Running is Meditation.

Okay, So It's Been Awhile...

I've still been preparing for the longest run and race of my life. I have not been tracking my training through the typed word because of other typing obligations. Those obligations pertain to the research papers and article reviews of graduate school. I'm done with my second semester at Georgia State and ready to hit the road with padded socks and fairly new running shoes for Michigan!

Training has been a waxing and waning endeavor. In the beginning I hit every single training run and every single mile. I did get exhausted, mostly physically from the effort. About half-way through I worried a little too much about injury and held back. About four weeks ago, I got back with the program and hit several big runs, 12, 16 and 18. I was supposed to do two of each of those runs according to the training program. Getting past the mental hurdle of an 18 mile run was huge. If you can run 18 miles, you can run a marathon- at least that's what runners say. Learning to pace myself, drink enough water and eat enough jelly beans (and sharkies!) through the long runs will be clutch during the marathon. I am proud of the effort I have put in even if I did not hit all the training runs. I feel completely prepared and confident in running 26.2 miles. Endurance is one of my strong points and will get me through the tough spots and hills.
Worst run of the last 16 weeks: 90 degree heat, directly into the sun in the middle of the day, I ran one mile and felt like I hit the proverbial runner's wall. So, I walked the next six. Pushing myself to get the miles in was a great experience in endurance. I kept going even though I felt terrible and wanted to stop. It was also a little embarrassing that I was walking my usual run.
Best run of the last 16 weeks: (okay, I have two) First, the 18 miles. It felt so good to accomplish that! Second, early in the training I was supposed to run four miles. It was really windy and cold. After a mile I told myself that I could turn around at 1.5 miles and just get three in for the day. At 1.5 miles, I thought, you're crazy, go the distance, get it in, I ended up finishing the four and it felt like I had climbed a mountain. It was amazing to work through physical discomfort by way of mental force.

I could not have done all this work without the support and help of all the awesome people in my life. THANK YOU!!! Everyone that encouraged me via facebook, email, 'liking' my annoying daily running posts, reading this blog, you are great and encouraged me:) Everyone that watched Lucky so I could run...THANK YOU a million times over...! My wonderful friends and family who asked and cared so much about my progress, thank you thank you thank you. Of course, Stanley ♥. Ah, and most importantly, running. Thank you running for the therapy, the healing, the focus. Running a marathon can change your life if you let it.

I'll be 30 and a marathon finisher in just about 9 days!!! I can't wait.

I'm drinking coffee and not running.

Well here we are, Day 4 of being snowed in and without a run! I guess Atlanta is kind of old fashioned in that we wait for the sun to melt the snow and ice on the roads. The roads have not been drivable and the trails are certainly not runnable for a rookie like myself. I would hate to risk injury. My Northern running friends (especially Rudi and Kelsey, perhaps cousin Brad) must think I'm a complete and total slacker and I do feel guilt for not braving the conditions to get in a quick jaunt (never thought I'd say something like that). I never thought I would crave the endorphin releasing runner's high. Which brings me to my brother...
He is a 200 lbs, cigarette smoking, beer drinking, video game playi...you get the idea. He told me yesterday that he is interested in running! If he could get a runner's high, I'm sure he'd be addicted in no time! I'm thrilled to hear about his interest and I'm hoping to get him hooked.

How did I start running?

When I was a kid I had vivid dreams about a park. It was a park in the woods with a long, wide trail. In the dream I would be walking down the trail and arrive at a certain point where the trees draped over the trail making a beautiful, shady space. As an adult walking down a long, wide trail in Atlanta, I reached that space. I'm not kidding. It was so familiar to me and I knew the very first time I was there that it was the place I dreamed of. It's a 5K balloon trail along the Chattahoochee river north of Atlanta.
I started walking there pushing Lucky in his stroller when he was a few months old. I would listen to This American Life on my ipod and spend an hour shuffling along. I walked there pulling Lucky in a wagon when he was a year old. I started to jog a 1/4 mile at a time. Eventually, I worked up to jogging the entire 5K. I was motivated to run!
A year ago, I ran my first 5K race and I loved it. The energy of the other runners, the mutual participation in such a healthy endeavor so early in the morning was inspiring to me. I've run a total of three 5K races and a 10K race. My longest distance is just over 6 miles and I've distanced just over a hundred miles since September.
Most of my training for the marathon will be done at the park along the Chattahoochee. It was meant to be.

I'm training for a marathon?

I've never been a "runner". You know, one of those people who have been running for years. They are super fit, healthy, dedicated commitment types who eat oatmeal and oranges for breakfast. They've been running since track in fifth grade and have the latest running gear. No, that's not me. It took me six years to get through undergrad. I'm kind of a commitment-phobe and have trouble finishing things. I get to the very end of a movie and turn it off, read three quarters of a book and set it down, wash the dishes and leave a spoon and a cup for later...
I'm ready for change. I'm ready to make a big commitment and see it through 26.2 miles down the path. I'm running the Kalamazoo marathon in Michigan the weekend of my 30th birthday.