Less Than Two Weeks

That’s right, in less than 2 weeks, I’ll be a marathoner. I can’t wait. Well, I can wait. I’ve enjoyed the training and I am trying to enjoy the taper. I don’t feel like I’m doing enough, but I guess that’s to be expected.

We ran the last double-digit long run this past Saturday. An easy 12 miler. It’s funny to write that, an “easy 12 miler.” But it was easy. It was a piece of cake compared to the 22 miles the week before. We started out at 5 am. We took it slow for the first 7 miles and then gradually increased our speed for the rest of the run. In fact, at one point I looked at my watch and saw we were running at a sub 7:00. Now, that’s fast! (For me...)

I beginning to gather my overall thoughts regarding my training. There have been a lot of ups and downs, some frustrations and injury. I look back on the way I was feeling back in May when I was still unsure about the training and the marathon. 26.2 miles was an overwhelming distance to me back in May. I looked at that distance and thought, I can do this, but it’s going to be darn near impossible. Of course, I remember thinking a half-marathon was an unachievable distance. And now I’ve run 2 and could go run one today if I had to. 13.1 miles seems like an easy weekend run to me now.

I’ve gone back and read some of my first blogs, about how nervous I was or unsure I would be adventurous enough to take this journey. Since then, I’ve logged over 480 miles, made it through a foot injury and have run a 20 mile and a 22 mile long run. It has definitely been a “Marathon Adventure!” Most importantly, Sarah and Emma have been EXTREMELY supportive - through the ups and the downs. From waking Sarah up early (as early as 2:45 am) and telling her I was heading out to making plans for Emma to sleep at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s so I didn’t miss a long run when Sarah was not home to me going to bed early and missing quality time with Sarah. Not to mention, I am running this marathon on her birthday! I have tried to work around our home schedule without disrupting it as much as possible (hopefully, maybe Sarah!?). I can already see myself wondering what the next challenge is going to be. Sarah has already asked if I was considering a marathon in the spring!

Well, I know this for certain, I can’t answer that until October 19. If all goes as well as I’m hoping it should, then I plan to be training again soon. I might just be addicted to this marathon thing.

(If it’s ok with Sarah and Emma, that is!)