Hello 20

Yesterday was my last big run before the Chicago Marathon. For two days my legs felt a normalcy that I haven't experienced since early July. Normally I am off on Mondays but since I worked this one, I opted to take off a Tuesday so I could refocus on my random training plan. I have had two 15 mile runs this month which is substandard on the way to my 26.2 miler in just 2 weeks. A marathon running friend told me that if I could get an 18 mile run in before the race, I may be able to cross the finish line after fighting nagging injuries.

Since my mental approach to conquering the marathon involves dividing it into four 5-mile segments plus two 5ks, I decided to make my final long run four 5-mile segments with a hope to hit 50 minuets at each interval. I headed to Mansfield's bike trail for this long workout. The air was cool and breezy with a hint of fog to thinly mask the clear blue skies and gorgeous sun.

As I loaded up on pre-run nutrients for the trail, I knew it was time to test out if I could reach this goal. From Lexington park I trekked northward. Although there was some leg discomfort for the first mile and a half, it did not alter my running form as the last few sessions! Being able to shake out the aches after 1 & a half miles was encouraging since the last three runs required 4 miles of struggle before I felt any fluidity in my motion.

This run was the first I truly enjoyed in a long time as I took in the sights, scents and sounds around me. The falling leaves cascaded before me lining the path as if to comfort healing feet. As fog burned away the sun light glistened on grassy fields and flowers and heightened the blue ponds along the path. The breeze revealed sweet aromas of early autumn. I was running and felt fully alive. As pressed on I felt increasing strength with minimal effort of breathing. At 5 miles I hit the 50 minute mark and made my turn southward again.

By now I was relaxed and focused, gaining confidence with each stride and no hint of fatigue when I reached the 10 mile mark. At this point I gained a minute in a half to finish the first half of my run at 98 1/2 minuets. After a quick stop to refuel, I returned north again and surprisingly as I continued I was able to keep up my pace and after 15 miles I was at 150 minuets and on target. Though fatiguing at this point, I knew I had knocked down the first 3 quarters of my run at race pace. Just five more miles I thought to myself and returned for the final leg.

I continued to concentrate on form but I found my mind drifting a bit in focus during this stretch. I also noticed that I was laboring a bit on my breathing yet kept moving toward the finish. The last four miles seemed longer in my head but I had to remember, not since the Akron marathon had I pushed these distances and so I was up against head games. I countered my thoughts would positives like at 16 miles- I am in new territory. At 18 miles- Liz says if I can get there on my runs I will be ok for Chicago. With those thoughts, a faint smile overcame me. I respected the distance still before me. 2 miles is easy but not so much after you have already run 18. Still I kept thinking how good it would be to cross the finish and drink the water and take off my shoes to stand in soft grass in bare feet. The hardest mile was the final one. It's what I considered my wall to push through. Though my pace was fading, I was able to gently push to the end and finished with a 3:25 for 20 miles! The thrill was in the finish of the biggest test to date. The time was a bonus.

I am now looking forward to the Chicago Marathon, feeling confident that I can do this. If I finish better than the Akron, that will be a bonus. Hello 20! Nice to meet you!!

Persistence of Adversity is Testing My Resolve

I'm 18 days away from my 2nd marathon and I'm not anywhere close to my training plan. This is due to injuries that took my body hostage since the second week in July. I noticed the trouble brewing on a post 5k run as I started out for a 6 mile run in the neighborhood.I was introduced to running pains I have never experienced in 6 years of running. It went all the way from my tail bone to my ankles. At first I tried to ignore it, then nurse it and stop running altogether. Still as the days were mounting, so was my nervousness about my comeback marathon in October. It took a lot of commitment to jump back in after my lay off with plantar fasciitis. I began preparing for Chicago back in the winter, often treading on my dreadmill staring at my basement walls.

When spring came I finally felt free to run the roads I missed for too long. It felt great, as I rediscovered the joy of long distance running. When I hit my marker at the Columbus half in May I felt well on my way to one of the world's greatest marathons. When you submit your non refundable payment to enter, there's no way to go but all out in your focus and training. And I did... until July. My monthly calendar was streaming in red marking nearly every day with miles for the day, the week and the month. Then came July and the entries became thinner, with weeks completely blank as the race clock ticked on and on.

I tried rest, ibuprofen, ice packs, wraps, ointments, massages and my first experiences with chiropractic treatments. I bought other shoes, tried different running styles and sought advice and encouragement in high doses.

With training as my backdrop, I even delivered a series of messages in church on the parallel between the Christian life and running. I even announced my plans to run and sought sponsors to raise support for Chicago's oldest rescue mission "Olive Branch." Immediately support started coming in but the pain was only increasing with time. I struggled to run with diminishing returns and finally I faced a perceived reality. I could not do this, as much I wanted to try, so I called it off. No trip to Chicago and I was deeply disappointed. But then on Labor Day I went to the high school track and ran, surprising myself with 15 miles worth. Elation was short lived as I attempted a return a couple days later when I could not muster even a half mile because my body went into total rebellion.

When i returned home I was so let down that I walked into my office and pulled down every trace of running (medals, bibs, pics, trophies, gear) and I shoved it in the closet out of sight. There was only one running picture left on the wall. I refused to take it down because it was different from the others. It was a picture of my son Andy and me after we did a 5k race together just before he went into the Army. He is now serving as a Corporal in the infantry over in Afghanistan. That lone picture was kept up for sentimental reasons but it has become a reminder not to give up or quit even when you think you're spent.

This past Saturday, I decided to return to the track after a week's absence and a finally fading leg pain. To my surprise, I found my 2 and half mile run tolerable and decided to call it a day at the track. On Sunday night I returned to the dim lit track which was all mine. I was not sure how I would do but was determined to give it my best. The first few miles were a struggle and I paused to stretch, adjust and continue. Then things came together and the laps started piling up as the air continued to cool. By 11:30 pm I had made 60 loops for 15 miles and added an extra half from an earlier attempt to equal my best distance of the year! When Monday arrived, I felt fine. Today is Tuesday and after tonight's 8 mile run, I have run the equivalent of a marathon since Saturday.

I am finally feeling a renewed sense of confidence as I have battled through with patience. I am not as fast but I have developed an enduring capacity that may lead to a pleasant surprise in Chicago next month.