I Survived a Marathon
Well, I survived my first marathon. And not completely on my own merits, abilities, or training. It really was more of a lack of training. Really though I had help.
So back in April or May I put in for the lottery for the St. George Marathon. And in May when they had the lottery and I saw that I got in, I figured I should start training some. So I hit the road. I got up to eight miles or so day before I started experiencing this odd painful sensation just above my ankles on the inside of my legs.
After asking around and doing a little research it turned out that I was experiencing shin splints. I had never had shin splints before that I was aware of, and I didn’t want to make it worse. So, I stopped running. I continued to go to Kung Fu, and the gym to lift weights or get out and ride my bike a little, but no running. I even skipped out on a hike up Timp because I didn’t want to cause any more damage. I still wanted to run that marathon.
Well, a couple of months went by, and I decided I wouldn’t run the marathon. We were even looking at tickets to San Francisco for that weekend.
Then we got the shock of all shocks, which should be another post in and of itself. I just don’t know if I can write it yet.
Anyway, turns out I would be running that marathon after all.
And thanks to one little comment I made to a certain reporter, after the camera was off, everyone knew I was racing in the marathon. And things just started rolling.
A couple of new friends started making phone calls which were maybe more demands than requests, I don’t really know, which got me a support crew and a relay team in the marathon. Something that the folks in St George have never done before.
The guys that made it all happen
So, I ran about three miles a day for a week, two weeks in front of the marathon, and took the week prior to the marathon off, as would have been appropriate had I been training.
Two weeks before the marathon I got a new job that kept me on my feet for eight hours a day, and plenty worn out.
Race day comes, and along with me were my wife Lydia, my sisters Lorian, and Jenna, and Jenna’s husband Joe, who were to run a relay along with me as I ran the race.
I don’t want to bore you with all the details of the race today, but I ran, walked, or hobbled 26.2 miles that day. Joe finished the day with 17 or 18 under his shoes, Jenna managed 10, Lorian 7, and Lydia 7. I am proud of each one of them for running with me. I don’t believe I could have finished the day without them there with me.
Running through scenic Southern Utah
That was pretty amazing. I’m proud of all of you.
Congratulations! Finishing a marathon is not an easy task. I bet that cross training helped you more than you would think.