What is a Marathon?

It would be nice to assume I know exactly what a marathon is.  And I do know what a marathon is.  It is 26.2 miles, or 42.2 kilometers, all on foot, propelled by mental and physical endurance.

But that is the simple answer.


A marathon is so much more than that.  It is more complicated, and at the same time, it is more basic.

A marathon is all of these things:

- A marathon begins years, months, weeks and days before many of us take our first step running.  A marathon, for many, is a, "maybe one day" idea.  It is rattling around in our brain as a goal that we might get around to doing when the time is right.
- The strange thing about a marathon, is that, although the finish line seems impossibly far away, also seems within reach.  How else can we explain the amount of people that run marathons?  Many of us have signed up for them without having accomplished that distance before, and we place all of that trust in our training that we will get there, ready to do it.  This is still amazing to me.
*I do know one person that decided to "practice" the marathon distance prior to signing up for the race, to be sure that he could cover the distance.  His only flaw was that he did his "practice run" 3 days before race day.  He still finished the marathon, but he was quite sore by the end of it all.  Definitely not recommended.
- A marathon "is crazy!!" Or so I'm told.  All the time.  When I am told this, I just nod and shrug it off.  I don't expect everyone to understand that it isn't crazy.  Things like jumping out of an airplane are "crazy."  Spending many years/months preparing your mind and body for an endurance event actually seems sensible.  But, to each his own, right?
- A marathon is long runs in crappy weather.
- A marathon is long runs in lovely weather.
- A marathon is speed work where your lungs are on fire.
- A marathon is speed work that makes you mentally tough enough to push your legs beyond what you ever thought possible.
- A marathon is easy runs with friends filled with laughter and chatter.
- A marathon is alone time to run for miles and think about everything, from upcoming lesson plans, to blog posts, to hopes and dreams.
- A marathon is 5am runs.
- A marathon is the fear of injury.
- A marathon is blisters, ugly feet and ice baths.
- A marathon is going to bed early (through discipline, or pure fatigue).
- A marathon is a choice.
- A marathon is peeing in a corn field.
- A marathon is calculating pace/splits (math on the run).
- A marathon is obsessively checking the weather.
- A marathon is hoping and praying your Garmin will work properly on race morning (or maybe that's just me...)
- A marathon is accepting things we cannot control, like long traffic lights in the middle of a tempo run.
- A marathon is a forgiving and supportive family.
- A marathon is "character building."
- A marathon is physio/massage therapy.
- A marathon is choosing a haircut based on whether it can easily pull back into a ponytail (true story).
- A marathon is pure mental strength from mile one.
- A marathon is about moving forward.
- A marathon is sunscreen, sunburns, and after-sun lotion.
- A marathon is being inspired by training partners and friends.
- A marathon is full of diversity.
- A marathon is never boring.  No two races are ever alike.
- A marathon is emotional.  I have cried many tears, smiled happy smiles, dug deeper into my heart and mind than I had ever thought possible. I have felt indifferent, frustrated and defeated.  I have felt exhilarated and triumphant.
- A marathon bonds runners together.  In training, in the race itself, and in recalling stories long afterward.

A marathon is running to the finish line

A marathon is always a part of us, whether we have done one, two, or a hundred and two.

Canadian 5k Road Championships! Race Recap

I'm going to start at the beginning.

Back when there was snow on the ground, and I was hobbling around with an injury (in March) I heard that the B&O Yorkville 5k registration was opening.  A friend had run this race last year, and said it was a great course.  Good for a PB in the 5k.

That's all I needed to hear!

When I went to the website to sign up, there was something interesting on their website.

They were also holding the "Canadian 5k Road Championships" at that race site on the same day.  There were qualifying times listed, and my most recent 5k was under the qualifying time for women.  Hmmmmm.

Should I enter?

After some encouragement from my friends, I decided to go for it (gulp)!

A few weeks later, I received an email that I was in the race, at which time I promptly panicked that I had made a terrible mistake and that now, as I was in this championship race, I would perhaps have the chance of finishing in last place.

Now.  There is nothing wrong with last place.  Nothing at all.

Ask my high school cross country coach.  I have definitely finished a race in last, or close to last place.  I have always felt like I am still waaaaay ahead of anyone that didn't even start the race, amiright?

I was going to strive for a strong race, and a strong race for me would probably be an easy run pace for some of the elites I would be starting beside (ok, behind).

I know I was being dramatic. I spent the summer of 2014 achieving PBs in a few races, and running some amazing (and challenging) workouts...thanks coach Tia!  I have never been in so many 5k races before this summer.

As race day approached, and I tried not to fall back into my panic zone, I realized that I should just take this opportunity (afterall, this might be the one and only time I have this opportunity) and enjoy it for what it is!  When they sent out the starting list for the race, I found my name 12 places up from the bottom of the list.  My goal became finishing at least 13 from the bottom of the list (Or, go for the win! hahaha!).

I went to pick up my race kit, and the race director (the amazingly quick Megan Brown) said hello and told me a little about the course.  I felt special in that moment, of course!  This sub-elite thing was kind of ego-boosting!

Just as I was standing waiting for my kit, a woman said hello, and that she recognized me from another race.  It was a woman I had met while seeking shelter from the crazy rain and wind a the Midsummer Night's Run, Alice!  I saw her the next day at the race, too.  Her friend (Genevieve) was doing the 5k as her very first race.  So awesome.  The feeling of crossing the finish line never gets boring, but the first race finish is quite special.  Way to go, Genevieve!

Race Morning...

Papa and the boys were making the trek to the race with me.  This was my big day, so they weren't going to miss it.  The fact that it was 5k was great, as there is a lot less time to hang around while I am out on the course. 

