Why a Marathon?

There are almost always two questions that are asked when you inform someone that you are training for a marathon 1) how far is a marathon and 2) why.  The distance is 26.2 miles and I think most people's eyes glaze over a little when you throw that number out.  Which makes sense, because why on earth would you even think about running that far...isn't that why we spent all that brainpower to develop cars?  That leads right into the follow-up question of...why?

Pure and simple, marathon training gets me into adequate shape to tackle the leaves that are about to assault our yard.  Well ok, while we do have a lot of leaves, I managed to rake the yard prior to running, so I guess that does not apply.

The logical answer certainly applies in my case, and that is because it is a challenge.  I know I know, feeding the poor, watching Glee, or peeing out the window of a moving car are all challenges as well..to keep the discussion focused let's simply agree that the marathon is the challenge I have decided to focus on for this moment in my life.  The funny thing is that while yes the race itself is a challenge (I mean come-on it is 26.2 miles) for me it is the training that is the biggest challenge (both mentally and physically).  Mentally, because training can indeed become a chore at times, and it can start to become easier and easier to decide to skip a few days here or there.  While a day or two here and there certainly is not going to derail the type of running I do, it can become easier to decide not to run than it is to run if you are not careful. 

The physical aspect certainly goes without saying, as I have been reminded again this year of this aspect.  Cardiovascular-wise I am as in good of shape as I have been probably in my entire adult life.  It is the day in and day out pounding your joints, muscles, and tendons take that wear you down physically.  I have some friends that seem to hold up no matter what they put their body through.  I on the other hand, have not been blessed with that type of body (full disclosure here...I was voted most likely to choke on a twinkie back in high school).  Running seems so simple, yet unbelievably there is a lot that goes into it.  Just search the web for marathon training programs and you will see everyone and their brother has a strategy to get you to the start line healthy.  While they are all similar in a lot of ways some seem to contradict others.  Bottom line is get the formula wrong or make a wrong decision for what your body can handle, and you can end up battling an injury, which has it's own set of mind games.  As one of my friends so eloquently puts it...stop being such a (slang word for cat).  Which is probably true, but there is a big difference between aches and pains and an injury, for that matter from a 25 year old body and a 36 year old body.

You certainly don't decide to run a marathon for the time management aspect.  Running takes up a great deal of time when you are training for this type of distance.  Saturday mornings for the last several months have been occupied by running and Sunday mornings occupied with an hour or more of cycling, which requires a great deal of patience, support and sacrifice from my wife and kids.  I try and minimize the amount of time I am away from the family during the week by running during my lunch hour, but it is inevitable that I will have to do some training through the week after work, which leaves dinner, homework, lunches, and baths to my wife.  While I try and keep my energy level high, I am often very tired throughout most of the weekend, so this challenge does not fall to me alone.  I am very grateful for the support and tolerance my wife has towards this odd obsession I have developed over the last several years.

Despite the many challenges, there are an equal number of triumphs that make it worth while.  Some big (like finishing 17 miles feeling strong) and some small (like being able to move my belt one notch to the good) or simply running into a good friend on a run.  So why have I decided to run a marathon?  Well the answer is not straight forward and goes beyond words for me in a lot ways, but I think I can boil it down to a few words that I can't take credit for "the marathon is something extraordinary the ordinary can do" and oh yeah...I enjoy running!

Status/Scorecard:  I have been diligently icing, stretching, and strengthening my right anterior tibialis (my shin), and I am happy to report that I am pain free.  I was able to start light running last week, and managed to get through 6 miles pain free on Sunday.  What I have been unable to do in running shoes, I have been trying to make up for on my bike.  Over the last three weeks I have logged 150 miles on my bike.  A big thanks to Doug Baker for pushing me on a 30 mile ride this past weekend.  I am feeling as confident as I can at this point.  Less than three weeks until race day, so ready or not race day is inching ever closer.