marathon #6

Today was my 6th marathon in 3.5 yrs.  Well, 10th if you include ultras.

My mantra today went a little something like this: “Youre not here for a PR or a BQ, that’s another day.  This is a training run w a medal – chill out and enjoy the day” (and boy did I enjoy it, nevermind a sick tummy).

I started out my first 5 miles with a friend from high school.  And lets be honest here – we go into every race fantasizing that we’re going to do something incredible.  And if I’d stayed with her, I could have PR’d – but then, I might have gotten injured…

Ultra training is not about speed for me right now, its about new distances and endurance.  Going into my first couple of ultras I over-trained and paid the price (with a dislocated toe and nerve damage on one ankle to say the least).

So 6 weeks out from my first attempt at 24-hours, I needed to reel it back, and it was hard mentally.  Walking was actually more painful than running, it made me cramp up.  And it was hard to let my friend go off.  It was hard to stop chasing the 4:30 pacers, and then finally, I let the 5 hr group go past me somewhere around 24.  So with only 2 miles left, I just chilled.

A wonderful thing happened and helped me to shift my focus however.   I  met a lady named Pamela.  I’ve had the blessing of meeting some really special people during a few of my big races, some of whom have become important friends in my life.  I think there is something about the adventure we share – the emotions, the fear, the pain and then finally the joy – that bonds us.

Pamela was great.  This was her first marathon.  And I knew how she was feeling – at least to a point.  We connected around mile 17 and kept running back into one another.  Then I decided, I know how hard this part is, the last few miles – especially the first time – When you hit the ‘wall’ and youre really unsure if you’ll give in – so, I stayed with her.  Honestly I was happy to do so – I was feeling down right ready to walk anyways, so I let her drive the pace.

Finishing with her was a beautiful experience filled with joyful tears & a hug.  She did it.   And I was so proud of her.  Here we are:

Tomorrow I can take my doggie on a ten miler – he’ll be sure to stop plenty of times to sniff and pee on things, so, it wont be a stressful run – but it will be good training for the ATR coming up.  I know what my mission is right now.  Two big ultras in the next few months.

Then maybe – just maybe – Next year I will transition into a totally different training-mode – one where I slim down, tone-up and get faster.

Maybe 😉

<3 K