Before I ran the 2007 Marathon, I posted something titled "3065." This marathon changed my life. From a bad experience in college, I never thought I could run. But I did run. I ran a marathon.
Anyhow - today, as I reflect on that crazy period in my life, I'd like to repost one of my favorite things I've ever written and shared publicly. So - - please enjoy the story of 3065.
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Tuesday, February 13, 2007
 | Current mood:  optimistic Category: Sports Athlete? Not me! I may have been coxswain on the college crew team, but that merely involved telling other people what to do! When I ran with the crew team in a February 1997 event, I thought I was going to die. I ran about one mile, and walked the rest of the freezing 5K (3.1 miles) - I barely made it to the finish line. Several years have passed since then, and after a life-changing 2006, some friends encouraged me to join a marathon training program. Why not? At the time, I couldn't come up with a good reason. But - I had to convince myself that this overwhelming adventure was worth tackling. I told myself I wouldn't get any younger, and then in January 2007 I faced a big front-number-changer: My 30th birthday. I told myself I had the time, since I wasn't planning to study for another crazy actuarial exam. I figured my Saturday mornings were relatively free. And so, I embarked upon this gigantic adventure! There were some details to consider. How about the half-marathon program? In the first week, the difference was merely a mile or so. That just didn't seem crazy enough – and, I like to aim high. If I didn't make the marathon, I could always fall back to a half marathon (which would an amazing accomplishment!). And so, my friend Joy and I headed to downtown Austin on a September morning, to run two timed miles and figure out our pace group. Even in those first two miles, I did some walking - but I completed 2 miles in about 25 minutes. That put me somewhere between the walking group and the slowest running group - no surprise there! Two miles... I was exhausted. I was sore. The downtown Austin Farmer's market was tempting, but I told my friend maybe we should wait until another time. That week, Joy and I discovered that USA fit had two groups in the Austin area- in addition to the group in Downtown Austin, there was a group in Round Rock – just North of Austin. As I considered travel time, the 15 miles to make it downtown to Austin Fit wasn't worth it, compared to the 11 miles to make it to the Round Rock Fit meeting place in Old Settler's Park by the Dell Diamond. By joining the Round Rock Fit group, I gained an additional five minutes of sleep, every Saturday morning for 26 weeks! For an early Saturday morning run, that's a very important five minutes! After a week or two, I discovered that I would definitely need a new pair of running shoes. I stopped by Runtex over lunch one day, and got a brand new shiny purple pair of shoes. To fit me for them, they considered the flexibility of my foot, whether or not I pronate (put more weight on the inside of my foot), and all these other things I never knew existed. Luckily, Runtex knows running shoes. So I trotted off to my next run in my new shoes. It was still fairly warm outside, so the seminars given by Round Rock Fit reminded us that drinking lots of water and hydrating are important in those warm months. A rule of thumb, they said, was to weigh yourself before and after your run: The goal is not to gain and not to lose weight. My routine with the Round Rock Fit group began in full swing. On Saturday morning, we would meet for a "long" run, followed by 3 days during the week. Those first weeks, we ran about only 20 minutes during the week. The mileage gradually increased. Of course, life continued in the meantime. It was clear that I wouldn't be around every Saturday for a long run with the group. For at least part of this journey, I was on my own. In late September, I traveled to Minnesota for a friend's wedding. I learned that one of the benefits of running is that it is flexible – you just need your shoes! So I took my purple running shoes with me to Minnesota, and ran about 4 miles, or about 50 minutes, in 50 degree weather. The trails were gorgeous, the trees were changing colors, and the friends I stayed were still asleep early Saturday morning ... but I went on a run. Now, I feel obligated to explain what I mean by the term "run." You see, I jog – at best. I typically move my feet in a running-like pattern (i.e., a snail-paced jog) for about 9 minutes, and then follow with about a 1 minute walking break. This continues so that I walk a minimum of 1 minute every mile. By October, I