Ever since the days of running cross country in high school and in college I have had in the back of my mind the goal of running a marathon. As of yet, that still hasn't happened. My narrative has typically been that I should have done it back when I was actually in good shape for running and that as the years tick by it is less likely that the marathon will ever happen.
Several years ago I did run my first half-marathon (I prefer half-marathon to mini-marathon - there seemed little that was mini in running 13.1 miles). It remains my only half-marathon. It was a miserable experience. My training was more mini than half. I did not put in enough time and certainly not enough distance. I was not ready. I did not walk - which in my mind was important to me - but it should be clear that a person walking at a not too vigorous pace could have cruised right past me from about mile ten forward.
In that race there was a point where people running the marathon were to go to the right, while those of us in the half-marathon were to go to the left. I can vividly recall looking to the right and thinking that I could not imagine what would be happening in my mind if I would have had to go in that direction. That seemed impossible and became my enduring take away from the half-marathon - the full marathon was never going to happen for me.
I've changed my mind. Getting ready to turn 52 in January, I've chosen a marathon nearly a year away, the Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2016 as my goal. It's a race that you sign-up for and then they choose who is allowed to run (not by ability, but by a lottery) so it's not a given that I'll get in, but it gives me a target. I'll choose something different if I can't go there. I've begun to lay a foundation for the actual training. I am thinking another half-marathon in the Spring may be a good idea - perhaps the Derby Half-Marathon again.
The difference in approach must be the commitment to the time between now and then. The training cannot be haphazard and when I feel like it. It must be a priority. My goal is to run a marathon. My goal is to run a marathon and to not be miserable afterwards because of lack of preparation. My goal is to run a marathon and to enjoy the journey to the destination. More to come.
