Happy 2009! With another year behind us, and another year unfolding before us, this is generally a time to reflect on where we'd like to go. Well I'd like to go the extra mile...no seriously, I'd like to go even further with my running this year than last and will do so in approximately two and a half months.
About four years ago I was nothing more than a 5K runner...and happy to be just that. And, I happened to be pretty decent on the small race circuit. Then I entered a 5 mile run and came in second in my age bracket. That race opened a whole new world of distance running. While still running my 5Ks, I set my sites on the holy grail for distance runners....the marathon.
DC is home to the Marine Corps Marathon, which is perhaps the ultimate marathon for the casual distance runner. Without the pressure of the professional runners from Africa, I decided to enter the marathon. I trained and trained. I ran more miles than I'd ever run before, and then I ran more. On marathon day I packed the required gel shots, extra socks, and confidence in my ability to finish 26.2 miles.
Miles 1-9 were great, miles 10-16 were okay...I was still on pace to finish in about 4:15. Mile 17 killed it all for me. (I should note that my legs aren't really built for major distance running...I've always had knee and hamstring problems...this day was no different.) At mile 17 I could feel my hamstring going...pain, pain like you wouldn't believe. Did I stop? Of course not, what kind of person do you think I am? I walked a little until I found the next aid station, took a Tylenol 8 hour (I highly recommend them for the casual marathoner), gave it ten more minutes of walking to kick in and then got moving when a Marine Staff Sergeant bellowed into his bullhorn "girl in the red shorts, lets get it moving."
So I completed my first marathon in 5 hours. Rather ungracefully, though ahead of Captain America. Immediately after crossing the finish line I told my husband to make a psychiatry appointment for me if I ever signed up for another marathon. I was never doing that again.
But guess what, I did. Two years later. Only this time I stayed ahead of my hamstring and the after-marathon sore muscles.
Does that mean I plan on running another marathon? I'm a realist, so not quite. My legs can't take the wear and tear.
That said, this year I decided to up the ante. I'm checking the box of "things to do before I die" and running an ultra-marathon. Oh yes, the non-marathoner, bad legs, 5K runner is hitting the trails for a 50K. I'm definitely not doing it alone. With a couple of my running side-kicks, and a few Tylenol 8 hours in my pocket, I shall brave the trails at Susquehanna State Park on March 21. Around and around the park we go, eating our way to the finish line and fording a river (okay a stream). I shall check that box.
And on March 22, I will return to my happy life as a short long distance runner and hang up my marathon shoes FOREVER (please do remind me of this if I mention signing up for anything longer than 15 miles again).
So the moral of the story....my new year's resolution is to add more miles, complete that one and only ultra-marathon and stay healthy. Meet you on the trails as we run into 2009!
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