To run or not to run the marathon, that is the question?!

A week ago Monday I went on a ten mile run. During this ten mile run I was reflecting on and comparing this run to my first ten mile run. My first ten mile run was the end of October 2010. I know this because the annual 15K Hot Chocolate Race in Chicago was about a week away. At that time I had only been running for a couple of months but when I first heard about it a Hot Chocolate Race I wanted to run it. However, I talked myself out of signing up for it knowing that I couldn’t run that far. I was mad at myself. Here I was telling myself I couldn’t do something, again. That morning I woke up and just decided to prove to myself that I could do it. So I mapped out my ten miles and took off. It is the first time I remember ever having blisters on the bottoms of my feet but definitely not the last. It felt good to prove to myself that I could do it. It would be another a few months before I did it again but now ten miles is my favorite distance to run when I have the time and the weather is nice.

This run last Monday I was just out enjoying the run. I had nothing to prove. That’s when I started thinking about the marathon. You see almost daily someone ask me if I am going to run the marathon again this year and always tell them I don’t know. I don’t know because we are moving this summer, Lavender’s job is going to be more demanding of her time, Susan graduates, there will be a killer graduation party, Susan will move off to college, and I will hopefully be starting my first teaching job. All of this would take place during peak marathon training. I ran it last year in the middle of student teaching, fundraising, and working but I had something to prove to myself. I needed to prove to myself that I could do it. I needed to tell myself that I could run 26.2 miles in under 6 ½ hours and then do it. I don’t need to prove to myself that I can do this. I already know that I can. I want to run the marathon again but just not this year. I am not going to stop running. I ran all winter long. It’s my therapy. It’s what I do for myself. I will be out this year just enjoying the run. However, come 2013 watch out. I plan on finishing the Chicago Marathon in less than 5 hours!

"I plan to run that race so hard I won't want to think about racing for at least 48 hours."-L. Thorvilson

Post-Marathon Blues

I received my official finishers’ certificate from the marathon about a week ago. That was cool. I ran an 8k Turkey Trot in Chicago on Thanksgiving beating my time last year by 5 minutes. That was cool. My daughter was a volunteer at the Turkey Tot and it was great seeing her 3 ½ miles into the race. I have enjoyed sleeping. I have also enjoyed being able to hear my wife preach on Sundays. Since I don’t have to wake up early I have enjoyed some late nights out and a few extra margarita’s to go with those late nights.

It was hard training for the marathon in the middle of my crazy busy year. There were times when I thought not only was I going to go insane trying to ‘do it all’ but that I was going to make my family insane with me.

Here I am now a month and half later and I miss training for the marathon. I miss the long runs. I miss the time by myself. I miss the runners on the trail. I miss the therapy it gave me. I miss the pain in my body. Yep, I miss the pain. I miss the joy of reaching a new running goal.

When people ask me if I will run another marathon the answer is “YES!” I want to run again next year but I am not sure I can commit to the training this upcoming year but I already have dreams of destination marathons in my future. I can’t wait to do it again. Who would have ever thought I would say that?

Right now I have the post-marathon blues but I know there is another marathon journey around the corner and I hope when it happens my friends and family will not be sick of hearing me talk about running and journey with me again.

Run On!

Running is Not a Solo Sport

Running is not a solo sport. I discovered this long before the day of the marathon.

There were mornings when Lavender would gently nudge me out of bed telling me that I would feel better if I got up and ran. When I was having a really hard time getting out the door she would offer to run with me or ride her bike beside me.

Friends gave me encouragement by asking me about my training and making positive comments. Relatives and friends came together to donate to Children’s Memorial Hospital the team that I was running for. Every donation that I got gave me extra motivation and energy. In the end, I raised almost $1100 for Children’s Memorial Hospital with everyone’s help.

Fellow runners that I met on the path were other sources of energy. We would say encouraging things to each other as we crossed paths or if we were taking a break and walking we would often share our running stories with one another.
I don’t think I could have trained without all this awesomeness around me.

I know I couldn’t have finished the marathon without ‘my team.’

Lavender and Erin met up with on mile 2. I was feeling strong. I stopped to kiss Lavender and I am pretty sure I had a big goofy grin from excitement. I took off running and they took off on their bicycles to catch up with me later. I saw them again at mile 6. I had even more speed behind me and I was feeling good. I waved at them and ran on. The next time I saw them it was mile 12. I was still feeling fine but slowing down a little.

When I reached the half-way point of 13.1 miles, the sun came out and started beating down on me. My stomach was killing me. The fact that I hadn’t eaten enough was also becoming apparent. Exhaustion was also setting in; I had been awake since 2AM. (It’s hard to sleep the night before a marathon.)

Lavender and Erin were waiting for me at mile 14. This time I stopped and hugged Lavender. She was literally holding me up. I was having huge doubts about finishing. I struggled to make it to mile 16 where Lavender and Erin were once again waiting to encourage me.

Then at mile 17 I was surprised to see my friends Bill and Dianne. They walked with me as I complained about my stomach issues (probably in too many details). They left me at the bathrooms and waited for me where Erin and Lavender was also waiting.

When I met up with them, Lavender walked with me until the 18 mile. Walking with her was just like any other long run where she would ride her bike out to meet me, offering me fresh water and encouragement. After that, I was back in the marathon and ready to finish.

Erin ran with me at mile 20. It was the encouragement that I needed to keep running. Lavender was waiting at mile 21 and they rode off together.

Mile 24 I met up with them again. This time when I saw them I was crying because I knew that I did. I knew that I would finish. I knew that the little girl in gym class that always got picked last for everything was about to finish a marathon.

I was more aware of my surroundings and present in the moment during those last 2.2 miles than at any other time during the race. I talked to spectators and runners. It was the most painful, rewarding, and beautiful 2 miles that I have ever ran.

I saw Dianne and Bill again at mile 26. I know I was smiling goofy because despite the pain I was feeling good. I saw my daughter, Alison, and their friend Ian at mile 26.1 holding up signs.

I cried as I ran over the finish line and they placed the metal on my neck. At that time all I wanted was my team. The people who made sure I crossed the finish line. Running is not a solo sport. I couldn’t have done it without them. I am forever grateful.