I’m Over the Marathon

Maybe … I moped over my last marathon performance for weeks. I was really sad and really upset about it. And then – I read this article in Running Times that I felt was talking to my soul! And then – I got really busy with work and life and weeks passed and I didn’t run as much and then you know what? I just didn’t care anymore. I still liked to run and race and challenge myself, but suddenly the next three half marathons I had planned seemed just good enough. Ahh … peace. :o) 

Running Times Article

The article I read in Running Times is called “A Race Too Far”. There were so many lines in this article that struck a chord with me! Some excerpts:

"Is it time to get over the marathon? The marathon is an inspiring challenge that few have accomplished (even now, when thousands do it every year, it’s still a select few), and training to finish it, at whatever pace, is a worthy goal. … Standing on a starting line and not knowing if you can finish this, and then accomplishing it, is an awesome experience. The people I’m talking to here are those like me: serious runners who have completed the distance many times and have no doubt they can complete it again: people whose times have reached a plateau after the initial huge improvement in their second and third marathons, and are unable, for whatever reason, to take their training to the level necessary to make the marathon truly a race rather than a survival test.”

Wow. That’s me.

For me, its life and will that are my enemies. On the life side, I work and travel a lot, and staying on a challenging schedule is hard. On the will side, I’m just tired. I put forth a lot more effort into marathon training than I would to exercise, yet I know it’s not enough, yet I just don’t have the will to give it any more. Defeatist? Who knows.

Why we run

I know why I ran my first marathon. It’s because I ran my first half (which prior was an unimaginable goal, and I still felt good, and thought WOW, I bet I could go farther!). Then I ran my first full, and second, and third, and I have to admit I liked the accolades it drew. After having run a few marathons I felt that it was the product of an equation that wasn’t SO hard to unravel. Set a goal, create a plan, plug away, commit, adjust for setbacks, and BAM! You can do it! In some ways I think a marathon is easy. I believe anyone can run one if they commit the time and effort. The time and effort though seem to be the issue. I’m sure I could run a faster marathon if I gave more time and effort.. Yet I can’t. Or won’t most honestly.

My First Half Marathon

 

I’m not a great athlete, anyone who knows me will agree with that. I’m not known to be sporty, I’m afraid of sports and getting hurt. I’m strong willed but in certain situations give in easily. I’m determined at many times, but totally not at others. For me, sports just aren’t my thing. I enjoyed gymnastics and cheerleading growing up because they were fun. I was flexible and powerful and spirited. Those traits fared well in gymnastics and cheerleading. Peeling the onion back a bit farther though, you’ll notice that both “sports” require short burst of all out energy. That’s me! Here I am! Okay, now I’m tired. :oP Marathon running is the total opposite of what I grew up with. Steady strong effort for a long period of time? Sheesh…

My First Full Marathon

 

It’s interesting though, in the article, the author calls out similar reasons that people are attracted to the marathon.

“As early as grade schools, however, those of us who aren’t quite an athletic but want to be good in sports discover that we can excel by being tenacious. So we go longer and longer at whatever pace we can manger, and earn admiration by our ability to keep going.”

Hmm.. is that me? Wow, I guess it is. The article then makes a point about the admiration of non-runners. They can’t appreciate a 5 minute 5 mile run, but you say you’ve run 10 miles and you get wows. I read this and felt somewhat sheepish. Was that all I cared about? People being amazed by the distance I ran regardless of the pace? Yes, sadly, I do like that. I really do. But is it because I’ve never had any prior athletic accomplishments? Maybe.

The article continues on with making a case for working harder to run faster shorter races, and to give up plodding on in longer races. A month after a poor showing at my twelfth marathon, I think I’m going to take that advice.

Running Faster

Although I’ve done track workouts and hill repeats in the past, part of me hasn’t been as focused on improving my speed as it should be. I realize that if you run faster short distances you’ll probably run faster longer distances, but I’ve been so focused on the distance that I’ve given up the speed.

I’ve seen local 5K’s and 10K’s in my neighborhood in the past few years and have almost scoffed at them. Pay $20 to run 3 miles? PFFT! I run 3 miles everyday! For free! What I was overlooking though was the challenge of the course. I’ll run those 3 miles in a race faster than any 3 miles I’d ever run alone!

With that mentality I ran a non-competitive 3K last month, and did great! I was the first to finish among the females which really made me feel good! Granted there were probably only 10 women even running versus walking, it was still a small achievement.

Improving Over Time

One thing that I like about running is the metrics involved. If you’re timed over a certain distance and course, and run that course multiple times, you can easily track improvements. I’m proud to say that aside from my last marathon, I’ve improved year over year.

Latest example? I ran a 15K this past weekend which I’ve run the past two years since I’ve been in San Diego.

2008: 1:21:41

2009: 1:17:48

2010: 1:16:23

A minute and some change may not seem like a lot over 9+ miles to some of you, but for me, it is! According to my GPS watch I actually ran 9.47 miles versus 9.3, so my pace went from 8:13 to 8:04. For not having trained for speed in a long time, I was happy.

Coronado 15K - 2010

 

Prior to moving to San Diego I had never run a 15K. It’s an odd but nice race. It’s far enough to weed out the casual runners, but short enough that you don’t need serious recovery time afterwards.

After the Race

Due to the fact that I got to the race with only moments to spare, I missed out with meeting up with my fellow Rock Runners before the race, but saw several along the course, and saw them after as well. We waited around to watch the award ceremony since a couple of our runners won places in the 5K race, and then we all headed out to meet for breakfast afterwards.

Rock Runners at the Tractor Room

 

We met at the Tractor Room in Hillcrest (my old neighborhood) with the intentions of chowing down! I have to give the disclaimer that I’m not big on large breakfast meals, and in general I’m turned off by food in mass. OH MY. The servings here were GINORMOUS! I mean, I was hungry and ate a ton, but WOW, I had enough leftovers that I was able to eat those for dinner, and nothing else! Basically all I ate all day was my Tractor Room breakfast!

Me & My Breakfast

 

I ordered the “health scramble” which was egg whites, potatoes, turkey sausage, and cornbread. I don’t have a picture of it, but the cornbread was its own skillet, the size of a salad plate! WOW. The Rock Runner sitting next to me (oh no! can’t remember his name!) ordered the French toast. Umm… each slice was literally over an inch thick. Maybe 1 1/2 “? The plate had three slices of bread which really made up a half loaf of bread. Well .. he finished it! AND the plate of bacon. Wowsers!

The HUGE Health Scramble

Moving ON

I was starting to forget about the marathon last week, and then after this past weekend with my PR at the 15K, I’m officially over it! I’m still bummed at heart that I haven’t broken 4 hours in a marathon (best time 4 hours and … 32 seconds! Argh!!), and even more bummed that I didn’t do that .. AND THEN run a 3:40 marathon which would qualify me for Boston, but hey, maybe that’s not what I’m meant for. I do enjoy the shorter races and see improvements in those times. Maybe I’m meant to focus on shorter races where I just get faster and faster.

For now, training for short races fits better in my life. And the improvements are seen more quickly, and are more noticeable.

SO .. for now? Goodbye full marathon! I’ll see you again someday. For now, I’m going to appreciate running the “short” distances. Next up - San Francisco Half Marathon July 25th!

Keep on running. Its fun.