I never stopped my daily workouts though. My streak is still active. That commitment to exercise was key for me. Little by little I have now worked my way back to some good running. I'm still above my ideal race weight, so I won't be winning any awards for a while, but I'm a runner again!
Bass Pro - November 2012
Marathons are hard.
I know, I know. Marathons are supposed to be hard -- duh.
What I mean when I say that marathons are hard is that it is very difficult to figure out how to achieve your goals in the marathon.
Choosing appropriate goals is absolutely essential, of course. Doing the hard work of training is certainly part of the recipe too. Yet, those aren't enough. You have to eat right. You have to rest right. You need a suitable course, and good weather. You most certainly have to pace yourself right on race day. Even still that isn't enough. On paper, I did all those things right. I still failed.
Next time, I should just run on paper.
I ran the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon in 3:18 and change. I failed in my goal of 3:10. At about mile 22 my right quad started cramping and it was all I could do to not stop completely. Quad pain is pretty common for runners who aren't prepared for racing hills. That isn't me though. I train hard in hills all the time. I'm in Arkansas, for goodness sake, we have a Junior High track nearby with a hill in the track surface! (No joke.) I had noticed a little soreness in that right quad in the weeks leading up to the race but it was so slight I just ignored it. Argghh.
Chad and his wife Jessica cheered for me in Springfield. Today I'm heading out to cheer for them. They are running in a 200 mile relay race through the Ozarks. "You are a mermaid!!!"
