I knew I had it at this point. I was determined to finish strong.

Just as I crossed the mile 25 marker I took an unscheduled walk break because I really wanted to run the last mile without stopping. When I got to the one mile left sign I started running and smiling. I saw my family, now joined by my brother & his friend who both ran the half, I yelled “I think I’ve got this in the bag!” They laughed. I ran past the Carmel Marathon tent and those people who patted me as I went by and said the most encouraging words lifted me even higher. I turned the corner and saw the start of the finishing chute. I laughed out loud. I passed people. I turned into the finishing chute and my cheeks hurt from smiling. I laughed again and some people at the corner laughed and screamed for me. I passed another runner and ran across the finish line with the goofiest grin ever.

My family was waiting right at the finish and I yelled “I DID IT!!! ME!!! I RAN A MARATHON!!!” There were hugs and smiles and pictures. It was awesome. You better believe I crossed that finish line with joy.

Postscript: Here’s a funny observation: You know what it took to really come to terms with my first marathon? Running a second. It was during this marathon that I realized, even stopped short at mile 24, my first marathon was indeed a marathon. Two marathon medals are now on my shelf. The kid who used to sit under a tree at recess and read a book — she has now run TWO MARATHONS. Damn. I can hardly believe it myself.

I’m going to win the marathon

Yep, that’s right! I am totally going to win the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon this weekend. Oh sure, they’ll be giving someone else the first place prize money. The awards ceremony will actually take place while I’m still out on the course. And approx. 3,000 other runners will have a better finishing time than me.

But I’m going to win the marathon.

Because I’m dedicated enough to put myself through five months of training and workouts and stretching and watching what I eat and how much I sleep – all geared towards this one race.

Because I’m brave enough to stand at the start line.

Because I’m going to run the race with just as much determination as the elites.

Because I’m going to cross the finish line and smile.

A few weeks ago I read an article by running coach Jenny Hadfield. This quote is sticking with me:

“Winning is about running your strongest performance on the given day and then celebrating afterward.”

Saturday I’m going to throw the best I have at whatever the race throws at me. And afterwards I’m going to celebrate. Because I’m going to win this marathon.

It’s marathon week

I’m a person of action – a doer by nature. I’m impatient. I don’t do well waiting. Once I make a decision I want to act on it. So the week before the marathon is especially challenging. I want to get it over with before something else starts hurting. I want to start running before the voices in my head get any louder. (You know those voices that insist my weekly mileage wasn’t high enough… that things are hurting now because my body isn’t made to run this far… ) I want to throw this monkey off my back and have a marathon of which I’m proud.

With the exception of my calf injury, my body has behaved remarkably well this training cycle. My hips have rarely been an issue. My back has held strong. My feet have kept the aches to a minimum. I went into this training hoping to not beat myself up too badly and I think I’ve managed to come out the other side with that goal accomplished.

Of course, as I type this I’m dealing with back pain (it’s been bad for a week now) and both of my calves are ridiculously tight. I’m hoping it’s just my body grouchily adjusting to the taper. I saw the chiro/sports doc on Friday and am feeling noticeably better today. I’m going to see him again on Wednesday and then I’m on my own.

I know that I could not run another step between now and Saturday and I’d be just fine. My body knows what is coming. It’s my head that needs to get it together and relax. I’m not nearly the basket case that I was three years ago when I did my first marathon. I’m just ready to stop thinking about it and start doing it.