Almost Ready for This Weekend

Marathon training has clearly been a huge part of our lives for the past 4-7 months.  Our first official training run was on June 8th.  But we were thinking about, talking about, and planning for the marathon well before the actual training began.  Of course, the intensity of how much it was impacting us grew steadily over the summer.  To say it has been an experience would be stating the obvious and an understatement all at once.

When I suggested to Dan that maybe we would run the marathon together he was a little grimace about doing it.  In fact I think that Dan said on multiple occasions that "this is going to suck."  And I was a little nervous about all of those long runs.  Neither of us were expecting to enjoy the training as much as we have.

It is pretty awesome to look at the running log and see all those miles covered.  We carefully planned out our training program in a shared online calendar, were diligent about eating as healthy as possible, and did quite well at dragging ourselves out the bed for early morning runs.  I absolutely loved getting those runs in before heading to work. 

While running we have watched the sunrise over Lake Michigan, choked on bugs, watched people setting up camp for the Air & Water Show (seriously, people start getting there at 6:30am), been almost ran over by bicyclist, past bicyclist, got caught in two pretty huge rain storms, watched the trees go from just budding to fall colors.

At the beginning of the training the longer runs (16 - 20 milers) seemed quite scary yet I couldn't quite visualize them.  But it was so amazing to be running past so many different reference points in one run; past Belmont Harbor, North Ave Beach, our first apartment building, Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, Soldier Field, McCormick Place, 31st Beach, and them some in one round trip.  Even more amazing, doing this and not feeling like I had to quit and walk.  And even more amazing, doing this side-by-side together.

Quite honestly, I am not 100% sure I would have done it by myself.  And I really would not have trained at such a quick-for-me pace.  The little bits of encouragement that came from simply doing it together or a shared goofy grin or an unexpected (literal) pat on the back during a lull made those runs that could have been tedious much more fun.

The lesson learned at the end of this training is to not schedule a European vacation when you are about to begin your taper towards race day.  Holy crap, we did not expect the place were staying to be located on a cliff.  Going from flat Chicago to beyond hilly France was very tough on our running.  And cobblestone paths are charming but they do not exactly lend towards a solid recovery from your longest run of your life.  Oh and the second lesson is to figure out how to get yourself to go to bed on time like a grown up... we are terrible about getting enough sleep.

The cobblestones exasperated Dan's tired tendon.  So now he is hobbling after 1 mile and having a tough time with any kind of distance.  And I am feeling like I could run forever. (Seriously, the average pace of my last run was 7:56 min mile - umm holy crap, I could not do that 5 months ago.)

So we have a little cloud hanging over this last final week before the big huge run day. Our fingers are crossed that he will be feeling 100% after resting this week so that we can run together like we planned.  If not we are facing the decision of whether I just go at our planned pace and Dan goes at his hobble pace or if we stick it together at the hobble pace. Then again, the weather forecast is giving a range of 55 - 80 degrees and 80% humidity in the morning so... yikes.

I had not for a second envisioned running it alone so I have my fingers, toes and legs crossed that we will be able to cross the finish line together.  Until then, you can find us guzzling water and downing pasta.