I had a great sleep the night before the race.  I woke up excited and ready.  When I went in to wake up Olly, he said, "we're going to your raaaaaace!"  It was so cute to see him excited with his bed-head.

I ate breakfast in the car, and we arrived to the race area around 8am.  I headed to the school (race headquarters) to use the washroom, then  I went out for a warm up around 8:20, while Papa and the boys hung out in the car.

Tech time in the car while Mama warmed up.  Check out those BRIGHT shoes!!

My garmin (oh, my silly garmin) started to act up during my warm up.  Not sure if it was all of the tall buildings in the middle of Toronto, but it switched (spontaneously) to pace/km.  Ummmm.  Either that, or I was running close to race-pace for my warm up (6:00 pace?).

Then, suddenly after a mile (or kilometer?) it switched back.  Phew!

*I know I should be running at pace/km.  I know I am Canadian and that is what we do.  But for some reason, I have always worked in pace/mile.  I think I like the fact that I don't have to count as high.  Seriously.  "3" seems less far than "5".  Duh.

Our little family parade heading to the starting area

I got back to the car, changed my shoes, and we got the kids ready to head over to the start!  It was almost time!

We really lucked out with this venue.  The start and finish were very close to each other, with a school (that had a big playground) right in the middle!  As soon as I started, Papa and the boys played on the playground for 15 minutes, then headed to the finish area.  Perfect!

they don't look that enthused about my race. hmmm

The starting area was my favourite part of the whole day.  All of these *actual* elites, doing warm up drills back and forth, and I was in there with them, just doing my strides.  No big deal. (!!)

In the last few minutes, as I started to line up (near the back) I saw Alice again, and she wished me a good race.  I also saw Robin (one of my speedy Guelph running friends).  Seeing them made me more calm and I was ready to do this thing!

The horn went off, and, wow.  So did the runners.  I took a deep breath and forced myself to keep calm and not rush out to fast.  This was a crowd that I was NOT going to get caught up in. 

The first mile headed down Bay Street, which had a slight downgrade.  That, combined with the fast runners, could spell disaster.  I managed to keep it cool.  My first mile beeped in at 6:23.  Perfect.  I was hoping for 6:20, but this was even better.  I didn't lose control! yay!

Then, as we were still heading down a bit, I sped up.  I thought I was safe from the evils of going out too fast, so I started to pass a couple of people. 

Mile 2: 5:58.  Ya.  Oops.  That wasn't exactly as even as I had hoped for!

Maybe I could keep it up?  (pfffft)

We were headed up University Ave. at this point, passing Queen's Park.  We were headed back up that slight upgrade now.  And there was a head wind I wasn't happy about.  We passed a water station, which just didn't seem worth it to me.  There would be water at the finish!

I came up on a few guys (what?!) and tried to draft behind them.  When it was time to pass them, I tried to tell myself to just push through that burning feeling and find the finish.

As I rounded the corner for the final few hundred meters, I couldn't even look down at my watch.  I just wanted to get there.  My lungs were on fire and my arms were pumping as fast as I could make them! (mile 3 - 6:33, and mile 0.1 - 6:10)

As I came up to the finish I could see Robin, and I tried to smile (goodness knows if it looked like a smile, or sheer pain?!) and I was so so happy to be done.  It was over in a flash.  And I wasn't in last place!!

Little Milo was there, and gave me a hug (he probably could've knocked me over at that point) and I found Papa and my good friend Stephanie!  Yay! for spectators!!

A diligent runner would have gone for a nice cool down run at this time.  I did not.  I was too happy to chat with my friends/family that I ate my banana and lived on the edge.

Final time: 19:54
Age Group: 4/10
Gender: 44/68

Overall: 137/168 (way better than my goal!)

I am not an elite runner, nor do I ever want to be.  I love striving for PBs, working as hard as I can, and throwing myself into races where I know I will be uncomfortable and challenged.  That's what it is all about!

I am so proud that I was part of this race.

milo, my number one fan, "gave" me a stuffy that he promptly asked if he could keep :)

New (school) Year's Eve

Labour Day.

The dreaded day, when our summer holiday comes to an official end. The last day before it is time to start sorting back packs, cramming schedules, and eating lunches out of brown paper bags.

I dare say the summer wore us out a little?

I could cry through lots of this post, as I just love the freedom that summer allows.  The long days that get us out of bed for early runs, and allow us to take a walk after dinner without bundling into warm and visible clothing.

But I am not going to dwell on all of that amazing stuff.

Nope.

Instead, I am going to allow myself to get excited about all of the things a new (school) year brings.

…and there are lots of things.

- The kids will be back into their routine.  They love summer, but they have been role-playing "school" for more than a week now.  I think they are ready to be back in the classroom with their friends.

- I will be back into a routine.  We do have a little routine going on here in the summer, but I certainly feel like I am accomplishing more (I am) and I am more organized when I am working.  I guess those school bells have me trained as well.

- The fall is a beautiful time to be a runner.  The weather is still wonderful, the cool air is refreshing, and as the leaves on the trees change colour it is so pretty.  Long sleeves really aren't that bad, right?

- The Chicago Marathon is in 6 weeks!  A big fall race (and the taper beforehand) is something I am very excited about.  The fact that Papa and I will be spending the weekend in one of our favourite cities with some friends for Thanksgiving weekend isn't so bad, either.

- Halloween happens in the fall!  I am excited to make the costume ideas the boys have into actual costumes.

- Food in the fall is great.  I am really into summer foods, but I am ready to dig into some warm soups and stews.

So…school begins in the morning.  I have an early-rise and some speed work to accomplish before the day really begins.

Summer of 2014, you were very good to us.  The weather was *perfect* for running.  I enjoyed a very busy schedule of races (TEN races, that is) and we were so fortunate to have a great deal of family time together.



Cheers, to a good New (school) Year ahead!