Marathon Madness

I have decided to train for a marathon. (You are probably asking yourself the same thing I have been- what is she thinking?!) There are a few things that have gone into this decision that I will share in a moment. I am a pretty private person, so the fact that I even have a blog is a bit out of character. Even more out of character is deciding to document my training publicly. I figure, even if no one ever reads this blog, I can revisit my posts when I am 85 years old, wondering what I was thinking or if it actually happened. So, in a sense, it could me me and my 85-year-old self reading this, but either way, it's open to the public for inspiration...or entertainment. Either way works for me. 

What led up to this decision, you ask? Well, I guess it goes back to March 2014, when I was placed on modified bed rest at 27 weeks pregnant with my munchkin, Sky, now 7 months. I was used to working out almost everyday, so once I was told to sit around, my mind became restless and I panicked that I was going to gain a bazillion pounds that would never come off. Since I had limited options at that moment, I decided to sign up for a 5k in October as motivation to get back in shape after the pregnancy, and also as a reminder that I wouldn't be immobile forever. 

Fast forward a few months to July, when I started training for a 5k. (Yes, I had to train to run 3 miles- I started off not even being able to run a mile.) Running, as I've learned, is not something that comes easy unless you do it. No matter how in shape you are, unless you have been running specifically, it feels like torture. Well, my husband, Kyle, decided to join me for moral support despite the fact that he hadn't worked out in quite awhile. So, he also trained for the 5k. We didn't run together because we had to take turns watching the kids. Plus, he's a lot faster than I am, having much longer legs. I'm not competitive at all, but it was nice to have someone to compare progress too. When he said he was up to three miles, and I was only at 1.5 miles, I knew I probably needed to kick it up a notch. I think if he hadn't joined me initially, I would have trained for the 5k and called it good. 

Somewhere along the way, I started to enjoy running.  (Keep in mind these were distances of 3ish miles, which is 23.2 miles less than a marathon, and yet here I am thinking I should train for one... good reasoning, right?!)  Yes, I started getting back into shape. More importantly, I started gaining confidence and realizing I could do what I put my mind to. We've all heard the "mind over matter" phrase, but I have never really pushed myself too much. In the past, I'd get bored or a bit tired with a workout, and never pushed past the wall. I decided start pushing past my mini goals: to run through the discomfort, or until the end of a specific song, or past a certain mailbox before taking a break. Once I realized how much stronger my mind, body, and confidence were becoming, I became a bit addicted. (I am not going to lie that it also helped get the pregnancy weight off quickly. Not only from the pregnancy with Sky, but I had 10 pounds left from the pregnancy of my older daughter, Jade, that came off as well. That alone was worth the few minutes of misery each run.) 


The date of the 5k came, and it was a bit of a joke as far as needing to train. It was more of a party 5k- the kind that people dance along the route. It was a Blacklight 5k, so it was night time, with no lighting except for the party stops where people throw colored powder all over the place and you inhale it if you are actually trying to complete the course. I imagine neon colored lungs look pretty cool, but it didn't feel so great. The track was super crowded and was not what I had in mind. Fun? Yes. Worth all of our training effort? Not one bit. The race even ended with a DJ and giant party- again, very cool but doesn't exactly scream "serious running event." I decided I couldn't stop with that race. So I started researching "non-fun" races where they actually time you. I planned on a winter series to help me stay motivated and give me enough time to train for a slightly longer distance. The Winter Distance series includes one in December, Santa Stampede (5k or 10k), one in January, Frosty's Frozen (5 mile or 10 mile), and one in February, Snowman Stampede (5 mile or 10 mile). So, that's what I am working on currently. I ran the December race- I had the option of a 5k or 10k. I took the 10k option. I am still shocked I chose that option as well. My goal was to run a 10k (6.2 miles) in 1 hour and 5 minutes. I made it in 1 hr flat. Beating my goal time made my month and added to my addiction. This whole concept of meeting or beating my goals was becoming powerful! (Plus, having my husband and kids at the end cheering me on was terrific.)


 I felt like a marathon was just insanity, but a 10 mile or 1/2 marathon may be enough to strive for. So, I started researching some 1/2 marathons scheduled in the spring. In the meantime, I decided I am going to go for the next race in the Winter Distance series, on January 17th, and that I would train for the 10 mile. Being that it is January, I haven't officially registered, as I draw the line as running in artic conditions, so I decided to wait until last minute instead of committing myself to running in the snow weeks in advance. Now that the race is in 2 days- I know the weather will be excellent- upper 50s, which is uncommon for January.  Might be a sign, right?  I had planned to run the 10 mile as the next logical step, and realize that I may have momentarily lost my mind. Nonetheless, the race is in two days, and I am going to run 10 miles. Being my second timed race, I am nervous. The Santa Stampede 10k was me just being naive, now I have an idea of this competitive racing, and how long the 6.2 miles seemed. Now I have to run 4 miles further than that....what. am. I. thinking? (You know this won't be the first time I ask myself this.) 

Along the way, I mentioned this wonderful running idea to a counseling client of mine during a discussion about self-care and positive coping skills. She recommended a book that she loved reading, "The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for Women," by Dawn Dais. It is hilarious, and very inspirational, and did I mention hilarious? I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud while reading it. Dawn actually spares no details about the joys and horrors of training for a marathon, but reading this book is what made me decide to train. If Dawn can do it, so can I. (I'm sure if she read this blog, she would laugh at that sentence because she was a self-proclaimed couch potato who probably never realized she was going to inspire others until after she wrote the book.) One of the sections of the book has space to journal about funny things that happen along the journey of training for a marathon. There is another section for writing down your reasons for training for a marathon (and all of the arguments against those reasons when you are exhausted and running is the last thing you want to be doing.) So, this is the start of keeping track of my journey, and also the start of tracking my reasons for training for and running a marathon. I may start getting desperate, but reason #1 is that running a marathon burns the calorie equivalent of 674 M&Ms- more than I can ever imagine eating. It may not be my best reason, but is good enough to be my #1 on my list! If people are actually reading this and have any good reasons to run a marathon, or any funny running stories, please do share!