So for a long time now, I've wanted to train for and run a marathon. Last year, I came to the conclusion that I probably would never be able to run one. Mind you, I am a runner...a full blown runner. I hate taking walk breaks during my long runs (or any run for that matter) b/c I feel like a quitter or a slacker. However, this method has not always worked for me. I hurt the majority of the time, whether it's my right knee, my shins, or my right ankle (it seems I can't win) both during the runs and afterwards. In fact, I sometimes don't even want to go on my runs from being too sore. So this morning my mom and I attended a free training seminar hosted by none other than Jeff Galloway...he is a famous runner who created the run-walk method of training and running races. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first b/c as I previously mentioned, I believed (for myself) that walking was a sign of weakness.
So we go into an Irish pub this morning where the seminar was, and I sit with my mom who is really into it. And wouldn't you know, I was enthralled. It made me excited again about training for and running a marathon. More importantly, it made me excited for a training method in which I wouldn't be completely sore during and after. I've heard of this training method and I know people who have done it. Who knows why I haven't tried it before? Maybe I'm hard headed, but I never believed in it until today. Walking doesn't mean I'm weaker or that it will slow my time down, it simply means I know I have a huge wall I hit in my long runs. I've been so sore after my hour long runs that I can't even run my normal pace during them. My legs hurt and my asthma has been acting up, which I think is coming from an underlying problem (another long story, ugh), but I'm happy to have a running method that will hopefully allow me to train pain and injury free from now on.
I'll keep you posted about my progress...I think I'm signing up for the program, which starts May 1st and lasts 30 weeks. We meet every Saturday morning for our long runs, and we're responsible for our mid-week runs. This will put me into running the Marine Corps Marathon in October. I firmly believe signing up for the program and then registering for the marathon will push me farther than I've ever been pushed. I think I need it this year...I've had a rough past few months as the end of 2009 was not entirely pleasant for me. This will help pull me out of my home body shell and surround me with other people at least once each week. It will also give me something to focus on other than how much pain I'm in from forcing myself to finish my long runs.
So we shall see :-) I'm actually excited to see how I do with this next challenge in my life.
Quote of the day ~ "Life’s battles don't always go to the strongest or fastest man,
But sooner or later the man who wins is the fellow who thinks he can."
