I am by no means an expert at training for Marathons or the like. I am just a guy who has found that his addictive personality may best be managed by getting hooked on healthy things like running. About 20 months ago (August of 2006) I had a series of events in my life that led me to look for outlets for blowing of steam that didn’t include self-destructive tendencies. I started to run to lose weight (I peaked at 177 pounds on a 5 foot 7 inch frame) and never thought of it as a life long health choice. Slowly the weight came off until I weighed 140 pounds (my high school weight), but something happened – I ran in my first race (link here for the results). Not only did I finish – but I came in fourth out of 650 people who started – many didn’t finish because it was too hot. I was exhilirated, hooked, thrilled, and looking forward to my first marathon. Somewhere over the many miles of road I covered running from self-doubt, self-destruction, and unrest I became a runner. Someone who found a special kind of peace with God, myself, and the world after enough miles, endorphins, and pain.
Never did I dream that it would pay off even more with the thrill of competition in a race. The peace and serenity on the back country roads of NH seemed to be enough. Race day provided something I haven’t had since high school atheletics – competition with others and myself to be the best I can be. Sure I wanted to do well in school, work, and socially – but there is a special place for lining up with a whole group of people and hearing the gun go off. You are challenged to levels you can’t attain on your own when in the midst of a race. At the end of every race there are some who will always be faster and others who will be slower, but there is a respect for everyone who puts themselves on the line. There is a special kind of payoff for running in a race – it is the achievement of a goal
I have since run in 3 more races. I came in 7th at the Clarence Demar Marathon posting a 2:57:25 (pretty good for a first marathon), 3rd in the Claremont Chili Cook Off 5K with a 17:24, and 7th in the Hanover Turkey Trot 10k with a 35:04. All of these races have inspired me to look forward to a race I often thought about when I heard my Aunt describe it to me as a child – the Boston Marathon. Fortunately my time from my first marathon qualified me to register and on April 21st, 2008 I will run in the world’s oldest marathon. I will not finish in the top 100 never mind top 10, but that is not why I run. Over the next 14 weeks I will blog in this category about training to have a better understanding of why I run. What drives someone to wake up at 5am in January for an 8 mile run in New England? How is that pleasurable, or is it? I have experienced many epiphanies out on the road, but failed to record them in a meaningful way. Maybe this blog will help with that. Plus, it allows me to hear people either encourage me or question my sanity. As noted by Aristotle we are social beings, and as I have found in my running – the only way to accomplish what you are not sure that you can accomplish is by sharing it with others.
Day 1 December 31st – The above post is written after being sick for the past three days. I attempted to run, but was only able to make it about three miles before coughing so violently I thought I might need a lung transplant. I haven’t had a coughing fit like that since Rich sang the infamous “Smoke it Stevie” remix version. I’m sure I’ll be fine, but maybe the walk for breast cancer in May is a reasonable alternative. End of the day 3 miles in 20 minutes – nearly had to have Claremont’s finest rescue me on the side of the road – look out Kenyans here I come.
