Last Sunday was marathon #2 for me. I’ve had a week to let all my thoughts settle in and wrap my head around everything I put myself through. Recovery has been much smoother this time around. No major aches or pains, just the normal post-marathon waddle. A few people asked me why in the world I would want to run 26.2 miles. And I think I have an answer for them. Here goes.
School and student teaching can be at times, crazy. I love every minute, but I need a way to unwind. Everyone does. Why not do something good for me at the same time? As I tell my students that’s a think win-win. In some wild way running before school gives me more energy to handle the day. I never know what kind of day I’m going to have walking in the doors in the morning, but I know I can start my day off taking a few minutes to clear my head and think about what I am going to be to make today a great day. So many times at school I am doing things because I have to or someone tells me to. When I go out for a run I don’t have anyone making me run a certain pace or log a certain amount of miles. I am in charge. There are times I wanna cry because I would rather be in bed or I have a mountain of work to do. I try to say that skipping the run would be easier, but in the end I know I can’t lie to myself. I need to run. But 26.2 miles? Is that really needed? Well no.
The beautiful thing about running 26.2 miles is that you can prove to yourself that you did not give up. You stuck it out when it got tough. You listened to the haters tell you to find a different hobby, that running was bad for your knees. You got crazy looks from people when you compared your weekend runs to their week on the couch. It’s not easy to be married to a training plan who tells you what every workout looks like. You sacrifice a social life.
I can’t say I was ever a super confident person until running entered my life. I learned to take risks and really get outside my comfort zone. If you asked me 4 years ago what I pictured myself like in college I would never have answered a marathoner. I’m not sure when or why I decided that I wanted to run a marathon, but I can’t help but be thankful I did. The running community never ceases to amaze me. Other runners are so supportive and welcoming to new runners.
It showed me that no matter what is going on in my life I always have an outlet. It gave me something to look forward to. It gave me something to proud of. I run because it makes me happy, not to fit into a pair of skinny jeans.
Last Sunday was honestly the best race day I could have asked for. Weather was chilly, great for running. Crowd was awesome; I was not prepared for the huge number of spectators I saw. The course was 10x better than last year. But the pride I got from finishing what I set out to do was the icing on the cake. I thought of ways to hitch a ride to the finish line, to end the race. Thankfully there was a voice inside my head that said “If you quit now all your hard work will have been for nothing.” My dad showed up at mile 25 after running his first half marathon and ran with me some until his legs couldn’t run anymore. He switched places on the bike with my mom and she ran next to me all the way in. My parents are the best.
Whew. That was a long winded post, but I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t talk about how much running has impacted and changed my life for the better. Enjoy a nice medal shot of my dad and I!
School and student teaching can be at times, crazy. I love every minute, but I need a way to unwind. Everyone does. Why not do something good for me at the same time? As I tell my students that’s a think win-win. In some wild way running before school gives me more energy to handle the day. I never know what kind of day I’m going to have walking in the doors in the morning, but I know I can start my day off taking a few minutes to clear my head and think about what I am going to be to make today a great day. So many times at school I am doing things because I have to or someone tells me to. When I go out for a run I don’t have anyone making me run a certain pace or log a certain amount of miles. I am in charge. There are times I wanna cry because I would rather be in bed or I have a mountain of work to do. I try to say that skipping the run would be easier, but in the end I know I can’t lie to myself. I need to run. But 26.2 miles? Is that really needed? Well no.
The beautiful thing about running 26.2 miles is that you can prove to yourself that you did not give up. You stuck it out when it got tough. You listened to the haters tell you to find a different hobby, that running was bad for your knees. You got crazy looks from people when you compared your weekend runs to their week on the couch. It’s not easy to be married to a training plan who tells you what every workout looks like. You sacrifice a social life.
I can’t say I was ever a super confident person until running entered my life. I learned to take risks and really get outside my comfort zone. If you asked me 4 years ago what I pictured myself like in college I would never have answered a marathoner. I’m not sure when or why I decided that I wanted to run a marathon, but I can’t help but be thankful I did. The running community never ceases to amaze me. Other runners are so supportive and welcoming to new runners.
It showed me that no matter what is going on in my life I always have an outlet. It gave me something to look forward to. It gave me something to proud of. I run because it makes me happy, not to fit into a pair of skinny jeans.
Last Sunday was honestly the best race day I could have asked for. Weather was chilly, great for running. Crowd was awesome; I was not prepared for the huge number of spectators I saw. The course was 10x better than last year. But the pride I got from finishing what I set out to do was the icing on the cake. I thought of ways to hitch a ride to the finish line, to end the race. Thankfully there was a voice inside my head that said “If you quit now all your hard work will have been for nothing.” My dad showed up at mile 25 after running his first half marathon and ran with me some until his legs couldn’t run anymore. He switched places on the bike with my mom and she ran next to me all the way in. My parents are the best.
Whew. That was a long winded post, but I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t talk about how much running has impacted and changed my life for the better. Enjoy a nice medal shot of my dad and I!