I completed my second marathon with a time of 3:47:19 and honestly for the first time in my racing life, I was not overly concerned that I did not meet my goal time.
As running goes, run long enough and you will likely suffer an injury. If you have not yet then kiss that rabbits foot in your pocket because for the rest of us, injuries are the rule not the exception.
I suffered a hip injury on July 22, came down with Achilles tendinitis after an 18 mile run on August 19, and then of all the things, got a stupid cold on September 16.
Reaching the finish line of Detroit had been in doubt ever since.
The only thing that kept me going during those uncertain times was that I knew I would be heart broken if I was not in that starting corral Sunday morning. So I modified, re-modified, re-re-modified, re-re-re-modified my training plan until finally it was October 1 and do or die time.
Thankfully, I was able to work my way up to running five days a week with long runs of 12 miles three weeks out, 15 miles two weeks out, and finally a 16.5 mile long run a week before the event. That was it. Those were my longest runs since that fateful 18 mile run on August 19.
So that is what I took to the starting line Sunday morning, which would explain all the mental demons and self doubt I had the entire race until around mile 15 when I finally thought to myself, hey I might have a chance to finish this thing.
I faded rapidly the last three miles and basically just hung on for dear life. When I finally made the turn at mile 26, it seemed as if an eternity passed before I crossed the finish. But I did, and for this marathon, that is all that matters.
Non-runners may wonder why we put ourselves through such agony, but it is the feeling of elation and the great sense of accomplishment afterwards that makes it all worth it!
Detroit is a great event. The course support was excellent with plenty of aid stations. There were supporters the entire route, and they were engaging and enthusiastic.
The Ambassador Bridge and tunnel were challenging but not overly so. Running around Belle Isle was cool, as was running through the otherwise busy streets of Downtown Detroit.
No it is not New York or Chicago, but it is a pretty fine event in its own right.
If you have designs on running a marathon I say go for it, get out there and find your running self.
After a year and a half of running, I have found mine. For me, the 5k is the girl I want to take home to meet my parents. I love everything about the distance and can train for it without altering my natural running schedule.
I do love distance running and the autonomy and peace that comes with running an hour or two with just my thoughts but from here on out, I will most likely only run one marathon a year in the fall when the temps are generally cool. I tried a summer marathon and I do not like the heat that comes with that.
For others, maybe you do not want to run a marathon or a half marathon. Maybe you are a trail runner or an ultra runner. Maybe the 10k is your distance or the mile, hey that’s cool. You do not need a reason to want to run, or not run a given distance.
If however, you can run 1 mile you can run 100 miles, it is just a matter of if you want to run 100 miles. In any event, with the proper training you can do anything!
The point is you will not know until you try.
Despite parking only a half mile from the finish line, it took me twenty seven minutes afterwards to waddle to my car! It was a painful walk indeed, but is was the best hurt ever. The absolute best!
I am a dreamer and my motto is dream big – dream often, for it is our dreams that gives us purpose.
Without them, I may have never made it across that finish line Sunday.
But I did, and now after weeks of uncertainty I can finally say, I freaking ran Detroit!
5 Comments
I did my first marathon Sunday. After my 7 year old asked me why I ran it if I knew I would be hurt after. I’m still thinking of a good answer to that question. haha Like you, illness also kicked me in the bum during training. I can only assume the training stress reduces your immunity. But we both bounced back and finished so that is all that matters
Great job!
Congratulations, Rick. That’s a huge accomplishment. Nice looking award, and quite a celebratory grin on the last photo! This racing season helped me identify my running self. I’m not a long distance runner — I can make myself do it, but I don’t thoroughly enjoy it. Was kind of chiding myself for that. But then I came to realize that it’s okay to focus on what I’m passionate about — triathlons. And it’s okay to just sort of like the 5k’s with an occasional 10k thrown in for good measure as a means of training for the tris.
Congrats on your accomplishment Rick! The Detroit Marathon was my first HALF and man did I ever get bitten by the bug to keep going. I have to share- at around mile 11 when my PF was making me want to stop running and walk for a bit (not that it would make a difference it would still hurt and taken even longer to get off my foot so I kept running) I thought back to a conversation I had with a good friend after running our first 5k a year and a half ago as we had just begun a journey of weight loss together (85lbs gone from my life for good as a side note):
Happy training – perhaps I’ll see you there next year — running the full?! 
Take care!
I said something to the effect of never really wanting to run more than a 5k and I thought it was a good solid distance. She immediately challenged me as to WHY I would never aspire to anything greater with this huge life change I was embarking on why would I “settle.” At the moment I thought of this conversation somewhere between miles 11 and 12 I burst into tears at the realization of just how far I had come since that conversation and forgot all about the pain in my foot (if only temporarily)…
Beyond the birth of my two darling children I seriously cannot think of a moment that I feel more proud and connected with my whole self than setting off to complete and crossing the finishing line that morning!
Thanks Lorri! Hopefully next years training will go a little smoother…for the two of us! Cheryl you hit it right on the button; it is okay to like the distance you like. Better that than the drudgery of running twice the distance because someone else thinks you should. Do it for self, do it for love! Great story Melissa! Way to hang in there. Hope to see you in 2013!
Hi Rick, great summary of your efforts to prepare for this race. Very encouraging.
Your time is also very impressive, despite of the setbacks you had during your training.
I hope now that you had your own share of injuries, you will have injury-free training in the future. Thank you for sharing your experience and enjoy your running!