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

Marathon Training: The Beginning

6 06 2012

Remember when I signed up for the Lakefront Marathon back in February? So it’s been a few months and while I know it’s out there I haven’t really thought about marathon training. Well that’s not completely true. I have thought about it, but not in the sense that it should start soon. Then Kelsey had to go and tell me it is in 18 weeks. And then Mo blogged about it too. Stupid friends. I was happily living in my own world.

The good news: I have a ridiculous base to go into marathon training with this time. I have run 25-30 miles a week almost every week since November. The only month under 100 miles since October was January. I run 12-14 miles on any given weekend.

The bad news: I have never successfully trained for a marathon. Yes, I have completed one, but I got injured, never ran my 20 mile training run and had to completely change my goals

The good news: I am a strong and smarter runner now. I am not training alone or blindly. In addition to having a running coach I have Sara. Running with Sara is fantastic. I know I have gone on and on about this, but I never truly understood how helpful it is to have a running buddy so well matched to your own abilities.

So in essence I’m not exactly sure when “official” marathon training starts, but it’s going to happen and I am going to be ready for it.


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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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What is it about the marathon?

3 10 2011

I’ve already posted on why I am not running a marathon this year. It can really be summed up as “I don’t want to”. But that is not to say that I never want to run a marathon again. And that question I can’t answer right now.

It is marathon season. I have friends all over the country setting PRs and getting ready for their fall marathons. In all honesty I am jealous. I am super proud of my friends, but I am jealous. I almost tear up reading people’s race reports.

Why does my body hate the marathon?

My good friend J ran a 3:25 at the Lakefront Marathon this past weekend. Her previous PR was 3:38, which was her first marathon. Of course now she has completed an Ironman and runs like a crazy woman. J is awesome and super supportive of my running. She is fast, never condescending, and always asks how my training and races are going. She talks about her times in a way that makes it seem normal. I was so excited for her when I got the updates Sunday morning. But again, a little jealous and not of her time.

Will I be able to run another marathon?

I can’t even count how many of you out there are running Chicago this coming weekend. I am so excited for you. And while Chicago is a bit of a sore spot for me I wish I was coming to cheer for the runners. I trained my ass off for it last year and didn’t get to run. MCM is coming up as well. I can’t even describe how much fun I has spectating and cheering for my friends. MCM just makes me miss DC and my running buddies and reminds me of an awesome day last year. I love watching my friends reach goals. I love supporting my friends.

What is it about the marathon?

It is 26.2 miles. Why do I want to run that again? What is it about those 26.2 miles? I love the half-marathon. I love 13.1. I don’t even want to think about how many tears I have shed over the marathon. Or how much money I have spent on doctors appointments and physical therapy visits. Who gets a stress fracture in their femur? Me, that’s who. To this day that is how people react. Medical professionals included. I am just that special.

I don’t need to run another marathon. There is no need. No one expects me to. I really think it might just be to prove to myself that I can do it without getting injured, but (and this is a huge but), I can’t take another marathon injury. It is heartbreaking. I think I consumed too much of my injury last year.

Will there be another marathon?

No idea. But I do wish everyone good luck at Chicago and PDX (and all the other races out there) this weekend! I will be racing the Army 10 Miler in DC (another fantastic distance to race).



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