And So It Begins...

Today is Day One of our 20 week training program in preparation for the Houston Marathon. While I struggled with the first day's assignment (3 miles at an easy pace), I am convinced that I can actually do this...that I will do this.

I mean, hey, anyone who has known me for any amount of time would never have believed that I would go from here...



AP Scoring, June 2010

 

to here...

 

Semper Fi 5k, August 2013





in just three years. And while those three years have been an amazing, albeit difficult, journey, I think these next 20 weeks are going to push me beyond my limits in ways that will alter my journey permanently.

 

Yesterday, I looked up the pace leaders for our marathon pace group. First, let me explain: Our goal time is the six hour cut-off for the course. We just want to be official finishers, so our goal time is 6 hours (or I guess, technically it is 5:59). To do that we have to average a pace of 13 minutes and 45 seconds per mile. Finding out that there is a 6 hour pace group was a pleasant surprise. There are other runners like us out there! We have our own pace group and awesome pace leaders. One of our team leaders has summited Kilimanjaro and run the Houston Marathon 35 consecutive times. Another one runs all of his marathons carrying an American flag. These amazing runners have finished various marathons in times I can't even imagine attempting, and this year they are devoting themselves to helping runners like me...well, just survive and cross the line. I find that inspiring.

 

So, tonight I struggled, but I will get better. Jen Rhines, Olympic marathoner, once said in an interview, "Life and running are not about times but about the experiences along the way." I'm going to have to agree. Gina reminded me several times tonight to stop concentrating on my time and focus more on the fact that I was still running. For that advice, I am grateful. And as another friend reminded me, I just have to "keep swimming. Just keep swimming" (and hearing Dory singing it in your head helps too).

 

Happy Day One, World!

 

Today began a journey that will end on January 19th at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

It's sure to be an interesting ride, so stay tuned.

 

Today's Run: 3.01 miles @ an average pace of 14:18 per mile for a total of 43 minutes.