Marathon Training

Talks of marathons have been in the air for months now.  After backing out of the Marine Corps Marathon just weeks ago, Josh was giving me a lot of grief.  Although I was disappointed with not following through; life just got in the way and my training was weeks behind, I knew that I was making the right decision by not forcing the race.  However, over and over I have heard Josh say anyone could be a marathoner and that it wouldn't take much training to hold a 14 min mile (most course minimums) for 26.2 miles.   After spending a great deal of my life over the last year and a half dedicated to training (over 1000 miles logged) I was a little offended by his statements.  Not that I am a marathoner, nor do I think I am ready now.  But a lot of hard work, sweat and time go into conquering this large goal and it isn't going to be for anyone.  Yet, he persists that most anyone under 35 in moderate health could knock out a race like this on any given day .

And so the challenge began.  He found a marathon, that is now 5 weeks away, and signed us up.  His training plan doesn't exists, crazy I know, and mine was already in a few weeks (from the previous marathon training and multiple half marathons on my list) so it is building quickly now.  I am close to 40 miles a week now (this week will fall short a bit due to a 10 miler this morning being cut to 5...my body just wasn't having it) and really determined to keep this going so that I can no only finish this race but kick Josh's butt.

Tomorrow I will be running the Baldwin Park Half Marathon as part of my training program.  Paying for a race is practically insurance that I will get in a long run and be aggressive with my pace.  Not to mention it comes with a pretty medal at the end to add to the collection.  This race will mark my 6th half marathon for this year and coupled with a 2 mile warm up will give me a 15 mile long run this weekend.  I still feel like I am a little behind building my mileage for the full but at least I will be better off those who aren't training for the full (boy will I be eating my words if he finishes this thing).

Beach Running World Championships

This run started with poor nutrition, little sleep, and a sour attitude but that is certainly very opposite of how it ended. I have contemplated how to detail my lack-luster run through my blog and kept coming back to the same concept.  It wasn't my time that mattered, it wasn't my finish that mattered; it was my attitude and the experience I had along the way that mattered.

By the time I got to the first mile marker, my attitude had already greatly improved.  I mean the race was right along the shoreline and the sun was rising...how could you be in a bad mood when the world's beauty surrounds you and good health has allowed you to make another race regardless of lack or sleep or nutrition. Not only was I staying strong in my running pace, but the music was just right for the morning.  I tend to get caught up in my thoughts and music and the miles pass pretty easily.  Before I knew it 3 miles had passed and I was feeling really good...that is until the music died.  I knew very quickly that I had to focus on something else if I was going to keep running for the next 10 miles.

By this point there were many 10Kers that had started heading back to the finish line on this out and back race, so I played cheerleader for them and they were generally grateful (not to mention my encouragement is typically pretty entertaining and funny so I was cracking myself up). It wasn't too much further that the really strong half marathoners were now heading in the direction of the finish line, so my hilarious cheering continued.  Both time and miles passed quickly, but by the time I got to the turn around and then made it to the 8 mile mark in this very small race, there were very few runners heading in the opposite direction to cheer on.  Time to refocus my energy again; I noticed a runner using the Galloway method and we were playing a tag. I would be leading, he'd catch me; he'd be leading, I'd catch him.  I actually pulled out a great mile pace just pushing myself not to let him win.  But if you know me, you know...I'll eventually start a conversation with you.

Turns out this Galloway runner was a really interesting person and I actually joined his run-walk-run method to hear all about him "giving life the middle finger one more time," his actual words.  Scott was out running with his daughter who was training for a marathon in January and he wanted to support her pursuit of this goal.  We became instant friends and he revealed to me that he had not only had a kidney and a lung removed, he survived cancer once before and was about to start chemo again.  What a bad-ass!  I was so intrigued with his spirit and his drive and decided to run/walk the rest of the race with him.  We had 5 miles to become BFF's and it really changed my attitude from the beginning of the day.  In fact, I haven't been able to stop thinking about him since that day.  I find the world to be filled with so many wonderful people and when you couple this with an over zealous and friendly person, you find it isn't difficult to meet them.  So I present to you my new blog chronicling all the people I am fortunate to meet...drum roll please, "*My New Best Friend."

*My New  Best Friend is in the very early stages and is still being developed, but I promise great stories to come.