I am a Marathoner

There. It typed it.

I am a Marathoner.

Seeing it in print makes it that much more real to me. Real-scary? or Real-ity? Yes. Both.

26.2 miles. 26.2.

You've been invited here because I consider you part of my support system. I like the idea of you being in my corner. I suspect that I might very well *need* your support in a leg or two of the journey.

I start this blog as an outlet and journal of my training for the Marathon. It is my hope to track my progress and thoughts along the way to the finish line as well as spare you in-person, drawn-out recounts of every new run experience or ahah moment!

If you've spent any time with me at all in the last few months you've likely heard me drop the M word. Marathon. I've been chewing on it, tasting it, nibbling, gnawing, rolling it around in my mouth, spitting it out even, only to pop it right back in again. Well, I finally swallowed. I am training to run in the Valentine Marathon in Olympia, Feb 10th, 2008. Exactly 12 weeks from today.

I believe that I have been led to run it. God has such a nice way of doing that, leading us. A little nudge here, a big push there, spotlight beams or laser pinpoint. Perhaps it's not altogether miraculous how I got here; regardless, I am confident that I am running in the right direction!

I am reading the Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer (NRMT). The book is not only a training guide in how to physically prepare for a marathon but it is also a psychological training manual.

I started reading it while I was deeply patterned in negativity about all of my fitness activities. I was increasingly critical of every effort. None of my runs or workouts was long, hard, or fast enough. I was in a bad place. The book came at a perfect time.

Early on we are told to add the phrase "... but it doesn't matter" to the end of any negative thought or statement. We are encouraged to speak and think positively, but should we slip, this phrase helps us recover. It's cold and rainy outside. But it doesn't matter. Hah! It's true. As the authors say, I can and will run anyway. And I will be really glad I did when I am finished. I have lots of rainy run experiences to back this up as truth. In fact those rainy runs are often the most fulfilling and bragged about.

This phrase made a difference immediately. I ran slower than I wanted, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't! I ran. Good on me.

The book also encourages us to say “I am a marathoner.” What a crazy mantra. It's quickly growing on me, tho. I relate to it more and more as I say it, think it, write it. I am a marathoner. We are told to invite others to give us the opportunity to reiterate this. If you've read this far, thanks. If you think of it someday, ask me if I am a marathoner.

When I run I practice saying it. I am a marathoner, I am one who marathons, I am an Er with a Marathon in front of it. I marathon, I'm a marathoner!

NRMT instructs us to follow all of the training guidelines not just those that appeal to us. We're instructed to leave the music at home. Eek. I just got into running with music. My MP3 player is filled with music selected for pace and motivation. Sigh.

Friday was my last long-ish run in prep for the Seattle 1/2 Marathon (just a week from today.) A hilly 7+ miles.

1.5 hours without music or noise? Just me and my breathing? and my thoughts? Unappealing and kinda scary... but it doesn’t matter. And it didn’t! It was great!

While I ran, I worked on visualization and developing mental 'video tapes' as taught in NRMT. These "tapes" are to be played in place of negative thoughts and tapes. Tape 1 is of a perfect run... sights, sounds, smells, feelings, details. Tape 2 is of crossing the finish line in the marathon.

The work was fun. I learned a lot about myself. It was a good run. I didn't beat myself up for a single part of it. I ran big hills. I ran safe. I ran 7.3 miles. I ran productively. My pace was good. I didn't notice my breathing even tho I didn't have music to cover it up. I worked on form and experimented with different things I recently read in articles and books. And I told myself, I am a Marathoner.

I consider Friday's run my first Marathon training run, as it was the first after making the decision to go for it.

Here’re the stats:

DATE: 16-Nov-07
MILES: 7.33
TIME: 1:27:40
PACE: 11:57
ROUTE: 7.33 miles on 228th in Bothell, out and back
NUTRITION: 1 CarbBoom before, bottle water during
COMMENTS: Good Run! Hilly. Took it easy on the down hills. Lots of grit on the road.

Thanks for reading and for being my friend!

Love,
Nancy the Marathoner.