Experiencing a Different Life

 "If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon."

~ Emil Zatopek, 1952 Olympic Gold Medalist in 5k, 10k and Marathon

Truckin' at mile 21

When I was training for my first marathon, people thought I was a little crazy. Marathons are hard and I was a runner but a casual one. I've already detailed in an earlier post how I came to be a runner at all.

People who knew me were skeptical. A lot of dedicated runners refuse to run marathons. People who think nothing of running 15 ~ 20 miles won't go the final 6.2 miles. I had never even run a half marathon or a 10k. What made me think I could finish a marathon?

People who knew me really well knew I would finish because I'm stubborn. But they thought that would be the end of it. After all, marathons are hard and I was a casual runner. I'd drag myself across the line, check marathon of my bucket list and that would be the end of it.

My sister knew I would do another marathon when I texted her, "Finished!" at the completion of my first marathon. She knew because of the exclamation point. And the fact that I like being a little different.

Don't get me wrong, running a marathon still hurts. I walk oddly for two days afterwards and hurt in places I didn't even realize were involved in running.

I knew I'd finish the marathon again but I had some doubts about my training this time. I didn't need to worry; not only did I finish, I knocked 10 minutes off my previous time. And I'm already thinking about my next marathon in 2015. If I start training now and get a really good, solid base of running now, my pace should improve and I should be able to PR again, maybe cut another 10 minutes. I've got a long term goal now as well, to get under 5 hours.

I'm not sure I can truthfully say I enjoy running marathons but I don't hate running anymore. And the feeling of doing something intense and crazy like a marathon feeds a part of my soul that wants to be a rebel. I rebelled against running as a child; now, running is my rebellion.

My life is different because I run, because I run marathons.

Some highlights from this year's marathon:

• Singing the National Anthem with the other runners at the start and getting compliments from everyone in the Port-A-Potty line with me.
• My dad came to watch me run. He was able to see me at four different points (~ miles .5, 6, 11 and 25) in the race.
• A dear friend came to watch me run and saw me at three different points (~ miles 2, 5, and 21) in the race (and took some pictures)
• Two co-workers came to watch me run and saw me at two different points(~ miles 12 and 21). They were impressed that I was still running at mile 21.
• I no longer believe in the wall. I do believe in a mile of mental jello, difficult and mental and pace reducing and mile lengthening but still possible to get through. Just keep moving. I. Will. Not. Stop. (I also believe in the Blerch).
• Keeping a sub 12 minute pace for over 3 hours. And running down Greeley with less pain than the first time. The downhill training paid off.
• Remembering and honoring those who had their lives forever changed in Boston last April. It may take me a long time, but it would be pretty awesome to run the Boston some day. Even if I'm eighty.

Wasn't Once Enough?

Two years ago, I ran the Portland Marathon. Tomorrow, I'm doing it again.

My training has been different this time around. I started training earlier but I didn't train as hard. I didn't have Hood to Coast to train for this year (second year in a row of denied entry; they promised us guaranteed entry for next year) so I didn't run hills as much as I did the last time. However, I did focus a bit more on running downhill than I did last time as I remember how hard it was running down Greeley.

This year, as a mid-training test, I ran a half-marathon in Forest Grove. I did better than expected but that had unexpected results. If I was doing so well, I could cut back on training, right? I eased up on mid-week short runs but completed more of my weekend long runs, including a 20 mile run a few weeks ago. That run was both encouraging (I finished it) and discouraging (I didn't hit the pace I wanted to). But I did it; two years ago, the longest I had run was 15 miles.

I also had a week-long running break in September, just before my taper when I went on a cruise to Alaska. But I did do a lot of stairs on the ship. Up and down, 11th deck to 7th to 14th and back multiple times a day. Figured that should help a bit with the downhill as well, at least that's what I've been telling myself.

I'm not worried about tomorrow; I've completed a marathon before and I know I can finish. But I am worried about tomorrow because I was not where I wanted to be training-wise when I started my taper. Last time, my goal was to finish. This time, I want to beat my time from before. And, if I can cut 20 minutes off my marathon time, and keep that time or better in my future marathons, when I'm 80, I'll qualify for the Boston.

Once wasn't enough and I'm already thinking long-term.