I wasn't planning on running a full marathon in fall 2018. The past two years (2017 and 2016), I'd gotten so caught up in trying to get a Boston qualifying time that I just had not enjoyed the races. In 2016, I ran my third NYC marathon in a row, knew the course too well, and was also running sick and stressed (had the worst job ever at that time). In 2017, I ran the Narragansett Marathon and was in a much better place but applied so much pressure on myself, was constantly checking my watch, and there was a nor'easter happening...plus I was not a big fan of the course.
2016 and 2017 were my two worst marathon times--I'm sure in part due to the circumstances I described, but I think mostly due to the pressure I applied on myself. I'm not a professional runner, I'm not after the prize money, so running should be FUN. When I lose sight of that simple fact, and that I'm running because I love running, I lose my purpose and the ship sinks quickly.
After my experience last year in Narragansett, I decided that I would quit marathons and focus on the half marathon distance. In winter 2018, I completed a local Boston Buildup series to get myself outside in the winter...plus I love running in the cold (crazy to some). I even was the first woman finisher for the series' 20k, so that was a great confidence boost. That Boston Buildup series set me up to get my--at that time--half marathon PR (1:39) in the spring at the Greenwich Cup Half, so that was another confidence boost. I was having so much fun running, I went ahead and continued racing a series put on by the same running group in the summer. I got respectable times and various distance PRs even in the summertime heat, which I hate, so kept feeling confident.
Eventually, everyone naturally talks about their plans for the fall/which marathon they would be completing. I always said "none" and each time, increasingly wondered why. Why will I not be completing a marathon? I am healthy, happy, and in the best running shape of my life thus far...do I really have a good reason? I started to seriously question my marathon retirement, and in late August decided to reconsider. I mapped out when I would do long training runs, plugged them into my calendar, and thought ok, this is doable. I am not going to center my life on training for this marathon, but instead will just keep doing the local races and add in some long runs here and there. (I even went to Italy for a week a little over a month before the race!) I decided Philadelphia would be a great marathon to run, signed up, and reserved a hotel. I could always defer to the next year or to a shorter distance if the long runs didn't go well, and I could always cancel the hotel reservation without a charge.
For my long runs, I did two 15 milers, two 16 milers, two 18 milers, and one 22 miler. My highest mileage week was somewhere around 45 miles. I had no race pace in mind, but as I mentioned, I did continue participating in local races which I suppose was my speed work. I also got my new half marathon PR (1:35) about a month before the marathon. (That really made me happy...no matter what happened in Philly, I would have that amazing memory for the fall 2018 running season!)
I came to realize that my PRs and overall enjoyment of races had one thing in common: SMILING! I smiled so much during all of my favorite races. And that is how I arrived at my goal for the Philadelphia Marathon: to smile the entire time.
I can confirm that I smiled for all 26.2 miles of the Philadelphia Marathon--ok, maybe it was more of a grimace towards the end--but I did it. :) :) :)
2016 and 2017 were my two worst marathon times--I'm sure in part due to the circumstances I described, but I think mostly due to the pressure I applied on myself. I'm not a professional runner, I'm not after the prize money, so running should be FUN. When I lose sight of that simple fact, and that I'm running because I love running, I lose my purpose and the ship sinks quickly.
After my experience last year in Narragansett, I decided that I would quit marathons and focus on the half marathon distance. In winter 2018, I completed a local Boston Buildup series to get myself outside in the winter...plus I love running in the cold (crazy to some). I even was the first woman finisher for the series' 20k, so that was a great confidence boost. That Boston Buildup series set me up to get my--at that time--half marathon PR (1:39) in the spring at the Greenwich Cup Half, so that was another confidence boost. I was having so much fun running, I went ahead and continued racing a series put on by the same running group in the summer. I got respectable times and various distance PRs even in the summertime heat, which I hate, so kept feeling confident.
Eventually, everyone naturally talks about their plans for the fall/which marathon they would be completing. I always said "none" and each time, increasingly wondered why. Why will I not be completing a marathon? I am healthy, happy, and in the best running shape of my life thus far...do I really have a good reason? I started to seriously question my marathon retirement, and in late August decided to reconsider. I mapped out when I would do long training runs, plugged them into my calendar, and thought ok, this is doable. I am not going to center my life on training for this marathon, but instead will just keep doing the local races and add in some long runs here and there. (I even went to Italy for a week a little over a month before the race!) I decided Philadelphia would be a great marathon to run, signed up, and reserved a hotel. I could always defer to the next year or to a shorter distance if the long runs didn't go well, and I could always cancel the hotel reservation without a charge.
For my long runs, I did two 15 milers, two 16 milers, two 18 milers, and one 22 miler. My highest mileage week was somewhere around 45 miles. I had no race pace in mind, but as I mentioned, I did continue participating in local races which I suppose was my speed work. I also got my new half marathon PR (1:35) about a month before the marathon. (That really made me happy...no matter what happened in Philly, I would have that amazing memory for the fall 2018 running season!)
I came to realize that my PRs and overall enjoyment of races had one thing in common: SMILING! I smiled so much during all of my favorite races. And that is how I arrived at my goal for the Philadelphia Marathon: to smile the entire time.
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| The lovely sign my supportive husband held up for me at miles 1, 6, 14, and 26 of the Philadelphia Marathon. |
I can confirm that I smiled for all 26.2 miles of the Philadelphia Marathon--ok, maybe it was more of a grimace towards the end--but I did it. :) :) :)
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