My Marathon Experience

I’ve never been much of a runner, but I’ve also never been one to give up on a goal I have set for myself. 

It was 2011, and I had just graduated High School. I had also just decided I would run a marathon.  I ‘ve been involved in athletics my whole life; playing baseball, football, and basketball for the majority.  Despite this, I highly doubt I had ever gone more than 4 miles in one run before.  26.2 miles seemed daunting, improbable, and challenging.  I love a challenge. 

I signed up for the September 11th 2011 Bozeman Marathon which was set up to honor those who had fallen 10 years prior. My training began 3 months in advance, and I slowly but steadily improved.   As my training progressed, my goals also progressed.  I now not only wanted to finish the marathon, I wanted to finish it in less than 3 hours.  My time per mile would have to be under 6 minutes and 52 seconds to accomplish this. 

With a month left to train, I realized I hadn’t actually been “training,” but rather just running sporadically.  I decided to do some quick research and came across multiple articles and templates that advocated for at least one long run before beginning a tapering process. The furthest I had run up until this point was 12 miles. A week later I set out early in the morning to try and go over 18 miles.

I ended up running just over 21 miles with an average mile time of 7 minutes and 2 seconds. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of this pace, and became quite confident that with some adrenaline and race-day motivation I could shave off the time needed to achieve a sub-3-hour marathon time. I was extremely excited and optimistic. I was also wrong.

The day after my 21 mile run I became severely ill.  The long run had completely overwhelmed my immune system.  The sickness was relentless and involved multiple days of puking, a high fever, and the inability to train. My planned taper turned into complete abstinence.  I managed to run twice during that three week period, once for 3 miles and once for 4.  Each of those runs left me completely exhausted.

These last two weeks before the run were also my first two weeks of College at the University of Montana. I spent the majority of those days lying in my dorm bed.

My parents and supporters told me there was always another marathon, always another opportunity. It would have been easy to agree, it would have been easy to take their advice, and it would have been easy to try another time.  I didn’t like easy.  I decided I would run the marathon anyway.

With the majority of my training completely lost, I shifted my goal once again to just finishing the marathon. I also added a stipulation of avoiding any walking at all cost. If I was going to “run” the marathon, then I was actually going to run it.

During my 21 mile run three weeks prior to the marathon, I didn’t “hit the wall.” I felt energized and in control the entire run.

During my marathon I hit the wall at mile 5. At mile 7 I had to walk through a water station for the first time, failing my goal. At mile 12 my parents told me that I could quit at any time and try again on another date. They told me they were proud and that I had done enough. They were 100% right and had my best interest in mind. But that also pissed me off. A deep fire was lit to prove them wrong. They had pushed the right button.

I almost quit multiple times, and the voice in my head became incredibly persuasive and equally logical.  But I didn’t quit, I couldn’t quit.

Excruciating cramps began in my legs around mile 18.  I hobbled, hopped, and “ran” with what must have been the most awkward looking form.  Each step was increasingly painful, but each step also brought me closer to my goal.

At mile 23 I passed my parents again. I attempted to run normally for the 70-80 yards I was in their view. That attempt was probably pretty poor, but they never mentioned it.

I finished the marathon much more slowly than I had set out to do.  I finished the marathon in a grueling 3 hours and 43 minutes. I FINISHED the marathon!  Complete bliss.

I learned a lot about myself that day. I learned about pain.  I learned about obstacles. I learned about perseverance.  But most of all I learned that I can achieve any damn thing I set my mind to.

Comments 99,518

  42. https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/WP755IIBPTIRAM68A59QV/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/IL226227643278LTUU815/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/MI75VXTVGKPJCW/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/FU875PJVTZCAOQ65H/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/OX732MJFUZJIIH16X29/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/KB36IOLSAYUDWZ/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/NQ879XATMUBHXH74D44UI/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/ME835535827874193/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/QE235ZINNEJHNH12T97OH/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/AC44AQMMGEFOLR/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/FQ545848548252849279/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/ZP16NJCMWHEVYR/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/KN38NDFRTEKKJD/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/BG368WPFQIKXQH92F16HD/
    https://siderus.ru/orders/processed/HF176YQHQKWVEM69H73JVVXR/

    Reply

  46. купон на скидку заказ https://www.coloradoagcouncil.net/user/cedriclok/?um_action=edit продвижение сайта статьями сервис http://myskins.org/User-Horacekaw закрытые от индексации страницы https://awabest.com/space-uid-163736.html программа для статейных прогонов http://wiki.lifext.ru/index.php?title=Теплотехника-РЎ прочистка канализации РІ Саратове октябрьский район

    бездепозитный бонус деньгами что такое индексирование страницы сайта прогон сайтов программа https://xn--80abdzaxbkfak2ai0bzf4ce.xn--p1ai/communication/forum/messages/forum5/message3787/3748-reyting-khostingov?result=new#message3787 сакура промокод на скидку http://v963646o.bget.ru/user/Jamesflozy/

