The emotions of marathon training

6 08 2012

I had one of those terrible horrible make you question why train for marathon runs this weekend. I know those are bound to happen. I know it’s the weather, but it is so defeating. I was mad. I was upset. I wanted to get to my planned mileage. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. It just wasn’t going to happen.

Now I expected there to be ups and downs during my marathon training. That is bound to happen. This is the third time I have trained for a marathon. I kind of know what to expect. I also know to expect the unexpected and that so much is out of my control. But I wanted this to be different. I foolishly thought it would be easier. I have no idea why, but I thought it was going to be. I have the experience of having run a marathon and having not made it to the starting line. I know the good and the bad. That doesn’t make it any easier. Not even a little bit. I wanted this to go smoothly.

I was supposed to be training with Sara, but it’s summer and life happens. We are both really busy. We still get to do a lot of out weekday runs together, but we have barely been able to match up any of our long runs. We did have one totally amazing run on what can only be described as a magical day. It wasn’t hot, it wasn’t humid, it was actually nice running weather. I want that all the time. I know that’s unrealistic, but it’s what I want.

I never expected the summer from hell. I know summer running isn’t easy, but this is horrendous. It’s killing my spirit and my desire to run. But I am not ready to give up. I still want to run the 26.2 miles. I still want to cross the finish line. I still want to do it all. I want to do the 20 mile training runs. I am prepared for the ups and downs that will come over the next few months. And on October 7 I will toe the start line with Sara by my side and we will both cross the finish line with smiles on our faces.


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Categories : Training

I’m running another Marathon

4 02 2012

I did it. I registered for the 2012 Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon. I will be running 26.2 miles again. It’s been awhile. My one and only marathon was the Philadelphia Marathon in 2009. I had no idea what I was doing then. I had run my first half marathon only 4 months prior. I bought a book (I did do some research) and followed the intermediate plan. I finished, which is really the only thing that matters in your first marathon. I finished within my B goal which was set after I injured myself and had to stop running four weeks out from the marathon. I was very happy with how it went. I am pretty sure I cried when I crossed the finish line. Running a marathon is not something I ever thought I would do once and I did it. I ran 26.2 miles and while I know no one can ever take that away from me I want to do it again.

I want to prove to myself that I can train for 26.2 and not get injured. While I want to ignore 2010 completely and block out the disaster that was training for the Chicago Marathon, I can’t. I have to remember how I over did it. I have to remember what happens when you run through the type of pain that you shouldn’t run through. I will not dwell on the emotional roller coaster I went through, but I will learn from my mistakes.

This time I will run it with friends. With people I know I can run races with. Friends I love running with. I will train in the city I will race in. I will get to train with lots of other people training for the same race. I will be able to do the training runs in Milwaukee. I don’t have a time goal this far out. I am sure we will come up with one as we get closer. For all three of us it will be getting through those late miles that haunt us from past marathons. I will not let marathon training take over my life. I do look forward to post long run naps because those rock. I will not be afraid of those 16+ mile runs. I know I can do it.

On October 7, 2012 Maureen, Sara and I will cross the finish line, together. And it will be awesome.


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Categories : friends, Just Me, races, Training

I might be doing something stupid

2 02 2012

So um, I found myself on the Lakefront Marathon site today. I don’t know why I was there, but I was. I have written about the marathon a few times before: Why I didn’t run one in 2011 and then questioning the allure of the marathon.

My short marathon history goes like this:

  • I ran and finished the Philadelphia Marathon in 2009
  • I sign up for, trained, and got a stress fracture in my femur in 2010
  • I didn’t run over 13.1 in 2011

Well it’s a new year. I did not include a marathon in my 2012 Running Goals because I really believed I wasn’t ready to tackle 26.2 again.

And so the story goes, enter Sara, the most compatible running partner I have ever found. Add into it that we have become friends beyond just running together. Training for a marathon would be a lot more tolerable doing it with Sara. Next chapter in the story is Maureen, I met her at Ragnar last year. She is an amazing friend and we always have fun at races. She saw me and Sara tweeting about it and said she would consider another marathon if Sara and I were doing it. Suddenly I am very intrigued. Running a marathon with my two favorite people to run with? What could be better? It would be 26.2 miles of fun.

The feeling of crossing the finish line is indescribable.

So now I have to decide: Do I run another marathon?


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