The one about My First Full Marathon

Don’t worry, you didn’t miss a post or anything. You see, I haven’t actually run the marathon yet but I figured I could still make a post about it in anticipation, right? It’s 10 days away and I’m nervous. That is an understatement. The thing I’m most scared about is being in so much pain or being so tired in the middle of it that I can’t finish.

I’ve been training since the beginning of June. This was after PRing a half marathon at the beginning of May. Obviously, that was a morale booster and also the time I was most sure about attempting to complete a full marathon.

Even though I have been training since the beginning of June, I didn’t actually sign up till September. I guess I wanted to start training first to see what it was like- I was giving myself room to quit. I thought about quitting several times along this journey. I’m sure I will still think about it even up until I cross that finish line but I am not going to not show up (double negatives, I know, shaaaammmmmeeee) at that start line except, God forbid, I get badly injured.

One day, I was 95% sure I was going to quit. This was during a particularly challenging long run. My feet hurt like crazy. I actually shed tears during that run. It was a 2 hour 15 minute run. Imagine- just 2 hours 15 minutes. I anticipate my full marathon will take me about 5 hours. So if for such a relatively short run, my feet were killing me, then surely the smart thing would be to quit, I thought.

But I am stubborn. By the end of the run, I decided I would try to first figure out why I was hurting, try to fix that, and then see how I fared. I started by returning the brand new shoes I had just bought. I was convinced they were to blame. After all, I didn’t have the pain before the shoes, at least not that badly. I was forgetting that I hadn’t really run for that long before then either. Well, maybe once or twice ever, a few months prior. Maybe. Also, I would be getting about $100 back from the return, that ought to cheer one up, right?

Then I went to the injury clinic. They didn’t find anything wrong with my feet. Which was a relief, but also a bummer because I still didn’t know what was wrong. Then I went to a Good Form Running clinic at our local running store. They told me all the things that were wrong with my gait- in front of everyone. That was fun. Well, they did this to everyone, to be fair. In theory, I now know what to be doing, but honestly in practice, I am not even sure if I am doing it correctly and most times it takes too much energy to even try. I am trying to conserve energy.

Then I started to drink the nasty stuff. The training leaders raved about it, brought in someone to talk about it, brought samples. I figured I was willing to try anything, but gosh, it is very nasty! It does appear to give me longer lasting energy though so I have been forking out the $$ for it.

Then I started to get chaffing injuries. A lot in the chestal area. And like they could read my mind, they had a sports bra sale at the running store. They claimed a sports bra should never see a birthday. That was shocking to me- me, that has sports bras from 4 years ago. To be fair though, the chaffing just started with the marathon training. If you think bras are expensive, try sports bras for high impact training. Needless to say, I only bought one.

The bra fitting lady said I should also try body glide. I’d heard of it, but I thought it was mainly for men to stop chaffing at the nipples. I’d heard of men bleeding at the nipples but never saw it till I watched a bunch of people finish marathons at the Detroit Marathon after finishing my half marathon last year. That stuff just looks painful- for the runner and even the people who have to see it! I bought body glide. I’m yet to see if it is making a difference but it can’t hurt, right?

I have since bought another pair of shoes so the $100 did eventually go back to the running store, plus a little extra. They seem to be doing a bit better. However, something I hate strongly is that somehow my heel rubs on the inside of my shoes and so my shoes and socks get damaged. I am not sure if the socks are causing the damage or the shoes … Long story short, I have ordered some socks on amazon. And these aren’t your regular 6 for $3.99 ones, obviously.

I’ve also learned of a different way to tie my laces. The first time I tried it, it kind of felt like circulation was being cut off from my feet, but I think we are way past that now.

The thing that is giving me a high level of anxiety at the moment is my training plan. I used this training plan last year too for my half marathon. They didn’t specifically promise a PR but it was strongly implied. I did not PR. I wasn’t too disappointed because I enjoyed the race, I wasn’t super tired either during or after the race, it almost felt effortless (if I dare say that- or maybe I am suffering from race amnesia?), and I was injury free throughout training.

The reason I am anxious  is that my longest training run is only 3 hours. 3 hours. For a race that I anticipate will take me 5 hours. How does that give anyone tummy comfort? And for their first marathon too? But the coaches keep saying to trust the training and that running for more than 3 hours at a time doesn’t add any fitness but instead you run the risk of injury. That’s one thing I will say about this plan- I haven’t really had injuries and I am super thankful for that and trying to keep it that way. It’s not like I really want to run more than 3 hours but if it were on the plan to run more than 3, I would do it.

So, the big question. Why am I even doing this? Why do I want to torture myself and run 26.2 miles with a multitude of people? I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have no profound answer. I just think that for a long distance runner who has completed several half marathons and wants to challenge themselves further, a full marathon is a good, logical option. There are other options but this is the one I’ve chosen. Simple.

It will feel so so so so good to cross that finish line. It will feel so good to not be training. To not have to wake up at zero dark thirty 4 times a week to run. To run for fun again, not because a plan tells me to.

Finally, it will feel so good to accomplish this goal – for someone who could barely run a mile less than 5 years ago. Heck, it is even an amazing accomplishment for someone who runs marathons for a living!

So to all my friends, family, coworkers (and even strangers) who have had to endure my incessant whining about this race, to all of you who are praying for me (I covet them and will especially need them on race day), I say a huge thank you. And to those who want to start running but think they can’t- first, let me tell you: You definitely can. One day at a time, one step at a time.

I will be back with a race recap- hopefully a positive one, but I will be back regardless- so make sure you’ve subscribed so you don’t miss it when I post it :).

#happytrails