This past April, a couple of friends of mine & I registered to run a marathon this fall. We are all runners and had PLENTY of time to properly train. This would have been my first marathon I've run since 2010 so I was looking forward to that sense of accomplishment as well as that finisher's medal. Summer rolled around along with the heat & humidity. I started running before work since it was somewhat cooler out. Getting up earlier to run SUCKED. So, I stopped. Running.
Fast forward...to the marathon weekend. I did not run much. I did not do a long run (which, whether you believe in long runs or not, for me, it is somewhat of an assurance that I can do it...the distance. I'm weird that way. In fact, when I was training for my first half marathon, I ran 13 miles to make sure I was able to run 13.1 on race day. Not normal, I know). I didn't do much running period. The weekend of the race I spoke to a friend of mine who was running as well. He had completed a marathon 2 weeks prior and was planning on running this one SLOWLY, so I asked if I could join him thinking I had a shot at finishing the marathon. I was not running for time (as if I really had a choice there) but for that shiny medal. He was happy to have me run with him and even encouraged me.
The morning of the marathon I was mentally prepared to run 26.2 miles. The horn blows and off we go. Aerobically, I felt great..I mean, we were going at a 10:35 pace or so. First few miles were not bad at all. I was confident that I was going to finish the marathon. Then it hit me..that lack of training that is. By mile 10, my lower back started to tighten. Then my toes on my right foot started to cramp. That's right..my TOES STARTED TO CRAMP. Have you ever heard of such a thing??? What made me realize I was not going to run 26.2 miles was my left ankle. Ughhh..I don't know what I did, but it swelled up and started to hurt to the point of me limping. I tapped my friend on his shoulder and solemnly shook my head. He saw it in my face. I was not going to complete the marathon.
I made the decision to split off with the half marathoners and finish the run. I had a heavy feeling in my heart. I was disappointed in myself...for not doing the marathon. I cried..for a short time then it dawned on me: Of course I didn't finish the marathon...I DIDN'T TRAIN. I stopped feeling sorry for myself because I know I would have KICKED ASPHALT if I would have trained.
It amazes me how hard I can be on myself. I am constantly learning things about myself; my strengths along with my weaknesses. I can say this with complete honesty: I am grateful for all my experiences...even the ones I didn't "train" for!
