Married to the Marathon

“You can’t flirt with the Marathon, you have to marry it.” Kristen Armstrong
I was using this quote last weekend and everyone seemed to enjoy it and have a good chuckle over it, myself included. But then I really started thinking about it, and as I am in the midst of training for my fourth marathon, I gave some serious consideration to what “Married to the Marathon” means to me

1.  It means being serious about my training, and fully committed to it, no matter what. My training schedule is my training schedule and as much as possible I try to stick with it, and do it as written. Especially long runs on Saturdays -those are non-negotiable in my schedule. Even on vacation as proved in July in Virginia, 8 miles on my own, in the heat, on 1.75 mile loop that seemed endless at times, but I got out there and got it done. Of course if my body says rest, I do that too.


2.  It means eating well, to quote my dear friend Katia “Food is Fuel, it is not your friend” and this is no more true than in marathon training. Fruits, vegetables, and whole foods need to be more of my diet than processed junk. I try to go with a 90/10 ratio myself. 90% great stuff, 10% a little less great.


3. It means taking rest just a seriously as training, so on non-running days on the schedule, I do not run! And I take 1-2 full days off of any activity at all. Friday nights you will find me in my PJs by about 8:30 pm and definitely in bed no later than 10 if I can help it. Yes party animal right here!


4. It means long runs are long runs and not a race! My theory on long runs is any way I can get them! (The miles that is the miles). So on Saturday mornings at MIT you will find me, happily running along in my group (I adore you all) and not worrying too much about my pace, as long as it is with reason. Thinking that every single Saturday I’m going to go out and run just the same, is not going to happen. Weather, how I feel, etc, will always affect me to some degree.

5. It means having fun on this crazy ride called marathon training! I love running (most days), and I love seeing people achieve what they thought not possible. So coffee after Saturday morning runs is a treat I treasure, my friends are blessings I adore, knowing I can do something only 1% of the population has ever done is exhilarating!


I am happily married to the marathon! At least most days I am, and on those days I’m not, well my friends can remind me!


Run on Friends,

Heather

Marathon Day

Yesterday was Marathon Day- let me first say that yes I finished, and yes I had fun, and yes I will do another marathon!

The day started early at 5:00 am when my alarm went off and I got dressed in the pre-dawn, just as I had many, many times before as we had prepared for training runs. I ate my peanut butter toast and gatorade and headed downtown to meet up with my MIT team- we had a hotel conference room to stretch, and stay warm until the start. It was quite chilly at the start yesterday (around 40 degrees I think).

When it was time we walked to the very crowded start line- Christi and I went to the back (our usual postion) so it took us about 5 minutes or so to get to the actual start line. And we were off!

The first 13 miles seemed like they flew by to me, I ran much of it on my own since Christi was behind me. I did do the rookie mistake of starting too fast, so the second 13 miles were tougher. I really felt pretty good until about mile 22- and then it was harder, not to mention this was the most "icky" part of the race- through a not so very nice neighboorhood. But my friend Shannon (who had run her own half) met me at mile 23 and ran the last 3 miles with me.

As I got close to mile 26 Julie (another friend and coach) met me and ran me up the last hill. Jeff was waiting at the top of the hill for me, and when I saw him I lost it, total uncontrolable sobbing- but he ran down to the almost finish line with me and said to put my hands up and smile! So I did.

Mom, Daddy, Holly, Billy and Peyton were waiting for me at the finish line with flowers! And I got a big hug from Peyton and a "good job on your running Auntie Heather".

I wore my medal proudly all day yesterday! I feel pretty good, my legs are sore, but they are supposed to be! I'm so proud to be a marathoner!! I will definitly do another marathon (next fall in fact). I never ever could have done it without my running friends and MIT!!

Congratulations to Shannon- who PRed her half. And to Christi and Kristen- my fellow Marathon finishers.

Also 4 of my friends PRed today- 1 in Columbus and 3 in Detroit. Congratulations Nicole, Terri, Amy and Vince!! You guys ROCK!!

Tapering

This week has been intersting as I've tapered for my marathon on Sunday, I've never really excelled at the taper, and I guess training to run twice as far has made me twice as nervous- or twitchy as my co-workers have been calling it all week.

Since we've cut downs so much on our miles it's hard not to feel anxious I guess about the upcoming marathon. I've heard and been told a dozen times by experinced marathoners that this is all normal, and to be expected. Well okay if they say so!

I'm trying to get more rest, and eat plenty of carbs this week (good thing I happen to love all manner of carbs I guess). I am feeling ready for the marathon, and I know all the training will pay off.

I am to be interviewed either tomorrow or Friday by the local news regarding my marathon experince as a first timer. :) So that should be fun!

The weather for Sunday looks to be perfect with a HIGH of 63, so that's awesome and just perfect for me. Ahh the joys of a fall marathon- see I knew there was a reason fall was my favorite sesaon.