A lot of you know that we are marathoners, well, it wasn’t always that way. I remember the day my high school track coach told me I had to join up with the distance runners to see how it went… pretty sure I puked. I was not made to run long distances, this is factual. Through the rest of my high school career, I spent time logging in a few miles a day and running mid-distance, vowing I would never ever do it again after I graduated. I got bit by the bug again in college and frequented half marathons. I was always so incredibly proud of what my body was capable and continued to push the limits on what I thought I could do. Before our wedding we vowed to run our first full together, we trained and trained and finished in good time. Well, after a foot surgery that laid me up for months last year, I wanted to test fate again – only this time, I am not so amped as the race gets closer and closer…
To be honest, I am sort of dreading our full marathon next month… just 26.2 miles on a Duluth morning by lake, no biggie – right? Life got busy, we bought a house, we have social lives, and running hasn’t been at the top of our list of to-dos. I have gotten hooked on CrossFit and my five day a week CF schedule is throwing quite the wrench in my training. As I attempt to do two-a-days for the last few months, my body has been begging for a break. Hang on body, we have one more month. Although we have kept on track with our long runs, we haven’t been putting in the time we should be and our long runs are anything but pretty (or fun, for that matter.)
I would by lying if I said that at this point in time I was loving running. I’ll have the occasional run where I feel like I am floating, where I soak in my surroundings, where I smile as I jam out – but lately, I continually glance at my watch checking my milage and willing it to be over. This next 26.2 will be anything but easy, but I am just in it to finish and once again complete a marathon. Any good vibes, juju, and prayers are accepted as we finish up our training. I need all the help I can get, my friends. I think my mom was right when she said that we should have just crossed it off of our bucket lists and moved on – dang it mom, you’re always right. Oh well, we are in it to win it (not really, that’s what the Kenyan’s do!) but we will get out there and do our best, one step at a time.
I am excited to finish this marathon and then get back to enjoying running, not dreading it. I am pumped to run for the heck of it and to not be consumed by milage, paces, and goals. Today I am sharing a few of the things that training this time around has taught me:
1.) Things aren’t always beautiful: it’s okay to get sweaty, spit, and move on. If you focus on the beautiful around you, suddenly the act you are completing isn’t as bad as it once seemed. Fixate your thoughts on the good.
2.) The cute shoes always give you blisters: it’s kind of like those gorgeous high heels that you are daring to wear out, you end up with blistered feet and barefoot walking home. Having solid shoes is like running on clouds – haha, I wish.
3.) It’s okay to walk a few steps: I used to never ever ever stop for anything, now I am finding myself taking a minute to stretch every five miles and gosh darnit, it feels great to stop and rest for second or two. Don’t be so consumed racing that you forget to slow down.
4.) Plan accordingly. Rest, fuel up, prep your body. We’ve been running on tired muscles, sore bodies, and I’m telling you that I am the worst at taking days off. This time around, I am learning that rest is crucial to perform – in life and in running.
5.) Don’t get caught up in numbers. When I stop looking at my pace, my distance, my time, I can just enjoy what my body is doing. Letting go of number is tough, in many aspects of our lives. Let go and do the act… then, enjoy it.
6.) Celebrate the small victories. We felt dead after 15 miles, then 18, now 20. We need to stop at each milestone, sweatily hug one another, and bask in the fact that we are getting there. It doesn’t happen overnight, neither does success.
7.) One foot in front of the other. Sometimes it feels like you can’t possibly run another mile – I am sure I will feel this was 100 times on race day, it’s the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other and continually repeating that will get you to the finish line.
8.) Set little goals to achieve big results. I found that when I broke up my runs into mental increments, it didn’t seem overwhelming. Same goes for life, yes you have a big result in mind but break up the journey into small doable items and watch yourself go!
9.) Think of fun blog topics while running. No, for real, I dream of blogging and funny things while I am in the heart of a nasty run. I also do a lot of math problems and long division – I wish I was kidding, but it’s true.
10.) Treat yourself. We often feel so limited while eating healthy, sometimes after a long run all you need is a slice of pizza and a diet coke. You can get back on your kale wagon the next day, life is too short to not enjoy delicious treats every once in awhile. You earned it.
Have you ever ran a marathon? What did you do to pass the time and keep yourself motivated?
you 2 are the cutest.
and i am envious of your running skills!