Thoughts on the Run

50:20 – 5 miles

I have created a bit of an anxiety frenzy in myself. This Sunday I venture on my 8th marathon in just over 3 years. While I know I didn’t “train enough” for 26.2 miles, I know that I will make it to the finish line. Same race last year my knee flared up around mile 15, but onward I pressed. It’s a difficult mental approach when you know that you won’t beat your time or get the results you hoped for. Hobbling at mile 15, knowing I had 11 miles to go, the math came to me fast. At the rate I was going, I’d be going for almost another 2 hours. I don’t have the patience for that. Again, something that running is helping me to improve upon. So push forward.

When people look at my training log (I am an open book), I get the look of disbelief. How can someone that is only running at most 20 miles a week complete a marathon? Everyone has their own plan. Many hire coaches, pay for training plans, or research research research. All of them are valid plans as everyone is different.

My plan is to run when I can and when I have time. You know what the great part of this plan is? I can’t fail at it. Some would see the cynical side and say that you can’t succeed with it, but I disagree. If there is a week that I am traveling for work, have sick kids, or need to work with a client, then I don’t have time to run. I listen to my body and accept that I am not an elite runner. Just as I know I’ll never be an astronaut to walk on the moon, I’ve learned to accept what I will not do. On the flipside, I have learned to identify what I can do. Those are two different ways of thinking. If we could get people of the world to lean towards the latter, I imagine many problems would go away.

This Sunday’s Denver Marathon is a made a little more special to me. I am running as part of the American Cancer Society’s Team Determination. My neighbor passed away a month ago after a battle with cancer and multiple co-workers have shared with me their stories of cancer impacting their lives. While my immediate family has not had to battle cancer, I want to do what I can to help ensure that they don’t have to. Creating awareness and fundraising for cancer research is my way of putting my running to use to make the world a better place.

So while I know and accept I didn’t do the “normal” training plan, I know I will finish the race. What I am looking forward to, is the journey from the starting line to the finish line. Witnessing and meeting other people going through their own journey, to reach a common goal. I shall do my best to not be too frustrated with myself with the time on clock, but no guarantees.