The Marathon

I finished a marathon. Don't I look different?

(answer: nope)

 

 I still remember running the mile in highschool PE.

I HATED it. I remember telling myself with each painful lap that as soon as my school PE classes were over with, I would never ever ever run again.

And then I gained 12 pounds my freshman year of college.

It's true. (read about it here)

So when I was planning a wedding at 19 (also true. this post is full of surprises!), I needed to get myself back into shape. Or at least, some kind of shape.

I started running. Here, and there. A mile or two.

I hated it.

We were newlyweds with terrible diets and little time, so I tried to keep up my low mileage runs, and continued to hate almost every step.

Three years later a baby was born. I would log slow and painful miles when daddy was home with baby boy, not so much loving the running part, but loving how quickly my body was bouncing back because of the running.

We moved from California to Utah and I signed up for a 10 mile race with a friend. I had no idea what I was doing, what to wear, or how on in the world I was going to run 10 miles.

But.

I did it. Somehow I completed that race, and for the first time in my life I really, 

completely, enjoyed running. 

I was a runner.

So for me, I've been a "runner" for 7 years. I ran a few road half marathons, 6 Ragnar relays, gave up the road for good and ran a few trail races, 100s of miles on the trail just for fun, and three weeks ago I ran my first ever [trail] marathon.

"So wait a minute" 

you are thinking to yourself right now.... 

"you've been running for 7 years and you just ran your FIRST marathon? 

Then you haven't been a real runner!"

There is this thing in the running community that really drives me crazy......you can start talking to someone about running and The Question always comes up

"What marathons have you run???"

uh, none.

"[lonnnnnng silence]..........oh"

and then the conversation usually ends.

I've heard people say

"well I've never ran a marathon, so I guess I'm not a real runner."

I've also known too many new runners who skip the 5k, skip the 10k, skip the 1/2 marathon, completely beat up their feet, trash their knees, and beat their body so they can hate every single step of 26.2 miles.....JUST so they can say they've ran a marathon, and therefore be accepted as a Real, Official, Runner.

I don't get it. 

If you run--any distance--and you semi enjoy it, most of the time, then YOU my friend, are a real runner.

Are you fast? Are you slow? Are you running? Then you are a runner.

Don't let a stupid number determine what you are.

In June I ran my furthest distance yet--20 miles (read about it here). It was a tough trail, with 4500ft to climb, but I finished feeling strong and knowing I wanted to do more.

In August I signed up for a trail marathon in Park City. I had four weeks to train.

Whoops.

I wasn't starting from scratch--I'd been running short distances, hiking, and climbing mountains all summer, but I was a bit nervous because I hadn't really got any decent long runs in.

I ran Timp, ran 16 miles with 3200ft of climbing, ran 22 miles (longest run ever! it felt AWESOME.) 

I threw in a handful of short runs and got excited....I was going to run a great race.

Race Day

It was a beautiful morning. A little warm, but I knew I'd be in the pines and aspens most of the way. My pack was loaded with lots of water, EFS, and S-Caps, and we were off.

Right away I got into a good group of runners. A good push--not too fast, comfortable, and small conversations here and there as we ticked away the miles.

Ok. So here's where this race report is going to be different....I usually break down race day mile by mile, lots of details, hills, bumps, feelings, emotions.....all of it. (see other race reports HERE)

But here's the thing......it kind of allllll blended together this time.

Smooth, perfect singletrack through giant pines and aspen groves (really--this trail was perfect). Roller coaster ups and downs--a very runnable course. Lots of aide stations, lots of friendly people to chat with in passing, and surprisingly no dark moments. No "hitting the wall"--just hitting the ground once....HARD.

I don't think I have ever crashed so badly--or laughed so hard at myself (by myself). While I felt mostly good mentally the whole way--my body was definitely tired, legs heavy, feet slow (oh you know, probably because I was a lousy trainer). Somewhere in the late teens of mileage my feet were heavy and too lazy to get up and over a big root and I flew--arms out, legs in the air, (all in slow motion, mind you) and sailed through the air, coming down sprawled out in the dust. It tweaked my knee, and I had to run through that for a few miles, but other than that and a few really awesome blisters, the miles continued to fly by--I couldn't believe it when there were only a few miles left to go.

Before I knew it I was heading down a stretch of dirt road that led to the finish.

look at my tiny two back behind me!!
ps. dorkiest picture ever

Done.

Results

miles: 26.2

elevation: 2861 climbing, 4014 descent

time: 4:40

women: 24/121

overall: 82/284

I finished happy--I think I could have probably pushed a little harder, I definitely could have trained better, but overall it was a good race.

So question is.....

has my life changed since I finished a marathon?

Do I feel different now that I am a REAL runner?

Was it the absolute best thing I've ever done?

no. 

You guys, I'm here to tell you.....it was just another race. Just another run.
I was EXTREMELY happy to finish--don't get me wrong, but I feel the same happiness at the end of any race. Any goal accomplished feels good.

There were great parts and hard parts and funny parts. 

I got dirty (I finished with a dirt-stache), I ended with a smile on my face....and that's why I liked it. 

And THAT'S what makes me a runner--not a number, not a time, just the feeling I get when I'm running (and sometimes falling).

Just get out and run! If you like it, then congratulations, 

YOU are a runner.

So I'm a big time marathoner now. What's next now that I'm legit?

I'm thinking a 50k might be fun(?) within the next year.....what does that make me?

crazy.

*****

for my fellow running friends with technical questions....

all my gear was exactly the same as it was in THIS post--check it out I have every single detail for you + fav products.

(seriously can't say enough good things about my favorite North Face shorts!)

food was all the same too except I had chicken and veggie stir fry for dinner the night before.