This morning I ran the Lowell Sun Half Marathon. I know that Dopers are smart and can do math real good, but please humor me and allow me to spell out that that is thirteen point one miles.
I’d done plenty of training, but a race is a different matter altogether. I fell apart around mile 12, and really really fell apart around 12.5. Honestly doubted I could finish, but stumbled across the finish line as the clock turned 1:57:27.
While struggling to finish, I thought to myself, “I will never do that again.” During my post-race stretch, I thought to myself, “OK, I could maybe do that again.” And within an hour was back musing about whether I have a full marathon in me.
Nobody could come to see me run, for various reasons, so I depended on the spectators for support. If a race runs through your neighborhood, go out and cheer people on. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes.
Well, maybe if you’d said something in advance. I live about a mile from the Boston Marathon course; if you do that one, I could probably wander over and wave.
Congrats! You sound like a dyed-in-the-wool runner. The “never-do-it-again” to “hmm…what else could I do” cycle eventually turns into a pretty consistent “yeah, it hurt, but I know I can do better next time.”
I did my first half marathon about 5 months ago, which ended a years worth of weight loss and training. It’s a great feeling to finish! And the best part is you will carry this victory with you wherever you go. When I feel in the dumps, all I have to do is look at my medal to know I can achieve anything I want!
I have run on and off my whole adult life, but i had quite a long hiatus recently, due to laziness and the demands of grad school. I got back into running in April, and am running 4-6 times a week, doing 5 miles each day. I think i’d like to do a half-marathon sometime in the next 4-8 months, so i’m going to try to work my way up to it.
The Baltimore marathon was held yesterday, and i live right around mile 22. I went out to watch the people going by, and it was lots of fun. I was amazed at how many people are willing to run 26 miles voluntarily.
Well, that was one of the “various reasons”. Very few people knew I was doing this, because I felt like I’d be embarassed if I wasn’t able to complete it. Turns out, that was a foolish thought and there’s no shame in trying. Next time, I will certainly recruit cheerleaders along the way. Quasimodal, I have already started wondering whether people would look at me funny if I wore my medal to work everyday. OK, maybe everyday is a stretch. 3 times a week, tops.
mhendo, you’re in a great position to train for a half. Good luck!
I ran a 5K for the very first time about a month ago. 3.11 miles is more than enough, thanks. I can’t even fathom a half-marathon! This morning I went to the Making Strides against Breast Cancer run in Baltimore. At least, I thought is was a run. It was instead a four mile walk. Oh well. Perhaps next running season I’ll be up for a 10K or more.
For me, the most likely time to get lazy and slack off with running is right about now, as the weather starts to get colder. I’m fine running in 90 degrees during the summer, but as it gets darker and the temperature drops, the temptation increases to stay inside in the warmth, and it gets easier to say “I’ll run tomorrow.”
Anyway, to give myself something to keep me motivated, i’ve signed up for the Winter Solstice run in Druid Hill Park, on Saturday, December 16. It’s 8km (5 miles), which is what i’ve been running anyway, so as long as i keep training the distance won’t be a problem. You should give it a go. If you can run 5k regularly, doing 8k once should be within your abilities, as long as you take it easy.
Nobody ever said I could RUN 5k. When I said “I ran” it was more like jogging for about 3/4 of the way and not-dying the rest of the way. I don’t know that I’d be in shape for that, but I will ramp up the treadmill at the Y and maybe I’ll join you. And good for you for getting to it!
Ginger, I started running not quite 18 months ago. I got about half a mile down the street and felt like my lungs were going to be forcibly expelled from my body. We all start somewhere. I myself have never been athletic. Running is the first thing I’ve been halfway good at, and I love the feeling of accomplishment. And that feeling was just as strong after I ran my first 5K, my first 5 mile run, my first 10K. Anything is better than nothing, right?
Uhhh…the first half. I’ll be running another one in March (hopefully) and that can be the second half. “I ran a marathon…and it only took me 6 months!”
13.1 miles is really, really far. It takes 15 minutes (at least) to drive 13.1 miles. Not a quick trip to the store, not a nothing run to a neighbor’s house. If you commute 13.1 miles to work, people think you have a medium length commute.
And you ran it. On foot. In under 2 hours. (And yes, that last .1 really does matter)
Awesome.
Of course you can do a marathon.
Dr. Rieux, someone asked me that seriously once.
I actually really like 1/2s. They’re long enough to take training, but not too much training. You’re not dead after a long training run, you’re not dead after the race. (You can enjoy your afternoon). And you still get bragging rights because running thirteen point one miles like lorenedid is really cool.
Congrats.
And in my book, any time under 2 hrs is non to shabby.
I’m another who agrees that the 1/2 is a more sane distance than the full marathon. The marathon just requires an incredible commitment of time and more miles of training than I’m certain are healthy for most folk.
Too bad there aren’t more 1/2s schedules.
You have ample reason to be proud of yourself.
