My First Marathon: What it taught me

In January, ten runners from Kennebec Valley Coaching embarked on a journey to complete a marathon. For most of us, this was to be our first full marathon. I was just coming off major surgery in December, so in many ways my training was starting from scratch. We ran as a group through the winter with the Winter Warriors group, then we transitioned into the Mystery Run group (which could have been named "The Hill Running Group). On June 23rd, all ten of us completed the Inaugural Bay of Fundy International Marathon in Lubec, Maine (yep... that's right, we're INTERNATIONAL marathoners)! The course was very challenging and hilly and we CRUSHED it! I could bore you with a mile-by-mile recap of the race, instead I'll give you the highlights:

Pre-race stretching class courtesy of Fab at Absolute Balance Massage Therapy (yes, we travel with our own massage therapist). Folks were sitting on their porches with their morning coffee at 6am to send the early starters off with cheers (I opted for the early start not knowing how long it might take me), FRIENDLY border patrol agents, amazing scenery along the entire route (lupines everywhere, rocky coastline, quaint harbors and fishing villages), BEST CROWD SUPPORT EVER (the boys at the half way waving US and Canadian flags, the girls cheerleading at the church, SANTA!, the house with a ZILLION signs of encouragement, the family offering chocolate chip cookies at mile 18ish, the huge crowd at the finish),the smelly dead fish just before the mile 12 marker (which was sponsored by Family Fisheries) totally made me laugh,  the folks driving along the route ringing cowbells and waving and beeping, the other runners cheering each other on, the photographers (I actually have several REALLY good race photos), the volunteers (water stops every 2 miles was PERFECT), the police on both sides of the border, the race organizers. Post-race massages (thanks to Fab) and stretching courtesy of Jared Lawson of Kennebec Valley Chiropractic (yep... we brought our own chiropractor too). 

It may sound melodramatic, but training for, and completing, the marathon has changed my life. The lessons I've learned along the way extend far beyond running and fitness. Here are some of those lessons:

1. Slow and steady really DOES win the race (or in my case, FINISH). I ran my marathon in 5:45:35, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I ran my own race, at my pace, and I truly enjoyed every step of every hilly mile.
2. I am capable of so much more than I'd ever imagined. I started running in September of 2010 hoping to finish a 5K. Each time I attained a goal I set a new goal. I never imagined I'd be running a full marathon in less than 3 years.
3. Don't judge a book by its cover. Fit doesn't always look the way you think it does. Marathoners often masquerade as "ordinary" folks. Sure, there are runners out there with the long legs, sinewy muscles, and 10% body fat. But there are many more with soft squishy bits, things that giggle a bit when you run, and enough body fat to keep the chill away.
4. For the first time ever I see myself as an athlete. I've struggled with my body image and self-confidence since I was tweenager. We stopped for lunch on the way home. As I walked down the street looking for a sandwich shop I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a store window; I had to take a second look. For quite possibly the first time ever I liked what I saw; I saw myself as fit, and healthy, and happy. I saw an athlete.
5. Over the past few months I've noticed less negative self-talk. I've all but abandoned my bathroom scale. When I think about my body, I think about what it CAN do, not about a number on a scale, not about the flaws. Are they really flaws?
6. Anything is possible with persistence, patience, and support. Never quit, shit happens, and when it does you just have to roll with in (not in it)! Just because you put something on a list, or set a deadline, doesn't mean that is when it will happen, it will happen when it's MEANT to be, enjoy the journey. It takes a village to raise a marathoner. My village includes my husband Andy who always encouraged and pushed me to do my training (even when I didn't want to), my running family at KVC (coach Amy, Lynn O, Lynn F, Pat, Kim, Karen, Brenda, Amber, Aimee, Trisha, Ellen, Beth... just to name a few), my parents (they've always said I can do anything I want... and meant it!), and my friends.

