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My Car, My Way

Jun30

I did it.   I finally remembered to buy my 26.2 magnet for my car.   I’ve wanted one ever since Philly.    I know some people, usually non runners, think they are obnoxious, but I don’t really care.   My car.  My magnet.  Besides I’ve seen some magnets/stickers on cars that are not my cup of tea.   To each their own.   I wanted it for me and for me alone.

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Why I care about my 26.2 magnet…….

  1. It is a reminder to me of what I can accomplish when I push myself.
  2. Sometimes, I still can’t believe that I did it.
  3. It will encourage me as I train for my second marathon that “I’ve got this.”
  4. I wanted it and it’s my car.
  5. It will go with my MRTT and Iron Girl Triathlon magnet.
  6. Comradery with other runners when they see it.
  7. Why not?

There will always be haters in all things.   I don’t ever give the haters a second thought as they are always going to be like that.   Hey instead of hating, why not join in on the fun.  Anyone can do it, with the right training and help.

The funny thing when I was buying my magnet with other running items, the chipey behind the counter asked if I ran a marathon.   She seemed a little surprised when I said, “Yes and that I’m training for my second one.”     It’s all in the the phrasing and attitude because you would have thought she would have asked what marathon I ran not if.   It made me wonder do people actually buy these types of magnets if they haven’t run the event.    I guess maybe, but no one I know would.   Of course, I hang out with upstanding people who would never think to claim something they didn’t do.

What is on your car?

Word of the Day

Jun3

Definition of MARATHON

1:  a footrace run on an open course usually of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers); broadly :  a long-distance race

2a :  an endurance contest

b :  something (as an event, activity, or session) characterized by great length or concentrated effort
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My mother like many non runners does not know the distance of a marathon.  She’s getting better.   When I first started running, she called all my races marathons and would tell everyone that her daughter was a marathon runner.   It used to make me feel like a fraud until I actually ran one.  Now she can say it.   She’s learning now and asks how far I’m running.  If your a runner, you know that a marathon is 26.2 miles, but you also know that it is so much more than that.   It is a run that will test your endurance.    It will test your dedication and determination.   It will test your sense of reason and logic.   It is so much more than miles.
So Much More!
I have only ever completed one marathon, The Philly Gortex, and crossing the finish line was an amazing experience made more special by the surprise visit of my mother and sister.    It was a total surprise and I really don’t know if I could have finished without their support as I was thinking of just doing the half instead of the full.   You can read more about Philly in my Hang on Snoopy post.
This was the moment where I went from thinking of giving up, to the moment where I knew that I had to finish.
Philly Video
My Mother’s excitement was contagious and I heard her over the announcer saying, “Half Marathoners finish to the right”  which made me stay to the left.   Running a marathon is more than just putting one foot in front of the other although at some points you must remind yourself to do that.   A marathon is a mental game from start to finish.
It is mental game just with the first thought of signing up and it only gets more intense.
In 2014 according to Marathon Statistics there were 590,145 marathon finishers for races in the U.S. and Canada.
Here are the Statistics from the 10 biggest Marathons again in the U.S. and Canada

Finishers (2014):

Race Finishers
New York City Marathon 50,564
Chicago Marathon 40,802
Boston Marathon 31,926
Honolulu Marathon 21,824
Los Angeles Marathon 21,506
Marine Corps Marathon 19,689
Walt Disney World Marathon 19,235
Philadelphia Marathon 10,363
Twin Cities Marathon 8,853
Houston Marathon 6,945
When you are in a running group where so many of the Mama’s have run multiple marathons, you start to think that everyone has done one.    Then you realize that is not the case as the numbers don’t lie.   I am happy to see that the Philadelphia Marathon made the top 10 list of largest marathon finishers and happy to be in that number.   This year I am running the Marine Corps Marathon and in 2016 I hope to run the biggest marathon, the New York City Marathon!
Hmmm, then maybe I should start making travel plans for the other ones:)    Wouldn’t that be nice.   I can dream the dream.   One never knows as the oldest woman marathon finisher just competed a marathon last month at the age of 92!
OldestFinisher
For now, it is nice to know that I’ve completed one, am training for my second, and will run the ultimate marathon in 2016.
  One marathon at a time:)
Have you ever run a marathon?
Is it on your bucket list?

Don’t do the Crime if you can’t do the Time

Nov4

So the word is out.

Probably because I’m putting it out there.

I signed up to run a marathon.

I am not crazy (ok a little), but I signed up thinking that I’m ready to do this.  As I said before, I may not have been in marathon training, but the Runner’s World Hat Trick Training was very intense.   My marathon training friend (yes, you Dawn), has said to me that this plan was very similar to Marathon training.   Obviously, not the same but it was intense.   When we ran the 20 miles, it was hard but I did it.   As much as I wanted to stop, I didn’t till we hit the 20 mark.   So I signed up thinking in my mind that I can do this.   I’m ready.   I won’t be in the front of the pack.   I won’t be in the middle, but I do plan on finishing.

Now when you tell people that you are running a marathon, you get one of two reactions.

There is no middle of the road.

  1. That’s Awesome.   Good for you!
  2. Your crazy!

Now, I’ve said it before, I know I’m crazy and if you knew my family you would know that I’m the most sane one.   That being said, I am not crazy enough to sign up for this thinking that I can’t do it.   I do not have a death wish nor do I wish to injure myself.   Starting at the end of July with the training and running the Hat Trick, I have logged 43.21 hours and 250.3 miles in running.   I’ve put in my time.   I’m still training.   Although I’m tapering but I’ve still got some solid runs in this week.    I am not taking this lightly.

So when you call me crazy or think that I am not ready for this, I will tell you flat out that you are wrong.  It may even push me to run when I do hit the wall.   As those of you who know me personally know, I can be one determined SOB and right now I’m determined to cross that finish line.

And as a final thought, please remember what your mother would say to you as you were growing up and probably what you teach your own children,

“If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

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