That is the question.
I honestly don't know which is harder, deciding to run your first marathon or deciding if you want to run a second.
For the first one, let's be honest, you REALLY don't know what you've signed up for. I mean, yes, you know it's going to be hard. It's 26.2 miles for heaven's sake, how can it not? You know it's going to be a big commitment of time and focus. You've heard all the stories about long training runs, lost toe nails, sore muscles, but you hear about this "amazing feeling" once you cross that finish line. So you register for The Big One because you need to see for yourself what it's all about.
Now, for the second one, let's be honest, now YOU KNOW. Now you know all about sore muscles, lost toe nails, aches where you didn't even know things existed. You've since named your foam roller because, well since we're being honest, you two really need to be on a first-name-basis to roll the places you need to roll. You've learned about epsom salts and Biofreeze. You've had your crash course in gels and chomps, whether or not your GI system can handle regular or x2 caffeine, or if any caffeine at all. And hopefully you learned this lesson while you were safe at home near a bathroom and not out in the middle of a run (no pun intended). You know what it means to be truly exhausted, you know that once the training cycle starts your social life takes a bit of a hit. Not to mention the no-beer-for-a-month thing. And then, throw in the I'm-unable-to-move-any-part-of-my-body-for-a-week-after thing.
You now know all this. You now understand what marathon is, what it entails.
But now, now you've already figured out how to hydrate, how to eat, if you can tolerate caffeine or not. You have named your foam roller and you two are now BFFs. Now you've figured out the more difficult stuff, you've lived the learning curve, you're now a step ahead.
And you now know what doing a marathon really means.
So. So now I know.
Decisions, decisions. Why on earth am I considering another? Especially after the Battle of Myrtle Beach?
To marathon or not to marathon. That is the question.
1 comment:
If you do another one Hope, do you realize you will have done twice as many as me.
That first marathon also accomplishes. It achieves. A second marathon is just another long race.
And what is that about the exhilaration of crossing the finish line? I don't remember a thing after 21 miles! I sure don't remember any exhilaration.
I think you should think seriously about your own health AND the start time of the next race. A 6.30 am start would clinch it for me. No freakin' way!!!
:o)
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