I never have considered myself an athlete. In fact, I used to think the dreaded couch potato gene was explicitly written into my genetic code. So I recently surprised even myself when I decided to register for the 2009 Bayshore Marathon and to write this column detailing my training.
My early running history is spotty at best. In high school, I joined the track team as a purely social exercise -- actual physical exercise was the furthest thing from my mind. Unfortunately, I was too slow to run the 100 meters and too short and ungainly for hurdles, the events that I associated with the least strenuous training regimens. As a result, I was assigned the much less desirable mile event. This designation was not based on any proven physical prowess on my part, but rather on the fact that it was a small team and no one else wanted to do it.
I attended a small, rural high school in northeastern Ohio with a graduating class of 52 students. The football field and track were about a mile from the school, and the team's daily warm-up was to jog that distance. I, as a friend recently was quick to remind me, generally caught a ride with upperclassmen. Those four laps around the track were taxing enough, I reasoned at the time; why would I want to run any farther?
I didn't take my training seriously and, needless to say, I didn't last very long. In fact, I ended up quitting the team after two very disappointing meet showings. The coach gazed at me with open disdain when I told her I was finished. "You are not a runner," she said emphatically.
That remark really stung.
Things changed for me on the fitness front when I began attending Ohio University, which boasted a brand-new, state-of-the-art gym. I began to work out regularly, but I still shunned the treadmill, which I associated with inherent difficulty, imminent pain and, most significantly, my previous failure. Coach C. was right: Running was not in the cards for me.
Running did not cross my radar again until I moved to East Lansing to attend grad school at Michigan State. A heavy course load, hours in the library and mounting stress took their toll, making me feel increasingly miserable. One friend seemed suspiciously immune to the pressure. Her secret, she told me, was my old nemesis -- running. Mid-year, desperate for some relief, I joined her for a 1-mile jog, which in my case was more of an awkward shuffle. Luckily, my friend was a patient coach, and we were soon running regularly. That spring I ran my first race, crossing the finish line of the 2006 Dino Dash 5K, gasping for breath, in a speedy -- or so I thought at the time -- 37:01.
More races followed, and I really started to increase my mileage after moving to Traverse City a year ago. To my surprise, the scenic trails and neighborhoods in this area made me not just willing, but downright eager to strap on my trusty Brooks and hit the road. Moreover, I have never lived in such an active place; during every run, I pass throngs of friendly runners, bicyclists and walkers who often provide a helpful boost in the form of a smile or a nod. My TC training culminated in a fairly respectable performance in the '08 Cherry Fest 15K. Translation: I finished the race somewhere in the middle of the pack without walking, collapsing or losing my breakfast. Major progress!
I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but at some point along the way I began to view myself in a new light. This change of self-perception came about gradually, as running became a pleasure -- something I genuinely look forward to -- rather than a chore. The knowledge that I am just a few brisk strides away from clearing my head and shedding the pressures of a day never fails to empower me.
So guess what, Coach C.: I am a runner. I likely never will win a race in the traditional sense, and I certainly never will break any records, but I am passionate about running. This is enough to qualify me.
The running career's winding path has led me to one seemingly inevitable destination: a marathon. My principal goals are, yes, to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack without walking, collapsing or losing my breakfast. Most importantly, I want to prove to myself that I am capable of tackling those storied 26 miles, 385 yards, and of laying to rest my dormant inner couch potato once and for all.
I am by no means claiming any kind of expertise in marathon training. As a first-timer, most of my training habits will be the result of research and recommendations from other runners. I'm basing my training regimen on marathoner Hal Higdon's 18-week "Novice I" program. For my full training plan and training log, visit my blog, "Making Strides," at http://blogs.record-eagle.com.
Starting stats
Longest distance to date: 10 miles (Sept. 8, 2008)
Average pace: 10:15/mile
Average miles/week: 17
Shoes: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8
Motivation: High
Mantra: Train hard, train smart
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