Summer's Just Around the Corner

My oh my, where does the time go?  It's been 6 weeks since my last post and so much has happened. As summer approaches, I see my calendar getting more and more full by the day. The semester is over and I managed to pull out another "A", so my straight "A" streak lives on (at least for now). This fall will be my last semester and likely on of my hardest (yikes)! I've also started volunteering at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society. Surprisingly, I've managed NOT to adopt every dog there (Andy would have a fit). I've only managed to get there a couple times thus far, but look forward to my time spent volunteering. Another volunteer opportunity has kept me very busy as well. I've joined the Board of Directors for Kennebec Local Food Initiative as a co-president. We are a (hard) working BoD working to increase access to locally grown and produced foods and strengthen the local food economy. And if that wasn't enough, I've also been coaching a Couch to 5K group through KVC (the running studio I belong to). All this, AND I'm in the final stages of marathon training.

To be specific, I have 17 days of training left (before my taper begins). I had a minor meltdown last week. Frozen with fear and anxiety, I'd found myself unable to get my midweek runs complete. I was still able to squeeze out my long runs but I knew if I didn't get a swift kick in the butt the wheels were about to fall off the bus. Luckily, my coach, Amy Lawson, gave me the kick in the butt (with a dose of inspired words) to turn things around. I've started doing my midweek runs on my lunch hour at work, and I must say, I really like it. It's so nice to get out of the office and distress mid-day. So far I've only been doing 3 mile runs (which gives me plenty of time to de-stink, change, and warm up my lunch). However, I think I may try to squeeze in 4 miles here and there (it'll be tight time-wise, but doable). I have 2 long runs left, an 18 miler (scheduled for this Sunday) and a 20 miler. While running that kind of mileage is rather overwhelming I know I can do it if I take it slow and steady.

Even as I fantasize about finishing my first marathon, I'm already thinking about "what's next". The answer: Triathlon. I am registering for my first sprint triathlon to take place August 3rd. That will give me approximately 5 weeks to train. Beyond that I am planning on a super fun Color Me Rad 5K in late August, possibly a 10K in September, a marathon relay in October, and a destination half-marathon (Runner's World Half Marathon Festival in Bethlehem PA) in October. There may be a sprinkling of trail 5Ks at Bond Brook in there as well.

What are your plans for the summer?

Fear and Running

Yesterday I did something I haven't done since my last half marathon in July, I ran double digit mileage. There are lots of reasons why it's taken me 8 months to get my mileage back up:

• I was focusing on trail running in the late summer,
• I was focusing on speed in the fall,
• I had major surgery over the winter,
• I was sick for the last couple weeks.

But the main reason it's taken me this long to get my mileage back up is fear. This is nothing new, I experienced this same issue when I was training for my first half marathon last spring. However, I figured it was a one and done kind of thing and I'd gotten over it. As it turns out, that is incorrect.

I am now training for a marathon and I'll be honest, it's kind of freaking me out. The thought of me completing a marathon is a bit surreal. I'm not a natural runner, I don't have a runner's physique, I'm overweight, I'm 40. But to be honest, I felt very much the same way last spring and I ended up completing 3 half marathons over the spring/summer.

I am not sure where the fear comes from. I suspect part of it has to do with achieving a goal and knowing I must now aim higher. It's that "aim higher" piece that generates the fear. Eventually, I'll fail. And I have a very real fear of failure.

But what would it really mean if I were to fail to meet a goal? Is is finite? Would that mean the end of running for me? It's doubtful. Sure, I'd sit and feel sorry for myself for a bit. My inner-critic would have a field day and punish me for even thinking I could do it in the first place. But I'd eventually tell the critic to back off. I'd pick myself up, review what could have gone wrong, beat myself up a bit for not training enough, or fueling properly, or listening to my body (or whatever it is that caused me to fail).

I think there is such thing as a healthy dose of fear. It helps to keep me on track and take things seriously. But when there is too much fear, it can hinder your progress. Finding a balance is difficult for me. Distance running is very much a mental game and keeping the fear at a healthy level is going to be key for my success.

Do you experience fear about your goals? How do you address it and make sure it doesn't hold you back?