Submit your story to me via email (beth@gotrainingwithbeth.com) and I am looking to hear how that experience changed you! Get it to me by February 28th and you will be in the running for a 20 dollar REI gift card! The winning story will be posted here on March 3rd.
So...just so you know, that title is intended to be sung to the tune of Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone". And the following ditty is my tale of discomfort!
I would say training for my first marathon experience put me into a new zone of mental maturity, bumped me out of my comfort zone. I have done sprint triathlons that have lasted an hour and a half to two and a half hours, but never had I tried running for 4 or 5 hours. I did the Detroit marathon last October, which is a fantastic way to visit friends and family and get in a little adventure.
Pushing aside exhaustion and discomfort built a stronger noggin for me. Getting the big ole 20 mile run in 3 weeks prior to go time made my heart sing! Just knowing I made it through and felt okay after was such a big win!
The week of the marathon I had a rough week...my legs felt a really flat, and I actually had a melt down (including crying and mumbling) during a 6 mile run, my last "big guy" before the marathon as I tapered before the race. I was intimidated that my body was not going to perform on the big day.
I sheepishly boarded the manbird from Greensboro, NC to Detroit, Michigan, as I hadn't felt super strong the week of the race. While in the air, I reflected on the months of hard work I had invested and focused on all the little wins along the way. The endurance was inside my body, I had done the training, and now it was time to enjoy the race. I took the advice of so many other marathoners (Sarah, Ang, Laura, Genevieve) to really soak up the fun and to embrace the joy of running. I toured every corner of the giant Fitness Expo and felt the energy around the packet pick up. I even had the pleasure of an extra security check from border patrol (?). Apparently, I was specially chosen to be given the close-up-squinky eye by the Canadians as this was an INTERNATIONAL MARATHON. Exotic Canada! And also had the great pleasure of seeing my buddy Brian at the start line! I also new other friends were in the field of runners (Christelle and Bert)!
The morning of the race I showed up right on time, not too early, not too late, slipped into my starting area with 10-15 minutes to go. I warmed up, and discarded extra layers of snugglies as the first wave went out. I had somehow lost my gloves, it was chilly! But picked up some discarded by someone else (Don't mind if I do! Thank you Genevieve for this idea...). Because of the size of the Detroit marathon, it takes about 10-25 minutes to get to the start line after the initial start gun (unless your an elite runner!) to actually get to the running.
I felt amazing for the first 13 miles! I was sticking right on the heel of another runner with my same pace and it was exhilarating! Around mile 15 I hugged my mom and my cousin and then had to do a blister prevention, followed by a bathroom break. And then at mile 17, I started to feel pain in the quad region. I had just less than ten miles to go and I was HURTIN' for certain. Only option was to push through, push PUSH push through. I started doing the one mile countdown, 17 down and 9.2 to go, and so on. I soaked up every cheer, smiled at every funny sign, and dug deep. And the wave of happiness and accomplishment at mile 26.2 was totally worth the last hour and half of discomfort.
This is myself and my buddy Brian finishing together! He is faster than me, but had an Ankle Mc Crunchin' at mile 8 I think, and ran the whole darn thing still...woah! It was awesome to cross the line with him!
My marathon experience was great for building up my perception of what I can do, and for strengthening my mental resolve. I am so grateful to all my friends and family who helped me along the way!
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