I survived, I think.

It has taken me a bit more than a week to take stock and figure out if I really survived the Columbia Marathon or not. I think the consensus is that I did, though not without some scars. First off, I ran ok-the weather was great, but my inexperience resulted in a few tactical errors that caused problems in the last hour. I think I ate too much gel in the early stages, because I was too nauseous in the last 6 miles to eat anyone else-this, obviously, did not work out so well. Plus, the course was quite hilly, and I think the lack of calorie intake plus my over-exuberance on previous hills caused me to have to walk the last few hills of the day. All said and told, I finished and would consider doing another one, given some time away from this one. The question remains if I actually learned anything from this process. I think I figured out a few things: --Running for four hours is a long time --If you do run that long, make sure your headphones will stay in --I apparently sweat a lot, even if it is not that hot --If you don't stick to your plan and experience, you will get into trouble Most of all, though, I think I learned that you can tackle those tasks that appear to be very difficult. Running a marathon is a very difficult thing to do, but it is made much easier if you create a training plan and stick to it; all the steps along the way are vital to the final outcome. When we veer from the plan, cut a run or two short, or eat that whole pizza, the effects are not always immediately apparent; but in mile 21 of the run is when you look back and wish you had not cut those corners. So now, after taking a week off, I am back to the grind to prepare for the Palmetto 70, a 70 mile relay that ends at Folly Beach. Tis time, though, I am not doing it alone!

Running in the Moment

I have run a variety of races over the years.  I started with the short sprints in high school, where my longest race was a grueling 500 meters.  Since then, I have done a variety of events and distances, such as 5ks, sprint triathlons, half marathons, and century bike rides.  This Saturday, I will be attempting my first marathon; my primary goal for this event is simply to finish.  If I somehow manage to run it in 4 hours or less, that would simply be icing on the cake.

I have been reading a lot this week about pacing for this event; some articles say you should closely monitor your split times to make sure you do not wear yourself out.  Others say to keep an eye on the clock, but monitor how you feel, above all else.  In other words, be aware of how you are feeling, how fast you are running, and how much you think you have left to finish the run.  To me, it means being aware of where you are, at all times, to ensure a good race.  Since this is my first marathon, and I really do not know what my ideal pace should be, this will be the approach I use; I have a target split time, but I will strive to be in the moment, all 4 hours of them, to not only run a good race, but to enjoy the journey as well.

This also applies to my everyday life.  A phrase that has been in my head recently is "be present." With my wife, kids, job, etc, a large key to success and building intimate relationships is simply to be there, and to be engaged.  This means shutting off the radio, TV, computer, iPad, or whatever may distract me from truly being present, and to focus and pay attention to the people I am around.  In other words, do not get so lost in running the race that you forget to enjoy all the moments that compose it; be present, enjoy it, and you may just be surprised how it turns out.

--kb