I found out a few weeks ago that two former co-workers/current friends have decided to run a marathon for charity.
They’ve chosen to run the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska so I cannot be there to support them but I am excited to support them through the journey of training for a marathon. Neither one is a runner; although both have been athletic in the past, so I think that they will be able to do it physically. Their success will be riding on their mental ability to maintain consistency during their training and slog through the long, slow miles of their long runs.
It has been fun to share running tips and advice with them and I hope to get a chance to run a training run or two with them. Their enthusiasm and nervous excitement about running the marathon has served to amp up enthusiasm for my own running.
During my long run on Saturday, thinking about what was in store for them, I started to reminisce about my own beginnings. I remembered those early mornings on the treadmill before work, running up to 10 miles at a time, before I found the courage to run all my runs outside (well after my first marathon…and even second). I thought about the excitement that quickly turned to anxiety after I signed up for the marathon and realized that there was no turning back.
Also, I thought about my own marathon experience. I distinctly remember that stomach wrenching feeling within the first mile when I run through a turn on the course, looked behind me and didn’t see a single runner. For the briefest second I thought I was absolute dead last. My stomach nearly dropped out of feet before I realized how preposterous a thought it was and finally a swarm of runners came around the corner.
As I was coming up on the halfway mark in the marathon, I saw my in-laws and my FIL ran along side me with his video camera, asking me how I was doing. On tape, a bit breathlessly I say, “I’m feeling good” but in my mind I was thinking “Good…really? Did I just say ‘good.’ Wow, I guess I really am feeling good. Am I supposed to still feel good? Oh god, am I doing this right?” A minute later, a mini-roar goes up and I see Mike and two friends cheering from the sideline. The image of Mike trying to both cheer AND take pictures was comical. I did; however, feel like a rock star!
During Saturday’s long run, my body started to get tired sooner than it usually doesn’t, probably because I am still recovering from a lingering cold bug and I decided to take a short walk break to eat the Fig Newtons I had brought along with me. As I munched my fruit and cake, I smiled at the memory of the magical banana my Mom had waiting for me at Mile 22 of the marathon; a banana so magical, the mere thought of it pulled me through miles 20 and 21 and gave me the renewed energy (physically and mentally) to get through the final four miles.
I wonder if my friends will have similar experiences. What running stories will they have to tell?
One thing is for sure, just like me, crossing the finish line at the end of their first marathon will be an experience they will not soon forget. It is hard to describe and it just sounds trite when I try to explain the joy, the near-tears, the amazement, the astonishment, the fear, the exhaustion that shot through my body all at once. I thought about this on my long run and I know I had a goofy grin on my face.
As I slowly tromped along the bike path thinking about these things, I realized there seemed to be more runners out and about than usual for a cold, February morning. There were lone runners, tall and lean, gliding along almost gazelle-like, and groups of runners with their waist belt hydration systems that I assume are training for a big race together. I saw small groups of runners, in twos and threes, out for a morning running, chatting away the miles as I imagine they’ve done on nice Saturday mornings for years and years.
I wonder, how many of those runners have their own first marathon stories to share and how many of them are in the process of making them right there on the bike path as we pass?
Today’s Daily Dozen
Skipped XT today because my quads are still sore from Saturday’s long run
Showing posts with label Saturday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saturday. Show all posts
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Old Route"
This weekend’s long run went so well! If I’m honest, I ran it faster than I should have but it felt wonderful to be out there Saturday morning.
I fell asleep Friday night, thinking about the different routes I could take and how to get in 10 miles. Just before I nodded off, I thought, “why not take the old route?”
My “old route” is the along the Custis Bike Trail to the W&OD south toward Alexandria and the airport. It is 10 miles from my usual starting spot to National Airport along the bike trails and I ran this out-and-back route for varying lengths every weekend as I trained for my first marathon. It was comforting during that initial training to become so familiar with the route that I knew exactly what mile I was at and how long it would take me to get home. It was the equivalent of running the “back of my hand” and I credit it with getting me through some tough and anxious moments during my training.
