Seven Mile Itch
“Run Gregg, run,” said my brain to my body, my knees respond, “ouch.” So began my silent solo quest to train for the upcoming Las Vegas Marathon. I started on August fourth which will give me exactly four months of solid preparation to endure the 26.2 mile run. I’ve never run a marathon but have always fancied to. I don’t care about my time, I just want to finish, alive, upright.
I looked up online on how a beginner trains for a marathon, lots of great ideas but way too much “running” to squeeze into my busy life. I am a gym rat so running has to replace either cycling or TKB or be added to my already packed work out regime.
So, I ask myself, “Why the hell does a 47 year old, 180 pound semi-balding man work out so hard for in the first place?” I suppose it is because I don’t want to be one of those guys you have to bury in a piano crate, since that is who I really am. But in truth, it is so I can physically keep up with my children and of course I still want to look good in a g-string, old habits die hard. By the way, I still look unbelievable in a g-string; all you have to do is, have a couple of drinks, stand back a few yards, squint your eyes and pretend it’s 1985, it’s magic, really.
August’s training schedule went pretty good; it saw me regularly running 5 miles, all at once, in a pretty good time. I’m keeping a detailed excel spreadsheet (can you say anal) of all my training and times so I too can publish my very own How to Train for Your First Marathon in only Four Months online journal. I have done some advanced mathematic formulas based on my first month of training and I will probably finish the race close to the six hour mark.
Did you hear that? Six friggin’ hours! Trust me, I’ve given that a lot of thought and I have discovered that in my life, as it stands now, I cannot do anything for six hours. I can’t sit, I can’t read, I can’t type, I can’t talk, I can’t sleep, I repeat I cannot do anything for six hours in a row. Now I have committed to run for that long, it haunts me.
I’ve been longing to run seven miles this month. I was not going to push for seven until September, but five was getting routine and I needed to dip my toes into the next level of my “plan”. I mapped out my course and did the deed on Sunday, up hill for 3.6 and down home. It kicked my ass, but so did five miles when I first did it.
I know that there are other closet marathoners in our community and I would love to hear your stories too.
3 comments:
I ran the other day across the parking lot of McDonalds. A bit winded but it was satisfying. I think it was like 40 feet or something.
Andy,
I hope you didn't spill your milkshake.
Gregg,
I am so proud of you! Keep up the good work, and get on over to the Village Runner on Stephany. They might get you into a pair of shoes that will make all the difference in any knee pain you might be experiencing. Hey, we have a guy that runs with us on Sunday mornings that dropped dead a few years ago, yes literally! He is at it again though. What an inspiration for getting back on the horse! Why do we do it, not only will we look good in our choice clothing, but we feel good, if not during our run then afterwards. We can also eat guilt free things that might otherwise be avoided.
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