When a veteran runner tells you that there is nothing quite like your first marathon, you really should listen. They aren’t kidding. There are simply very few experiences like the 26.2 miles of a marathon. While some runners are fortunate enough to have a great race and smash their goals, a large portion of “first-timers” have a somewhat different experience. Perhaps something more like this:
You cross the Start Line full of energy and with a big smile on your face. After months of training, your race day was finally here. The early miles seemed to fly by as you pass runner after runner. This whole marathon thing really isn’t as tough as everyone makes it out to be. By the halfway point, you high-five a bunch of complete strangers and even strike a pose for the race photographer. This is gonna be your day. At Mile 17, you begin to notice your legs are feeling a little heavy. That’s normal, right? You take in another gel and a few minutes later, your stomach doesn’t feel so great. Am I going to throw up? Really? A mile later, the next water stop seems to be getting further and further away. You grab a cup of water and spill most of the cup down the front of your shirt. What the hell is happening here? By Mile 20, a few familiar runners offer you encouragement as they jog past you. You passed them about 90 minutes ago. Is this really happening? Those fresh legs are now filled with concrete by Mile 22 and you can’t keep moving. You stop to walk. You weakly smile for another race photographer, but even that feels tough. What monster designed this course? A hill at Mile 24? This one wasn’t on the course map. Your “hill” is merely a few feet of incline, but everything is a mountain now. You gather yourself. Run a little…walk a little. Run a little…walk a little. Too bad your brain says one thing and your legs say another. After only a few steps of a slow trot, you are back to walking. Finally, your watch says 26 miles! Wait, what about the .22? You can hear the crowds at the Finish Line, but they are still too far to see. Still walking, you make your way around one final turn and see it…the actual Finish Line of a marathon. With every ounce of energy you can muster up, you slowly jog the last 100 yards. After miles of walking, it feels like you’re sprinting down the finishing chute. You raise your arms triumphantly and stumble across the timing mat. You did it! A volunteer puts a medal around your neck. Even a few extra ounces of weight are pulling you toward the ground. Your post-race food awaits you, but nothing looks appetizing. You search for a place to sit and find the nearest curb. Finally, you get off your feet. After a few minutes and some sips of water, you decide to get back up. Nope. Not happening. You have to be helped to your feet. You’re completely spent, but now you can call yourself a marathoner.
Does that sound about right? It happens to a lot of runners and it happened to me. Walking when I should have been running. Trying my best to keep from throwing up on the side of the road. Wondering if simply lying down on the grass was an option. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have my wife running with me and keeping me going when all I wanted to do was quit. The moral of the story is that marathons are tough. Damn tough. Simply finishing after all of the training and months of sacrifice is a total victory in and of itself. It’s been reported that roughly 1% of the total population has finished a marathon. So, you’re in the top 1%. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Now take some to relax and heal from your marathon journey. Reflect on the experience and bask in the glory of the accomplishment. After all, this is your one and only marathon. Sure it is. When does registration open for fall races?
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