To Marathon or not to Marathon...
I have been thinking a lot on attempting a marathon.
Many things have contributed to this crazy pattern of thinking and mostly because of you, my fellow bloggers, and all that you have accomplished (especially recently).
My friend, Tom, ran marathons in his high school years. He set a record that stood for ten years. He is telling me that it is a lot of work and very physically debilitating. He is not actively discouraging me but he is also not actively encouraging me either.
My boss, Jim, is a triathlete. I beleive he is a year younger than I am (I am 54). Last month, he took first place in his age group in the last triathlon that he participated in. He did not discourage me, but we had a good talk of how a marathon can cost as much as you can gain. I definitely got the idea that he was actively discouraging me.
I listened to the current Phedippidations Podcast, #121 - Things to do before you die. He definitely pushed the marathon idea (at least once in a runner's lifetime).
I saw the NOVA last week on the Marathon Challenge. It was a moving portrayal of how a marathon can affect the participants. I enjoyed it and felt emotional about it.
I read the account of Lisa in NY. This account of a first marathon also moved me.
I read Maddy's account of her first marathon. I was moved by what she contended with and her elation afterwards.
A lot of you contributed to this crazy notion of mine (Susan, Petra, Shirley, & Peter) and I want to thank you for all of those accounts.
I have a feeling that I may be discussing this a lot with you, my friends, in the near future.
Mind you, I am not convinced. I am experienced with half-marathons. I still remember my first one of those!
Let me know what you think, please...
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I guess that what I would like to know is your motivation to acheive like you have. Maybe then, just maybe, I could seriously start to consider what decision I should make.
Many things have contributed to this crazy pattern of thinking and mostly because of you, my fellow bloggers, and all that you have accomplished (especially recently).
My friend, Tom, ran marathons in his high school years. He set a record that stood for ten years. He is telling me that it is a lot of work and very physically debilitating. He is not actively discouraging me but he is also not actively encouraging me either.
My boss, Jim, is a triathlete. I beleive he is a year younger than I am (I am 54). Last month, he took first place in his age group in the last triathlon that he participated in. He did not discourage me, but we had a good talk of how a marathon can cost as much as you can gain. I definitely got the idea that he was actively discouraging me.
I listened to the current Phedippidations Podcast, #121 - Things to do before you die. He definitely pushed the marathon idea (at least once in a runner's lifetime).
I saw the NOVA last week on the Marathon Challenge. It was a moving portrayal of how a marathon can affect the participants. I enjoyed it and felt emotional about it.
I read the account of Lisa in NY. This account of a first marathon also moved me.
I read Maddy's account of her first marathon. I was moved by what she contended with and her elation afterwards.
A lot of you contributed to this crazy notion of mine (Susan, Petra, Shirley, & Peter) and I want to thank you for all of those accounts.
I have a feeling that I may be discussing this a lot with you, my friends, in the near future.
Mind you, I am not convinced. I am experienced with half-marathons. I still remember my first one of those!
Let me know what you think, please...
- - - - - - - - - -
I guess that what I would like to know is your motivation to acheive like you have. Maybe then, just maybe, I could seriously start to consider what decision I should make.
posted by CewTwo at 2:28 PM
9 Comments:
Perhaps a Half is as far as you want to go. That’s fine, and commendable, it’s a lot farther than 99% of the population has gone. It’s a nice distance.
But since you’re experienced with half marathons, a marathon is merely two times as far. You take that first step past 13.1 and you’re already underway. You just approach that first 13.1 a little differently (slower), with a more deliberate mind-set as the hours stretch out. But you get there. A half-marathon is more like a half-day project, whereas a marathon is sort of an all-day project.
You might ask, then, if you are experienced with marathons, why not do an ultra? But you have to draw the line somewhere. A marathon is hard (not that a Half isn’t). Those ultra-guys, now they’re crazy.
Agreed; those ultra folks are crazy! Ha.
Wht the marathon? Hmm... to me it's because it is the ultimate distance. Even Dick Beardsley says so!
After I did my first half marathon, I felt great. After the second half marathon I did, I was left with the question "Could I do a whole?" It seems like that same question is upon you. The answer is YES.
26.2 is a magical number. There is NOTHING like being able to say "I ran a marathon."
That said, I would LOVE to be able to run a faster half-marathon. So one day I may change my focus. This may be your change of focus... slow down... run farther... I KNOW that you can do it. Look at everything else you have accomplished!
I agree with what your boss said; a marathon can be debilitating. Honestly! I love it (the training, I mean) but it does take a WHOLE lot out of me. I devote almost all of Saturday to training, especially as the mileage increases. The marathon itself is about the triumph and the glory. The training is hard as hell!!!!