could "run" 8 miles. After this exhausting event, I was "rewarded" the following week with a shorter 6 mile run. In late October, I went to New York to visit friends for a couple of days. One of my friends there, Paul, decided he'd make an effort at 8 miles in my run 9 minute/ walk 1 minute pattern. And so, we trampled across Brooklyn- including across the 1 mile Brooklyn Bridge. Although I was supposed to run 8 miles if I stuck to the "program," I began having problems with my knee – and so the last 2 miles were spent walking the entire way. Instead of giving up, I visited my Doctor who told me to stay off running for 10 days. TEN DAYS!?!?! I was amazed at how dedicated I had become to staying on track in order to make it to Marathon Day. Luckily, many coaches had encouraged us to stay healthy – and heal – and only by doing these things would we make it, injury free. My new friend, and 100K (or 62 mile) running coworker Janice loaned me a book so I could learn more about running related injuries. I did as the doctor ordered, and when the 10 days were over (and I could finally run again!) I was in San Francisco. The weather was a bit rainy, so I wound up running on a treadmill. I had missed a few of the weekend "long" runs, but it felt great to get back into this "sport" I began by dreading. You see, at some point in the process, I became a runner. Although I still have a difficult time making that admission, running is now a big part of my life. I've nearly forgotten what life was like when I didn't pick up my shoes and head out the door, often with my dog. When I have a particularly bad day, I crave a run. I actually experience the adrenaline rush - and want to go running. As November came around, the mileage increased and I finally made my first double digit run - 10 miles! I'd heard about these things called "ice baths" – where runners actually sit in a tub full of water, and then dump in a bag full of ice. I thought they must be crazy – and then, after that first 10 mile run, I tried it. I decided that I couldn't manage unless I was distracted, and so I called my mom. For some reason, I sat in a bath tub full of ice for nearly 10 minutes. My legs turned red, and went numb. Never in my life has a warm shower (after the ice had all melted away) felt better. I've learned about all these things that in my previous life, I never knew existed. Often, on a long run, runners use "gu" to replace some of the nutrients lost – particularly salt, potassium, and other essential stuff. I tried my first gu in New York and thought – YUCK! After mileage increases above about 6 miles though, it's obvious why people force this yucky, gooey stuff down their throats. I've learned about blisters and injuries. I've learned about massage and stretching. I've begun to understand the mental challenge involved. I've had help from coaches, and I've read inspiring stories from others. I've read about pacing, and tried a few techniques. I've gotten a few new articles of "running" clothing. I even attempted my first race since the 1997 disaster – this time, the Austin Radiological Association's 20 miles. Even though I ran 12 miles and walked 8, I made the finish line in that race. A few weeks later, I had my best run ever- 10 miles. I was able to complete 10 miles in just over 2 hours – a major accomplishment. A few weeks ago, our training run topped out at 23 miles. This time, the Austin and Round Rock groups joined forces and ran part of the Marathon course, leaving from downtown Austin. The same place where I started the adventure by running merely 2 miles. This time, I ran 16 miles and walked about 7. At 13.2 miles, the coach I was with told us if we had been running a half marathon, we would have been finished- surprisingly, one of the most motivating statements I've ever heard in my life. I'd already finished a half marathon – and kept on going! The whole run took me 5 hours and 45 minutes, but I finished. Exhaustion had new meaning in my life. The point of this story is 3065. What's 3065, you say? Well, that's my Bib number. This chapter of my life is about ready to come to a close. A marathon - who would have thought I'd ever attempt such a thing. After all, the first guy to attempt a marathon wound up dead at the finish. Will I be dead at the finish? Dead tired, definitely. However, as long as I make it to the finish – I will have accomplished something that few people do in their lifetime. I won't be fast – but that isn't the goal. My goal is merely to finish. I will make it to the finish. And when I make it to the finish, I will have won the race. Mark your calendar: Feb 18, 2007 For more details: www.austinmarathon.com www.roundrockfit.com |
