Below is the article I was asked to write to provide a general overview of why running the F4F marathon might be an idea worth contemplating.
“How far is a marathon?”
That question, when posed to anyone who defines themselves
as a runner, will always elicit a smile.
It is the surest way to know that the person inquiring is contemplating
the idea of taking up running, and perhaps – even conquering their first
marathon. All 26.2 miles of it.
My running bug started out as what I like to call an “early
mid-life crisis.” Kids were getting
older, life was moving faster, and something fulfilling needed to be added to
the mix of the inevitable mundane. I used to run, I thought to myself. Sure,
it was almost twenty years ago, but how hard could it be to start up again?
That was 2008.
Thousands of miles later, I could not be any more thankful I decided to
find out. What began as an attempt to
recapture the pure joy of youth has morphed into constant joy as an adult. Not only were innumerous miles over the last
eight years beyond hard, others were downright cruel. And yet others were something different
altogether – Therapeutic, Exhilarating, Competitive, Strong, Contagious, and
Empowering.
What exists in the world of running is this: possibilities. At first, even thinking about the mere idea
of running farther than you may commute to work may seem like an utter
impossibility, but it can become an absolute reality with a little planning, a
lot of dedication, and a good pair of running shoes.
The first time I trained for a marathon, I distinctly
remember thinking to myself after completing the very first scheduled ‘long
run’ alongside my newfound running buddies, “Did
we seriously just run from like, Fort Wayne to Huntington?” While we were all hobbling back towards
our cars, I heard one of them utter in response to what I must have in
actuality, thought out loud, “We did! We
did!”
At that moment, the why
we just ran that far wasn’t answered in words, but in action - we danced in the
streets (whereby “danced” equals Elaine-like moves from her Seinfeld days since
our hips were a smidge creaky), screamed Woooohoooo!!! about a thousand times,
and high-fived like we were....well, kids again.
The question of “why?” never needed to be pondered
again. We were recapturing our
youth. We were forming new friendships
based on trust and camaraderie. We were
setting individual goals which would be tackled in collective effort. We would share physical and mental pain
alike, running side-by-side five days a week at offensively early hours of the
morning, sometimes not even coming close to what the training planned demanded
we complete. And yet we never stopped
running down our dream of finishing our first marathon.
Note the word “we.”
Running alone provides solace, clarity, and time we all need to unwind,
unplug, and just sort of take a break from this crazy world in which we
live. But running together will bond you
for life. When you go through the highs and
lows of what running encompasses, whether it be in the span of one run, one
16-week training plan, or one lap around the track, you are part of an immediate
and understood fellowship that is unrivaled and one you will never forget.
This year marks the eight consecutive year for the Fort for
Fitness and the first year it offers a marathon distance. Much like we as individuals evolve over time,
so has the F4F. Every year the field of
racers has grown in number, and additionally, there are now four distances from
which to choose: 4-mile, 10k,
Half-marathon, and this inaugural year of…the full marathon.
Having run not only the F4F every year since inception as
well as many other races over the last eight years, I can tell you
unequivocally that it is one of the best put together races anywhere out there. From the ease of registration, to packet
pick-up, to the goody bag with top notch swag – all the non-running stuff is
fantastic! But how is the course you
ask? EVEN BETTER! The starting line is exhilarating, crowd
support is amazing, and the route is fast, flat, and scenic with plenty of aid
stations along the way. Last year, I
may have even stopped with a mile to go and taken a shot of beer instead of
Gatorade or water because hey, carbs.
If I didn’t have you at beer, allow me to add this – the
race finishes on home plate at Parkview
Field! While most of us may never
know what it’s like to throw out the tying run at the plate or slide into it
for the win, we all know how to be that
runner. We all know how to be a kid
at heart who still wants to see his or her face on the jumbotron as thousands
of screaming fans and one announcer are yelling our name in anticipation of us
circling the bases and finally crossing the finish line.
26.2 miles seems like a long way, you say. It is.
But you can do it. Regardless of
how far you may not be able to run right now, you can get there. Along with running buddies, time, and
dedication, there are three imperative kinds of runs which you will need to
incorporate into your weekly training regimen: a long run, a tempo run, and a
speed workout.
No idea what those are or what a “training regimen” even
is? Runner’s World can help. Check out this site: http://www.runnersworld.com/tag/training-plans,
or go to one of our local running stores (Fleet Feet or Three Rivers Running
Company) for all the information necessary to help you achieve your goal.
The race is Saturday, October 1st at 7:00am. Which means you have between now and the
first week in June to ease into working out, eating better, and informing your
loved ones of this incredible decision before official training begins…because
we all know the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
And good news for you, you’re only going 26.2.
“If you want to win something, run 100 meters...If you want to experience
something, run a marathon.” --Emil
Zatopek, Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at
the 1952 Summer Olympics.
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