Tuesday, July 3, 2012

How I got to be on the edge of (Glory) my first marathon.

First of all a huge thank you to everyone who left me such great, thoughtful and awesome comments on the post where I asked for first time marathon help.  I am loving it and plan to reread all of them the night before the marathon.

The journey to a marathon wasn't really one that 5 years ago I thought would embarking on..ever.  I had wrote off anything over an hour of running as too hard on my body sometime after college.  I ran for fitness.  I ran to help manage my weight and because I enjoyed it.

 I thought people who ran in road races would all be really competitive and uber fast.   I didn't think I would fit in.  I didn't think I was fast enough.  I didn't think I would enjoy it.

Sometime around 2002 maybe I ran a 5 mile womens run and was surprised at how well I did.  I think I ran it in 42 minutes or something like that.  I was too timid to enter more races though and I didn't know anyone else you did.

I kept running for fitness.  Then I got married, pregnant, quit the gym, moved out to the country, pregnant again and found that I needed an outlet.  I needed something for me.  Something to help me decompress.  With the encouragement of a friend at work I signed up for a 5 mile race.  I  surprised myself with how fast I did it, but never did anymore races that year.

The next year I did every race I could locally.  5ks, 5 miles and my first 2 half marathons. I was hooked!  It didn't matter that I wasn't the fastest, although I was faster than I would have guessed!

I considered a marathon still out of my league, maybe once both kids were in school.  Mostly I think I still just thought the distance was too crazy for me. Last year I again did every race I could enter locally and did my first 10k, and two more halfs, 

We had a very mild winter and it allowed me to build and maintain a very good base. I did long runs of 12-14 miles just for fun.  They felt good, they felt easy. I loved doing them.

I also started to listen to Marathon Training Academy.  One of their podcasts was about overcoming obstacles in training and finding the time to train.

I also have to insert here that I started my blog in April of 2011 and I have to admit reading about everyone else's marathons was INCREDIBLY inspiring.  If all these woman can do it, why not me too?

Then one day my little sister watched the kids and I went for a new PDR and ran 17 miles.  It wasn't easy, but it felt strangely..doable. 

Suddenly 26.2 wasn't so intimidating.  Maybe, just maybe I could do a marathon.  I found out my parents would be in Missoula the same weekend of the marathon.  I talked it over with my husband and then signed up.

I rearranged my long runs so they were during the week instead of on the weekends.  This was huge!  I was able to trade kids with my sister in law so that she would watch kids in the morning and I in the afternoon on a mutual day off.

Now here I am 5 days away from it!  I am ready.  I am confident about running the distance, just wondering how it will all play out!


This is obviously a very abbreviated version, but you didn't come here to read a book.

What things helped inspire you to run your first marathon?

28 comments:

  1. Truly inspiring. I've loved reading your journey to get to the marathon. I knew as as soon as I crossed the finish line for my 1st 1/2 marathon that I was going to do a full.

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  2. Wonderful post! You are so ready for the marathon this weekend! The marathon distance seemed like a huge goal for me, just accomplishing that distance is what drew me to it!

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  3. I definitely relate to the running as an outlet part. And I love the challenge. I'm a slower runner but I love being able to cover long distances! Have a great time this weekend. Can't wait to read your recap!

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  4. I am so excited to hear about your first marathon. You're going to do awesome!

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  5. I think it's funny that you thought people in road races were super fast when YOU are super fast!

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  6. Yay! You sounded confident and ready!
    I can't wait for your race report about how you conquer the 26.2 miles!

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  7. I am so proud of you, you are going to do awesome. :-)

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  8. It is going to be so AWESOME! You will love it and do great! You are going to BQ your first 26.2! Can not wait to hear how it goes.

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  9. You are going to do great! Consider yourself part of all the inspiring bloggers who make 26.2 seem so doable. Inspiring!!!

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  10. You are going to rock your marathon! I wish you the best!!

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  11. How exciting!!! you're definitely capable of doing this :D Just remember to have fun and pretend like it's just another training run. Run your own race. You'll do great!! I'm doing my first in Feb. and the distance is still kind of scary since I haven't started my long runs yet. But you seem prepared and ready to rock it!

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  12. You are going to do amazing! I know it! And I am so excited for you. Your first marathon is such a special thing (and I am sure you will do more). :) My best advice is to ENJOY it. Soak it all in, focus on the mile you are in, and enjoy the experience. Control what you can and don't stress what you can't.

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  13. It's coming up fast! By the way way you are uber fast:) You are going to rock it. I was motivated to run my 1st marathon with Team in Training in honor of my sister who was diagnosed with cancer in 2003. I crossed the finish line and she beat cancer. Win-Win:)

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  14. You are going to do great! I'll send you happy mojo from my own 26.2 in Aspen this Saturday!
    BTW - Edge of Glory is a great song for the playlist!

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  15. It's been inspiring and exciting reading your journey to your first 26.2! You have had a hell of a training season and I can't wait to read your race recap. Regardless of what happens out there, just have fun and enjoy the moment.

    You should go watch "spirit of the marathon." seriously. Do it. I think it's free on Hulu if you can stand to watch it on your PC.

    I'm sooooo exited for you! :)

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  16. LOVED reading your story Chirsty! Mine is so very similar. I was always way to intimidated and nervous to race. I never thought I was good enough to be a runner. So crazy that sometimes we are so afraid to reach for the things we want the most. Thanks for sharing this! I am beyond excited for you and know that without a doubt you are ready.

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  17. I can't wait to hear about your first marathon, you're going to do so great!!

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  18. I can't wait to hear how it goes! You will do awesome!

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  19. i am SO ready for you to have this incredible 26.2 experience! you will be fantastic and have worked so hard for this moment! honestly...i still didnt think i was ready for a marathon (or that i ever would be) but rachelle and i signed up together and kept each other motivated. after my first half i just wanted to run more and more and keep seeing what i was capable of...that was motivating as well:) GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

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  20. Christy, you are going to shine in this race. I just feel how naturally running comes to you reading your blog, and I think (even if it's hot!) that this race will be so joyful for you. (And if it is hot, you'll be tempted eventually to sign up for a fall or winter one.) I can't wait to watch how it unfolds this weekend. ENJOY!!!

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  21. I can see the smile on your face now as you cross the finish line, enjoy the journey!

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  22. You are a great athlete, and I think you'll do great on Sunday. Enjoy the experience!

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  23. I'm so excited for you!! I know you are ready and you will LOVE the experience. It's just awesome!

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  24. After I ran my first half marathon, honestly I didn't think I would ever do it again, but reading other bloggers experiences really is inspiring and I treasure all the support and motivation out there! I still am not sure about running a full marathon but it's definitely on the bucket list!

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  25. You are so ready and will do great. Enjoy it!

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  26. You are going to do great! I always had a marathon on my bucket list, but never really thought I would do it. After running a few half marathons, I realized that I was stronger and faster than I gave myself credit for. After running my first marathon, I am now ready to take on the world! You will too! Good luck!

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  27. Good luck! I'm so happy and excited for you!

    The fact that I'm running inspired me to do my first half. I've always tried to find longer and longer races in swimming and now it seems I'm doing the same thing with running. As long as my knees and ankles don't give out, then I'm going to keep going!

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