Stop thinking about it and just do it. I'm training for one in February after I just decided to run it.
You run crazy distances and a ridiculous amount of miles per week. You can get your body ready for it.
I started training for mine, and should do it in March. Reasons... um.. I wish I had something better than I want to.
I see the point some of your friends make. But most training plans call for several long runs and I am sure they will give you a feel for the distance. So listen to your body.. and of course your heart. Just do what you feel like. Good luck!
Charlie - just do it. You can handle the mileage (remember whipping Maddy and I recently when we were training for a marathon and you weren't?) so don't worry about that. Build it up slow and steady and stay realistic about your time - I think that's the big downfall we all have to watch out for. Your first marathon is RUN TO FINISH. Not to beat 4 hours or anything like that. That's greedy. Run to finish. Any time is going to be a PB. I agree with Susan it takes it out of you but it's so worth it. for yourself it feels like such a GREAT achievement. Do it! We're behind you every step of the way!
It took me two years to decide on whether or not to run a marathon. (Year one to see if I can get nine races in to qualify, and then year two to train for it.)
This year I ran both my first half-marathon as well as my first marathon, and I have to say that the feeling afterwards on both are amazing. However, because this is so fresh in my mind, I think once you get a taste of the half, you will want the full.
I almost broke down and had to fight back the tears at mile 23. The build up to achieving such a goal was unmatched in any other part of my life. It's not only physically challenging, it's emotionally challenging. And it's not just when you're in the race. The entire year I had my mind tuned in to running it. Every weekend you work your life around getting in a long run. There are new parts of chafing you never knew would chafe. You learn about what you can do, and what your limitations are. But throughout it all, you marvel at what you've actually done.
In terms of recovery, for me it was definitely a lot tougher on my knees. I couldn't walk straight for the next two days after. My ankles felt incredibly stiff and my joints ached...
That said, as much damage I may have done to myself, I also decided that I need to experience that again. Immediately afterwards I thought to myself, what can I do better next time around.
And isn't that the point anyway? To challenge yourself to do something you didn't think would be at all possible, and prevail? To me it didn't matter that it took me six hours to cross the finish line. I crossed the finish line when two years ago I wouldn't have even thought it would be possible.
There's nothing like it, to set your sights on a goal and take steps to accomplish it. The feeling of triumph is so great that no matter what you do it's totally worth it.
And because you're experienced with half-marathons, you're already half-way there in terms of training. I don't think people are discouraging you as much as they are being realistic about what it takes. Don't forget, as much as a marathon is about the spirit of many racing together, it's more importantly an individual accomplishment that you strive for. No one can cross that finish line for you. And for me, crossing that finish line gave me more self-confidence than I could've ever known.
I say go ahead and do it. Read as much as you can about training schedules, nutrition, etc. Definitely talk to as many people as possible who have done one. I subscribed to Runners World magazine and it has a host of information that gave me really good advice and key preparation tips. Join running forums and chat up others who are contemplating, and motivate each other. This is why I started an online training journal, and it paid off because I read all these wonderful journals of others like yourself that keep me motivated and inspired.
But no matter what you decide, just know that there's a group of people here who support you and are proud of you no matter which finish line you aim for!
Isn't that Lisa wise? She is great!
To piggyback her glee at mile 23, I remember getting to mile 25.something and seeing my pit crew for the last time and YELLING "I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" I can not express how much exhilaration I felt then and definitely as I was crossing the finish line. It was the most exhilarating moment of MY WHOLE LIFE. Well worth it!
We are sooooooo behind you, my friend! I only wish that I could be there to see you do it.
You are a training machine already. You are cut out for this job!
I'm late in posting my thoughts on this.
I think you should do it! I feel like you've been thinking about it for a while. And Petra was right, you blew us away mileage wise while we were training for our marathons and you were training for your half.
Do it. DO IT!!!!
I think the reason I run marathons is to simply learn more about myself and stay in good running shape. It's not the most difficult thing I've done physically, to be sure, but it's one of the most satisfying because I enjoy running so much. I learn something new every time I run one. And there are so many marathons (over 300 in the U.S. alone) to keep it interesting.
There's no doubt in my mind as to whether you can handle the training based upon the mileage I've seen you run but you gotta wanna do the long runs (20-milers) and some people just don't, just like I have no desire to run ultras. For my husband, his marathon was the last time he was able to run because he ruined his knees. But he is a heavy guy (over 200#) and had bad knees to begin with. The problem was he didn't do any runs over 10 miles (back then, there were no training programs available) and he got obsessed with finishing and pushed himself beyond what he should have done (he was a Marine running MCM, go figure). He really misses running but says he'd do it again if he could.
Good luck deciding!
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