Thoughts Before My First Half-Marathon

Three months ago, I joined a marathon training class, and here I am a few days away from participating in my first half-marathon.  The leader of the class sent a very encouraging email to the participants.  Here are some excerpts:

"For every participant, the Marathon and Half Marathon can turn doubt into hope, and discipline into dreams come true."

OK folks it is almost show time!!! ! feel like a mom who is sending her children off to summer camp for the first time. Isn't the 1-2 weeks prior to a merrython great!!! Eat lots, sleep lots, cut back on your exercise regime, be cranky and irritable with good reason, and spend endless moments writhing in anxiety!!!!! I have heard from some of your colleagues here and there about how excited you are. That is great. Remember it is perfectly acceptable to have butterflies in your stomachs...you just have to get them to fly in proper formation!!! (and to not vomit) That comes automatically as soon as you take your first step across the start line (not the vomiting).

You are about to embark on a wonderful journey that will provide you with an extension of your limitations, the strength and will to do what you previously may have only dreamed about. What a great gift you have earned for yourselves. I only wish I could be a small insect (and one which produces only good thoughts) on your race numbers the day of your event. But I do know that although I won't be running alongside you, that you will be in my thoughts and prayers for a safe and meaningful journey.

Remember, there is only one time that you will run your first half or full marathon. Experience the moment and do not wish the miles away. Regardless of how you feel (and you may likely ebb and flow), it is all about the journey. The finish is only a “line” that you cross. Your journey will stay with you forever and one that you are likely to recall again and again. Smiles will cross your faces when you are in the midst of conversations, immersed in thought, and struggling through those endless agendas. You will be changed when you cross that finish line. The preparation is done, the exam is about to commence, and finally the celebration will be yours to own forever. Savor the moment, you have earned it, and you will never be the same again!!!!

Go forth in victory (where did I find that one???). Remember, if you are at the start line for your respective event, the odds are extremely good that you will make it to the finish line. Your journey will be revealing, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. I wish you only the very best. You have all worked hard and are most deserving to embark on this incredible journey. As I always told my students in Outward Bound, you have been in the safety of the harbor long enough and you have learned all that is necessary to go out to sea and handle any crisis you may encounter, as well as to enjoy the peacefulness and confidence of knowing you are prepared. You are now Outward Bound.

May you find great joy and meaning in your effort, I wish you only the very best…………….remember it is all about the journey!!

For my Rochester friends, come cheer on the runners.  The race organizers will even provide cow bells!!

15K Race Recap

In preparation for running my first half-marathon, I ran a 15K race as a dress rehearsal to see how the past three months of training is paying off, and to see if I'll really be ready to tackle 13.1-miles in a couple of weeks.  The evening before the race I bowed my heart before the LORD in prayer and asked Him what He wanted to teach me this time out.

As I quieted myself before Him, I heard Him say, "What is the date tomorrow?"

"May 5," I answered.

Then He asked, "How far is the race?"

"15K."

Then it clicked...May 5 = 5-5; and I'm running three 5K's = 5-5-5.  There is great significance to the number 5.

The number 5 is the Biblical number for GRACE, and with the date and the three 5K's, it comes to five-fives.  Then I heard Him say, "I am leading you into a season of grace, and you will experience grace multiplied."

WOW!!

I actually got a decent night's sleep.  The weather was perfect for running, and the route was beautiful.  I was feeling good at the start line.  I headed to the back of the pack not wanting to get run over by more aggressive racers.  My goal was to just cover the distance; it didn't really matter how long it took or if I came in last.

BANG!  We started.  My strategy was to continue my 3/4-mile run and 1/4-mile walk intervals throughout the race.  I'm using the RunKeeper app on my iPhone to keep pace, and I also have a prompt set to tell me where I am every 30 minutes.  The first 30 minute prompt told me that I was 3/4-mile ahead of my regular pace.  I felt great!  I kept going.  The next 30 minute prompt I was even a bit farther ahead of my pace, and at the third prompt I was almost a full mile ahead.  I was indeed experiencing grace in this race!  I did start feeling fatigued during the last two miles and walked further than I should have.  I'm still learning how to conquer the self-doubt and negative thoughts that creep in when my body is tired...something all runners struggle with.

I rounded the last corner and saw the finish line, and I was shocked when I saw the time...I finished 22 minutes faster than I thought I would (even though I was the last one across the finish line).  I was a bit tired, but I felt great, and the finish line cookies were awesome.  It really doesn't matter that I came in last.  A "dead last finish" is better than "did not finish" which trumps "did not start."

13.1-miles--BRING IT ON!

Pain: Hurt vs. Harm

Pain is inevitable.  It's a part of growth.  I don't necessarily believe that pain is bad.  There's a difference between pain that hurts and pain that harms.  Years ago I met with a counselor while working through depression.  Those of you who have ever worked with a counselor know how emotionally painful it can be to talk about all the things you've buried over the years.  It's hard to dig those things up, look at them, recognize them for what they truly are (whatever that is for you) and then to finally let go and move on.  The counselor often used stories to help me face my pain.  He told me about a time he worked at a rehabilitation hospital.  One of his duties was to help patients into and out of the therapy pool, and depending on what was going on with their bodies, this could be very painful for them.  He told them, "This pain may hurt but it won't harm you."

Pain that hurts is temporary and is often a part of the healing process.  Recognizing that pain is a part of the healing process helps me to face it more readily.  As part of my training towards running a marathon I also incorporate strength and core training with a personal trainer each week.  The exercise can cause pain, but once the pain subsides I realize I'm stronger.  It's so much fun to come back to the exercise that caused so much pain a few weeks later and now find I can blast though it.

A few weeks ago the long run was 11.5 miles.  My strategy was to run 3/4 mile and walk 1/4 mile and focus on one mile at a time.  It was a gorgeous day and we ran through some of the most beautiful scenery in our city.  The first 7 miles went really well.  I was feeling good and ready to tackle the remaining 4+ miles.  Then something unexpected happened.

When I hit mile 9 my body began to freeze in pain.  Not due to cold.  Everything from my neck to my ankles froze in pain, and my feet hurt excruciatingly.  Then the battle in my mind began to rage.  Can I push through?  Should I stop?  I thought about a woman in our running group who was suffering with a stress fracture.  I wasn't sure if I was injured or merely fatigued.  I tried to run and then got really dizzy.  So, I decided that I would walk the rest of the way back.

Let me tell you, even walking was painful.  Everything hurt with every step.  At the point it became most painful, guess what song came on my iPod?

There may be pain in the night, but

Joy comes in the morning

Perfect!  I still hurt everywhere, but I was grateful to God for using this song to show me that this was not the harmful pain of injury...just the temporary hurt of fatigue.  

A few days later I read an article in Runner's World magazine: Survival Training (link below).  It was about a newbie runner who completed a training run with a Navy SEAL.  He experienced much the same pain as I described above.  Then the SEAL whispered in his ear:

 "You ran long and hard to feel this pain—embrace it, let it go through you. This pain is your reward!"

This is something I'm going to remember as my mileage progresses.  It's a good lesson to learn, and it's one you can only learn from experience.  Is the pain I'm experiencing harmful or is the hurt temporary?  Pain is my reward and will make me stronger in the end.