In fact, it wasn’t until the weekend AFTER my first marathon that I made the novel decision to turn east on the bike path and run toward Rosslyn.
Two years later and I’m still exploring the area’s running routes, rarely running that “old route” because it was so familiar. I’ve found a perfect 8 miler that incorporates Roosevelt Island and a hilly but invigorating route that takes me through Arlington National Cemetery. I’ve run to other neighborhoods – Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. I’ve run home from work and discovered that I love to run commute. I’ve run trails and run to trails to meet up with Mike for a hike. I’ve run in DC as the early morning sun baths the monuments, memorials and museums of our nation’s capitol in soft, peaceful light – the calm before the storm of tourists who descend each weekend.
I’ve run all of these places and hardly given a thought to my old route, the one that got me to the starting line of my first marathon. It hardly seemed fair and as I got ready to run my 10-miler Saturday morning, I decided to give that old route another chance.
I know each turn and hill along the route. I know that the overpass means 1 mile down (or 1 mile to go), the straightaway allows for a speedier end to mile 2, the tennis courts mark 3 miles, mile 4 is hillier with rolling ups and down and the 5 mile turn around spot is just after I pass under that nice stone bridge. Then, I know that all I have to do is follow these spots, tick them off one by one and I’ll be home in no time.
I was relieved that all of this familiarity was still there Saturday morning, almost 2 years since I ran the same route for that last 10 mile long run before my first marathon. And I felt great!
Even as I told myself to slow down and take it easy, the “old route” had energized me more than I expected and I was running fast. I averaged 10:00 miles throughout the run when I should have been closer to 10:30, and I even ran the final mile in 9:05!
I’m still not going to running my old route as regularly and faithfully as I used to, and I am already planning a new 12 mile route for my long run in two weeks, but I know that the “old” and the “familiar” aren’t always a bad thing. In fact, they can sometimes be just the thing to reenergize my runs.
I fell asleep Friday night, thinking about the different routes I could take and how to get in 10 miles. Just before I nodded off, I thought, “why not take the old route?”
My “old route” is the along the Custis Bike Trail to the W&OD south toward Alexandria and the airport. It is 10 miles from my usual starting spot to National Airport along the bike trails and I ran this out-and-back route for varying lengths every weekend as I trained for my first marathon. It was comforting during that initial training to become so familiar with the route that I knew exactly what mile I was at and how long it would take me to get home. It was the equivalent of running the “back of my hand” and I credit it with getting me through some tough and anxious moments during my training.
In fact, it wasn’t until the weekend AFTER my first marathon that I made the novel decision to turn east on the bike path and run toward Rosslyn.
Two years later and I’m still exploring the area’s running routes, rarely running that “old route” because it was so familiar. I’ve found a perfect 8 miler that incorporates Roosevelt Island and a hilly but invigorating route that takes me through Arlington National Cemetery. I’ve run to other neighborhoods – Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. I’ve run home from work and discovered that I love to run commute. I’ve run trails and run to trails to meet up with Mike for a hike. I’ve run in DC as the early morning sun baths the monuments, memorials and museums of our nation’s capitol in soft, peaceful light – the calm before the storm of tourists who descend each weekend.
I’ve run all of these places and hardly given a thought to my old route, the one that got me to the starting line of my first marathon. It hardly seemed fair and as I got ready to run my 10-miler Saturday morning, I decided to give that old route another chance.
I know each turn and hill along the route. I know that the overpass means 1 mile down (or 1 mile to go), the straightaway allows for a speedier end to mile 2, the tennis courts mark 3 miles, mile 4 is hillier with rolling ups and down and the 5 mile turn around spot is just after I pass under that nice stone bridge. Then, I know that all I have to do is follow these spots, tick them off one by one and I’ll be home in no time.
I was relieved that all of this familiarity was still there Saturday morning, almost 2 years since I ran the same route for that last 10 mile long run before my first marathon. And I felt great!