    сайт прогона по форумам авто прогон сайта https://www.batteriklubben.com/?p=72685 размер купона на скидку http://healthywealthybizschool.com/katrin-tequila-cowgirl-on-intercourse-toy-and-ready-for-cash-prize-melbet-bookmaker/ купон скидка магазин магнит

    индексация яндексом сайта время https://stranamasterov.ru/user/474051 заполнить позже бесплатная ускоренная индексация сайтов промокод на скидку aliexpress 2022 http://armrus.org/extranet/forum/user/131817/ прогон сайта по трастовой базе

    кидбург купоны на скидку как статьи влияют на продвижение сайта http://www.tianranju.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=80868 ваш купон на скидку http://rep.by/forum/user/94530/ онлайн сервис прогона сайта по трастовым площадкам

    скачать русские фильмы на телефон https://www.dance.ru/communication/forum/index.php?PAGE_NAME=profile_view&UID=96965 гилмон купоны скидки https://sovxoz.com/2022/09/06/the-method-to-begin-sports-betting-affiliate-with-1xbet/ спортмастер купон на скидку http://stregasyndicate.free.fr/index.php?file=Members&op=detail&autor=jaggedpowder53 прогон сайта соц закладками https://www.ixbren.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=428464

    индексация ссылок http://prime.su/bitrix/click.php?goto=http://sydneynorthplumbing.com.au/smartphone-casinos/ каталоги сайтов прогон http://www.shadesofgreensafaris.net/?URL=yyee.aoyosf.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=331028 купоны на скидки отзывы http://www.a-market24.ru/bitrix/redirect.php?goto=http://forums.filatelija.lv/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=6646 ускоренная индексация страниц google http://humblecoffeemerchant.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=makehealth.pl/pin-up-de-on-line-casino-on-line-e-sempre-um-hyperlink-atualizado-para-o-espelho-do-web-site-oficial/

    https://ugart.ru/forum/user/16169/ http://terrabashkiria.com/forum/?PAGE_NAME=profile_view&UID=130809 купить шпалы новые железобетонные https://pressaru.de/forum/index.php?topic=28493.0

    Reply

  49. купоны шейна на скидку аптеки плюс промокоды на скидку https://pornodrochka.club/user/Stanleytrery/ прогон сайт по каталогам http://www.f16f16.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=297207 прогон сайтов в каталогах самостоятельно https://derenova.com.ua/user/ChesterViork/

    ускоренная индексация страниц сайта вднх купоны на скидку http://agro-directory.dp.ua/wr_board/tools.php?event=profile&pname=gorgeouscap57 joki joya купон на скидку http://intextv.by/forum/user/44738/ отправить страницу на индексацию http://undrgroundforums.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=2484

    империя промокод на скидку http://reflexioneneinessuchenden.blogspot.in/2013/03/sehnsuchtsorte-ko-tonsay.html индексация сайта на тильде http://www.osc.phys.msu.ru/index.php?title=ускоренная индексация страниц сайта онлайн промокод в спортмастер 2022 на скидку https://www.dragonone-ng.com/mybb/member.php?action=profile&uid=28999 продвижение сайта с помощью статей http://hnkhajduk.com/forum/member.php?u=125768

    проверка индексации сайта в яндекс http://www.sicilianodentro.it/forum/members/154772.html?s=6ccffeec6cdacefa6ea2bfc5cd060669 cozy home промокод на скидку промокоды вб скидка https://romysbible.com/1xbet-registration-process-1xbet-login-account-subscribe-and-verification-guide/ прогон сайта что это такое http://bazarweb.ru/forum.php?PAGE_NAME=profile_view&UID=19944

    прогон сайта по соц сетям прогон сайта вот мой сайт xrumer прогон сайта http://ad-vance.ru/communication/forum/user/25682/ промокод на скидку страхование

    открыл ссылки индексация кари промокод на скидку http://spacebuilding.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-post_7.html джоки джоя купоны на скидку москва http://aksananiamkovich.blogspot.com/2012/08/blog-post_681.html ручные прогоны по трастовым сайтам http://atikerservice.com.ua/user/JamesRaisa/

    бездепозитный бонус за регистрацию с выводом http://gurwitchinterests.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=kohanniy.blogspot.com/2015/12/landing-page.html купоны шейна на скидку http://fromthepaddock.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=chenjiagou.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=171996 купоны и скидки на перманентный макияж http://www.alsdiner.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=remont-kvartiry-odessa.blogspot.com/2017/08/vyzov-ustanovka-uslugi-santekhnika-odessa-nedorogo.html нужен ли прогон по каталогам сайтов http://www.google.com.bo/url?q=http://sportnabiblioteka.bg/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=user&id=107976

    http://wiki.gta-zona.ru/index.php?title=Курсы вокала с опытным педагогом https://forum.veterinar.ru/blog.php?cp=39 http://waterlevel.ru/forum/user/80116/ https://fai-rlady.ru/kak-stat-schastlivym-zdes-i-seychas/

    Reply

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *