Running: a metaphor for life

“At this point marathon training is adding a huge stress on my schedule rather than a constructive challenge and I don't know what to do!”

So what happens when you realize that you’ve taken on a big task? 26 miles is no small feat for your feet. I’d like to be able to tell everyone that you can just take it easy and not worry about training. I don’t want anyone to be stressed out here, but a little bit of fire under the butt is never a bad thing. One of the most important lessons of a marathon is balance.

Balance in training is a big factor. You have to know when to push yourself and when to hold back. You have to learn when your body says no more and when your body just wants an ice cream cone. You have to make yourself get up and out of bed a little bit earlier in the morning to get in a run or a jog, because unless you do the training, your body will never learn and then it will hate you on race day.

The problem is, we view this is as 26 miles! Does it really help to look at it this way? Do I look at my life and say “I have 76 more years to go!” and then try to do that all at once? (wow if I have 76 more years, I will be OLD). No, you take life one year at a time, and suddenly you find that you’re 23. Or 26 someday. Running a marathon is like living. Just one mile at a time. every experience you can cram into your life is something that will help you in the next year. Every run you can cram in before a marathon, be it a great 5 mile run or a sucky 3 mile run/walk that you can’t even finish, will help you on race day. You gradually add it in, making it a part of your routine until suddenly one day, you feel funny when you missed your scheduled run. It requires putting it in your google calendar or telling me what time to call you and make you run. It requires packing a gym bag and meeting your coworkers for happy hour sweaty and in your workout clothes a little bit late.

It requires some work but it can really be a lot of fun…just like LIFE.

If you're tired and you know it....

This has been a long week. I don’t know why, I didn’t really do that much. Some swimming, some running. I planned on doing my abs and cycling class last night, but as 6’o’clock crept closer and closer, I found myself wondering if I could even keep my eyes open during these classes. So I did an unusual thing – I skipped.

I’m not working out today either, since I’m traveling to PA for Easter. In PA, I’m without sufficient gym/pool access (although I might be able to elbow my way in), so who knows what will happen. I don’t know why I haven’t been sleeping, or if I haven’t been sleeping, or if my sleep has just been uneasy. Guilt over gym skipping invaded my dreams last night and I nightmared that I was being arrested for being paid too much money ($12 an hour) in a Communist Iran and when I was actually in prison, the only thing we were allowed to do all day was work out, the only caveat being that the pool was too long and there were no beginner classes that I could join and all the other equipment was decrepit, falling apart, or already in use, so I just wandered aimlessly around the gym, trying not to be attacked by criminals.

BUT the main point of this post is that if you feel like you’re going to pass out from exhaustion, or if you just didn’t sleep the night before and you can’t handle it, don’t go to the gym. Don’t attempt a workout if you’re really out of it. Trust me, I’ve done it and the consequences are negative. Working out when you are already at the point of exhaustion will be a detriment to your training. If you need to do something, go for a walk after/before dinner or maybe do a Pilates workout video at home. Push yourself as you train for this marathon, but learn to listen to your body.

Why don't you....

Try a 10k!

This looks like a good one: http://www.marinemarathon.com/weekend_events/10k.htm

I just might be doing it....don't you want to join me? Hey, hey?

Signing up for a race, even if you don't want to do it at the moment or think you can't, is a great way to motivate yourself. The last thing you want is to be unprepared, so by having a goal set, you are giving yourself a reason to get up and run. If you've never done a race before, don't worry! They are designed to be easy for both beginners and veterans.

Don't be put off by fees either - they allow you to have food and a new t-shirt and water during the race...not to mention a goodie bag!


OOPS...just realized that the 10k isn't until October! Which is after our race! Doesn't help much I guess...so why not aim higher and go for a half marathon in May: http://www.marinecorpshistorichalf.com/Home.htm? Even if you have to walk, it will be a great experience!

Basically what I'm saying is....find a race, sign up, and use it as a training tool!

Guest Post

Please find the following post from CynicalChiriaco, including interesting article link :-)

"I stumbled across the following article earlier today. I think it provides an interesting perspective from the other side of the tracks, i.e. those of us who have not tried or have only just sampled the running Kool-Aid. It equates two activities: sobriety and marathons. I think this is a fitting comparison as both activities are decidedly not fun and yet people who are into them will try to convince you that they are “Awesome!”



http://proof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/dry-run/"

PS. Comment from trainermennone....marathons really ARE awesome.