Running With The Elites

Here is a "did you know or do you care" tidbit which was brought to my attention by my husband. If being a statistic of the less than 1% of the population who run marathons doesn't tickle your fancy, consider this fact. Running, particularly marathons and half marathons, is the only sport in which you can compete with the elite athletes. For example, you won’t find yourself in a basketball game with Kobe Bryant or Labron James. You won’t find yourself playing football against Payton Manning. And you won’t find yourself in a swim meet competing with Michael Phelps.

But you can compete in the same event as Ryan Hall, Kara Goucher, and Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi. I can proudly say that I raced with Meb in the San Jose Half Marathon on October 4, 2009. We never ran side-by-side, but we did cross paths when he was already headed in the other direction to the finish line on the out and back run. Meb may have beaten me by a little over an hour, but nevertheless, I got to run in the same event as him. Meb won the half marathon and later went on to win the 2009 NY marathon as well.

I find this information quite amazing. It makes me feel even more special to be a runner and to be a participant of an event involving elite runners. Long distance running offers equal opportunity for all!

Keep on running!

What It's Like Running a Marathon with Your Spouse

July 26, 2009 marked a day of firsts. It was my husband's first marathon and my first time running a marathon with him. From the time we started training together, it was like getting married all over again.

The Courtship

About a year ago, my husband decided it was time for him to start running. We started running together whenever our schedules allowed. It provided many wonderful opportunities for quality time with each other. It was a time to check in with each other's thoughts and feelings about the day's events or week's past. We have two young boys so it was very nice to have that alone time again.

The Engagement

Two months into the training, my husband decided he wanted to run his first marathon. So, we both signed up and entered the San Francisco marathon as a commitment to train with each other. The 6-months of training was fun because we were passionate about running. It led to many engaging conversations.

The Rehearsal Dinner

We devoted our day to mentally preparing ourselves for the marathon. We feasted on pasta as we strategized for the big day. The night was filled with excitement and nervousness.

The Wedding Day

Race Day! It was the moment of truth. The question was would we run together the entire race? My husband had been battling IT band pain throughout his training. He had some good days and some bad days. But at the starting line, I vowed to stay with him the entire race. Besides, it was his first so it would be special to share the monumental occasion with him. "In sickness, in muscle cramps, in blisters, and in health; till death do us part..."

The Honeymoon

The first several miles were bliss. We enjoyed the scenery of the waterfront, the Marina, and the Golden gate bridge. We exchanged encouraging words as we basked in our runners high.

Tribulation

My husband's IT band gave him pain at mile 13. As the mileage added up, his pain intensified to the point where we had to stop at every half-mile to stretch his muscles. As his pain increased, his confidence decreased. It was mentally challenging for him, to say the least. I tried to offer him encouragement, but it seemed as if there wasn't anything I could say to make him feel any better. It was like, "shut-up already!" He didn't actually say that, but I know he was thinking it. Hence, quietness for the rest of the run. Like in any marriage, sometimes it is best to keep quiet and just listen.

The Daily Grind

This is the point in the race that got tedious- lots of running, lots of walking, and lots of quietness and reflection. By this time, we were in our own world waiting for time to pass. The miles grew long and the hours even longer.

The Make-Up

As we neared the end of the race, hope was regained. This is the corny, lovey-dovey part of the race. My husband thanked me for being there for him. Even if there wasn't anything I could say to make my husband feel better, he said my presence, alone, made his run bearable and gave him something to fight for. He didn't want to let me or himself down. So, even if we had some turbulent moments, it was made all better in the end. I told him how happy I was to be able to share the special day with him.

The Anniversary

Alas, the finish line! All the months of preparation and training had paid off. Even if our run didn't go as planned, it was a still worthy of a celebration. We did it. We crossed the finishing line together! We've been through some good times and some bad times on the 26.2 mile journey. But that journey confirmed our love for each other (sappy music in the background). It reminded me of how important patience and understanding is in a relationship. (I was going to add communication but in this case, it wasn't so. It was the lack of it that helped us to survive the run.)

In the end, we celebrated the 26.2 miles that we ran and finished as a couple...and still be on speaking terms!

"Most people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts." ~Steve Prefontaine

Congratulations, Running-guy, for having the guts to run your first marathon!

Happy Running...

~Running-girl

Marathon Quote

Less than 1% of the population take the right path...

"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100-meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon."

~Emil Zatopek (Czech runner and winner of 4 Olympic gold medals)

Encouraging Words

When my friends learned that I ran marathons, I received mixed reactions like, “Wow, that’s amazing. I wish I could run 26.2 miles like you,” to “You’re crazy! Why would you want to run 26.2 miles?”

Unless you participate in an organized run, you’ll never understand the excitement and thrill of being a part of a race. It’s very exciting to be among thousands of runners with a passion for running, and in the midst of the energy that they bring. It’s also heartwarming to be surrounded by an overwhelming number of people who come to see the race. These supporters are out there because they admire what we do. They offer us encouragement and support through claps, whistles, signs, and cheers. This is what keeps us going.

No matter how many marathons I’ve ran, each time feels like my first. I get nervous at the start of every race. It’s common. Afterall, 26.2 miles is a lot of miles to cover on foot. And I never know how my body will perform or how my mind will react at a given point in the race. Only one thing is certain; that there will be supporters, who I can rely on, to offer me encouragement.

Good job Looking good

You can do it

AWESOME you’re almost there

way to go keep it up

I find that cheers help me run faster than I normally would run. When bystanders are sparse, my pace slows a little and my energy drops. But as soon as I hear the cheers of the crowd, my pace picks up, my energy rises, and my face lights up. It’s an instant adrenaline rush- my energy boost that carries me through a couple of miles until I reach the next batch of supporters. I love all the “hoopla” that comes with an organized race. Even if I am at a point of exhaustion, the encouraging words I hear from the crowd, makes me want to push myself a little harder. The cheers drive me to do the best I can in the race. The best I can do is finish.

Nothing compares to the thrill of crossing the finish line. That’s is when I get to experience what it’s like to be a rock star. The crowds grow thick and the cheers get louder. The cheers resognates in me like an echo as I fight to the finish. And when the race is over and I’ve settled into my cozy home after a warm shower, I will relive that final moment. I will recall all the cheers, the congratulatory remarks, and the excitement of the event to experience that feeling of worthiness a little more longer.

“A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.” ~ Emily Dickenson