Even as I told myself to slow down and take it easy, the “old route” had energized me more than I expected and I was running fast. I averaged 10:00 miles throughout the run when I should have been closer to 10:30, and I even ran the final mile in 9:05!
I’m still not going to running my old route as regularly and faithfully as I used to, and I am already planning a new 12 mile route for my long run in two weeks, but I know that the “old” and the “familiar” aren’t always a bad thing. In fact, they can sometimes be just the thing to reenergize my runs.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Early Morning, Empty Gym
It's early on a Saturday morning. I always wake up early on Saturdays, which means I almost always have the gym to myself on the weekends.
Since I'm healing from what I suspect is a stress fracture in my right foot caused by overtraining for a fall marathon, I've been hitting the gym in my apartment building lately to use the treadmill (walking only BUT lots of inclines), the free weights and occasionally the recumbent bike. Being injured and not being able to do what I love to do -- running -- has forced me to reintroduce myself to opportunities of a gym.
This morning with the gym to myself I hopped on the treadmill, turned up the music on my Shuffle, opened the latest edition of Runner's World, and sang along as I upped the incline for an hour long powerwalk (occasionally increasing the incline and speed to get my heart rate up and the sweat going). These early morning Saturday treadmill sessions in the gym have provided me with the opportunity to perfect the fine art of treadmill dancing, something I could never do when I am out running. I look at it as a way to work the arms as well as legs.
Towards the end of the hour another Saturday morning early-riser showed up to the gym and that put an end to the dancing and singing. Somewhat sheepishly, I finished off my powerwalk, cooled down, and hit the weights for full body strength training workout, I call Broccolis (well, really, BROCCLS but its close enough -- Bench press, Row, Overhead pull, Curl, Crunch, Lunge, Squat. I guess I need find another "O" and an "I" exercise). Preferring free weights to the machines, I hammered out the upper body work but struggled with the lunges and squats. Taking off a month from running and weights severly impacted my fitness.
Happy, energized and a bit smelly I returned home...just in time to see Mike off for some Billy Goat Trail Rock Scrambling. I am bummed I can't join him but I think my foot might be able to handle it next weekend! However, I'm thrilled to have once again had a whole gym to myself for a little while early on a Saturday morning. It's a great way to greet the day!
Since I'm healing from what I suspect is a stress fracture in my right foot caused by overtraining for a fall marathon, I've been hitting the gym in my apartment building lately to use the treadmill (walking only BUT lots of inclines), the free weights and occasionally the recumbent bike. Being injured and not being able to do what I love to do -- running -- has forced me to reintroduce myself to opportunities of a gym.
This morning with the gym to myself I hopped on the treadmill, turned up the music on my Shuffle, opened the latest edition of Runner's World, and sang along as I upped the incline for an hour long powerwalk (occasionally increasing the incline and speed to get my heart rate up and the sweat going). These early morning Saturday treadmill sessions in the gym have provided me with the opportunity to perfect the fine art of treadmill dancing, something I could never do when I am out running. I look at it as a way to work the arms as well as legs.
Towards the end of the hour another Saturday morning early-riser showed up to the gym and that put an end to the dancing and singing. Somewhat sheepishly, I finished off my powerwalk, cooled down, and hit the weights for full body strength training workout, I call Broccolis (well, really, BROCCLS but its close enough -- Bench press, Row, Overhead pull, Curl, Crunch, Lunge, Squat. I guess I need find another "O" and an "I" exercise). Preferring free weights to the machines, I hammered out the upper body work but struggled with the lunges and squats. Taking off a month from running and weights severly impacted my fitness.
Happy, energized and a bit smelly I returned home...just in time to see Mike off for some Billy Goat Trail Rock Scrambling. I am bummed I can't join him but I think my foot might be able to handle it next weekend! However, I'm thrilled to have once again had a whole gym to myself for a little while early on a Saturday morning. It's a great way to greet the day!
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