Geez, that's a scary word.
Why am I so intimidated by it? Maybe because I know it's 26.2 miles. That's a lot.
But here I am, contemplating whether I want to try my first marathon in May.
OMG. What am I thinking?
Maybe it's because I'm starting to feel good about running again. I've had a pretty good month so far and have been sticking to my HM training plan.
Maybe it's because I want a (HUGE) challenge.
Maybe I am nuts.
But whatever. I am mulling over throwing my hat in the ring for the marathon at the Avenue of the Giants. If I chicken out, I still have the HM. I would hope if I decide to go for it (and train for it) that I won't chicken out!!
So for those of you who have run a full marathon before, how hard of a choice was it to commit to it? Was it worth it? Would you do it again? I guess I just need some advice from people who have been there, done that.
Yesterday's stats:
Elliptical:
Time: 30 minutes
Today's stats:
Run:
Distance: 3.75 miles
I used to be an athlete. In high school, I was on the track team. In college, I was a varsity rower. But then life happened. I graduated from college in 1998, got my first real job and started slacking in the exercise department. Add two kids and a few extra pounds and I was unhappy. In November 2006 I started running again as a way to shed some weight and get some much-needed "me time". And now I am back in school to pursue a career in nursing. Here's my journey.
My next race!!! March 15, 2009
Completed races
- 3-15-09 Shamrock'n Half Marathon, Sacramento, CA
- 10-26-08 2nd Annual Monster Dash; Blue Lake, CA; 5K
- 9-6-08 Soroptimist/Arcata Fire Department 5K; Arcata, CA
- 8-9-08 Arcata Sunrise Rotary and HealthSPORT Trail Run; Arcata, CA; 5.6 miles (all trails)
- 7-20-08 2nd Annual Tim Brownlow Memorial Run (5K); Arcata, CA
- 6-7-08 Atalanta's Victory Run; Arcata, CA; 2 miles; 36 out of 219
- 5-4-08 Avenue of the Giants 1/2 marathon; near Weott; 642 out of 810
- 3-9-08 Foggy Bottom Milk Run; Ferndale, CA; 4.1 miles; 122 out of 260
- 2-9-08 "9 on the 9th" Run; Fortuna, CA; 9 miles
- 2-2-08 Trinidad to Clam Beach Run; Trinidad, CA; 5 3/4 miles; 163 out of 291
- 12-8-07 "8 on the 8th" Run; Fortuna, CA; 8 miles
- 11-22-07 Eureka Turkey Trot; Eureka, CA; 5K; 152 out of 337
- 9-8-07 Soroptimist/Arcata Fire Department Run; Arcata, CA; 5K; 50 out of 59 (very fast field!)
- 8-5-07 Tim Brownlow Memorial Run; 3.17 miles; Arcata, CA; 97 out of 272
- 6-2-07 Atalanta's Victory Run and Walk; Arcata, CA; two miles; 27 out of 146 (1st in age division!!)
- 5-6-07 Avenue of the Giants; near Weott, CA; 10K; 231 out of 392
- 3-11-07 Foggy Bottom Milk Run; Ferndale, CA (4.1-mile course) - 122 out of 211
- 1-27-07 Trinidad to Clam Beach Run, Trinidad, CA (3-mile course) - 39 out of 117
My running stats
| Lifetime-Jan-'07 to Present | 843.69 miles |
| 2009 Goal -> 500 miles | 407.08 miles left! |
| Month to date | 1.27 miles |
| April | 2.55 miles |
| March | 23.1 miles |
| February | 30.25 miles |
| January | 35.75 miles |
| 2008 total | 324.36 miles |
| 2007 total | 395.20 miles |
My cycling stats
| Year To Date | 361.25 miles |
| Lifetime total | 914.06 miles |
| Month To Date | 12.5 miles |
| November | 7.44 miles |
| October | 20.22 miles |
| September | 21.34 miles |
| August | 24.96 miles |
| July | 35.14 miles |
| June | 43.11 miles |
| May | 15 miles |
| April | 72.95 miles |
| March | 42.01 miles |
| February | 26.54 miles |
| January | 62.70 miles |
| December | 52.07 miles |
| November | 27.44 miles |
| October | 53.35 miles |
| September | 70.13 miles |
| August | 48.18 miles |
| July | 83.33 miles |
| June | 92.42 miles |
| May | 59.82 miles |
| April | 40.40 miles |
| March | 7.32 miles |
| February | 15.96 miles |
My elliptical stats
| Year To Date (in minutes) | 350 minutes |
| 2008 total (in minutes) | 1790 minutes |
| Month To Date | 30 minutes |
| April | 160 minutes |
| February | 70 minutes |
| January | 90 minutes |
| December | 160 minutes |
| November | 210 minutes |
| October | 315 minutes |
| September | 165 minutes |
| August | 135 minutes |
| July | 215 minutes |
| June | 245 minutes |
| May | 245 minutes |
My race results
| 2007 | |
| Trinidad to Clam Beach Run, 3 miles | 36:47 |
| Foggy Bottom Milk Run, 4.1 miles | 48:44 |
| Avenue of the Giants 10K | 1:13:28 |
| Atlanta's Victory Run and Walk, 2 miles | 20.01 |
| Tim Brownlow Memorial Run and Walk, 3.17 miles | 32:58 |
| Soroptimists/Arcata Fire Department Run, 5K | 34:21 |
| Eureka Turkey Trot 5K | 31:24 (PR) |
| 8 on the 8th Run, 8 miles | 1:28:55 (PR) |
| 2008 | |
| Trinidad to Clam Beach Run, 5 3/4 miles | 1:17:03 |
| 9 on the 9th Run, 9 miles | 1:43:00 |
| Foggy Bottom Milk Run, 4.1 miles | 43:44 (PR) |
| Avenue of the Giants, half marathon | 2:45:24 |
| Atalanta's Victory Run, 2 miles | 19:49 (PR) |
| Tim Brownlow Memorial Run, 3.1 miles | 32:48 |
| Soroptimists/Arcata Fire Department Run, 5K | 33:39 |
Other runners who rock
- Lisa (my inspiration!!)
- Running Jen
- Jason the running man
- Papa Bear's marathon training
- I signed up for this?
- Working my A$$ off
- Chad in the Arizona desert
- A side of GRITS
- Lust for life
- Notes of a Non-runner
- Running to stand still
- A brand new life as a runner
- Solo running chick
- RunningCrazy
- Attempts at middle-aged fitness
- Code Geeks Tail
- MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS OF A SLOW POKE
- Marathoner in Training
- Pat's running blog
- Me and the boys
- Teacher, mother, wife. daughter...are more
- Occasional musings
7 comments:
After I registered for my first..I had days where I thought " I can do it!" and other days where I decided not too.. It is not easy to train with kids the payoff is soooo worth it. :) Good luck!
It wasn't a hard decision for me because I immediately wanted to do one after my first HM. It IS a challenge but, you've already covered half the distance before, right? What's another half?
Awesome. Good luck!
I just signed up for my first marathon... and I've wondered a few times since if I'm nuts. I was going to start with a HM but decided if I can do 13 miles, I can shoot for 26. :D
I was also trainig for a half when in the middle of the training plan I went for the full. A quick decision that I never regretted. Still my best running memories so far. Love the challenge!! You will love it too ;-)
Do it. Do it. Do it...
And you will not chicken out. Just do it!
It's a total challenge and the training takes a lot of dedication and time. But it is totally worth it and will change your life. Besides, it's only a few months. You can sleep and have a life after you have that medal around your neck :)
P.S. You can eat all you want while training. That was the final selling point for me ;)
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