5/11/13

one down on the bucket list


Jogging is very beneficial. It's good for your legs and your feet. It's also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.

- Charles Schulz, Peanuts

After a year of persuading myself that yes, I would like to commit to The Marathon Goal, followed by three months of training and accompanying books-on-tape, several recants and re-persuasions, a solo-marathon to prove to myself I could (in fact) do it, and some Nike purchases (which made all the difference)... I have finally accomplished my goal. 
I'm really very happy it's over.
I ran the Ø-Marathon on Thursday (cannonball island marathon, near Copenhagen). It was the most beautiful uncomplicated route I've run yet, half of it on the boardwalk along the coast.
It started out perfectly - sunny, breezy weather, terrific fellow runners who made sure I didn't get myself lost, and an overabundance of nervous excitement melting into instant energy. I started asking myself why it'd taken me so long to do this in the first place.

And then I hit 16 miles and my ankles were getting sore. 20 and my legs felt oh-so-tired. During the final 6 miles and however-many-yards, all I could think was 'WHY THE HELL AM I SO MEAN TO MYSELF?" (I thought the same thing at the end of my solo-marathon, and then I stupidly forgot about it.)  I considered quitting.

But the main thing is ... I am my father's daughter. (I love you dad ;) So I kept going. Nevermind that almost everyone else was on their second marathon of the day and didn't seem nearly as tired as me. One woman, in fact, is running a marathon every day for an entire year (she finishes in July). What do you even say to that?
'Wowwwww. You're going to do this again tomorrow? And the day after that? And the day after that? I might be walking again by then. Maybe.' Or: 'Do you ever wish someone would sit on you, to make you stop?'

When they asked 'when do you run your next marathon?' and I answered 'I don't know that I'm ever doing that again,' they all laughed because they thought I was kidding. I laughed too, because I'm not.
(She says, wondering if it's true.) I've been running fairly consistent half-marathons for a couple months now and they finally feel like a comfortable run, but I'm told it can take one or two years before a full marathon feels this way. Can't say I'll ever be that much of a diehard.
If I hadn't moved to Denmark, I doubt the  marathon would've made my bucket list in the first place. So here's to Denmark - cheers!
For now I'm just happy I actually finished. It may have taken a whopping 4.5 hours and a minute (and eternity, in fact I think I'm still running it), but it was worth it. I'm so very proud of my short legs and my funny plastic medal.

Richard: What's a matter? Too old, Chamberlain?
Chamberlain: Of course not.
Richard
: Of course not.
Chamberlain
: All right, then, I will.
Margaret
: How about you?
Richard
: Don't be silly.
Susan
: Oh Dickie, you must, I want a medal.
Richard
(to Chamberlain): Get her a medal.
Chamberlain
: Too old, eh?
Richard
: What? To run in a sack race? Nothing to it.
- The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

15 comments:

  1. So proud of you! I really don't understand the part about people running two marathons in the same day. I'm looking into purchasing a jogging stroller, but my out of shape body tells my brain that a marathon by itself is a ridiculous thing to decide to run. TWO? Death wish. Seriously, though, so glad you did it!

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    1. I always wanted to own a jogging stroller and never did! Let me know how you like it! And thank you, I'm happy to have finished it also. - Lauren

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  2. that's an awesome thing to check off your bucket list! how cool. i can't even run a mile so i'm so envious of you.
    i can't believe that some people were doing their second of the day. hats off to them.
    have a great weekend!!

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    1. They are astonishing, I agree. And to run them that often! Imagine the self discipline it must take!

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  3. That is awesome - congratulations!! xxx

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    1. Thank you Chrissy! Hope all is well with you!

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  4. I just did the math. 10.38 minute miles?! That's amazing Lauren! So glad you got the opportunity to knock this item off your bucket list :)

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    1. Haha, nooo ... I should be that consistent. I usually run 9 minute miles, and then get slower - sometimes really slow - towards the end of long runs ... I need to work on pacing myself or something.

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  5. OH my! Congrats to you. I like to jog, a way to hit the pavement in a non-aggressive manner when I am feeling aggressive. I give myself pats on the back when I get 3 miles in a few times a week. I am impressed as all heck with you. Truly, congrats.

    ctny

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    1. Thank you Courtney. I think 3 miles is a wonderful weekly run - gives more energy than it takes ... the aggressive thing also rings a bell with me ;)

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  6. wowza. so proud of you, over here in southern wisconsin! ;)

    "they all laughed because they thought I was kidding."
    that part cracks me up.

    p.s. i looooove the card you sent me (and justin, lol)!! <3

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    1. Oh good, happy you liked it, funny as it was. ;)

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  7. At this moment you have become my super hero.

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    1. What if I told you that everyone else running was a decade or more older than me, ran twice as long, and kept the pace better? ... Nah just forget I said that. ;)

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  8. Congratulations. That is awesome.

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( hippies always welcome )