The Other Great American Pastime

Week One: 25m
Week Two: 32m
Week Three: 18m (I blame THON.)
Week Four [as of Wednesday]: 8m

...Promising, huh?  I should be reading Runner's World for tips or googling marathon plans, but right now- finishing homework and studying Spanish nonfinite verbs- all I can think of is going to sleep. I love running, but just the thought of my 6-8m tomorrow is making me tired.

Did you know that the number one factor in an America's rating of their day-to-day happiness is... *drumroll*...SLEEP. (Nina Jablonski PhD and Anthro Dept. Head) Maybe that's why I feel so down and out. I got eight hours- EIGHT- of sleep last night, but according to contemporary research that won't start affecting me until tomorrow. That's right, messing with your sleeping schedule and cutting hours can keep affecting you days later. Recovery lags after that.

Considering the influence of changes to one's sleeping patterns can last up to five days- I'm still tired from THON.

Maybe sleep should be up on the top of my to-do list, instead of squeezed in with whatever is left over. It even boosts your metabolism, getting over seven hours a night does. And even a nap of 20-30 minutes is enough to jump start your mind mid mid-afternoon slump.

I'm considering just clicking the hibernate button on my screen and going...to......

The Official Mile 27 Experiment

What I've retained from fifth grade science class is as follows:

 The Scientific Method (as described by sciencebuddies.org)

The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments.

• The steps of the scientific method are to:
• Ask a Question
• Do Background Research
• Construct a Hypothesis
• Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
• Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
• Communicate Your Results
• It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. A "fair test" occurs when you change only one factor (variable) and keep all other conditions the same.

So, I realized after Terry from Rapid Transit challenged my marathon goals (pleaseeee read the entry before this one!!), that I hadn't made them clear to my readers, my followers or truthfully even to myself. So here it is- the outline of this whole shebang.

Ask a(/some) question(s): Can running a marathon help me fall back in love with running?

Can I become more comfortable with my body and my abilities even if I'm by no means the fastest or fittest person there?

Can I finish?

Do background research: my background experience- competing stressed me out. Training stressed me out. I want to enjoy this- so conclusion of this research: I need to avoid both.

       That's right. I'm running (25 miles two weeks ago, 32 this past week and 18 so far this one), but I'm not training for time. I’m lifting, but because I like it and I love my trainer and friend Marie. I'm cross training because I know it’s good for me, and swimming’s a fun change. But for this first marathon I refuse to make myself as miserable as I was in high school.

Construct a hypothesis: By running the Pittsburgh Marathon, not as a race but as an adventure, by challenging myself to finish but not to compete, and by accepting yet confronting my limits, each day as they come- I will make my goal of falling in love with this sport once more a reality.

And the test- well that’s self-explanatory

So far so good- and I'll stop soon. But allow me one more point of clarity- why 27 miles? Isn't a marathon 26.2?

Well, one because it wouldn't let me enter decimals in my web address but two, because I want this new mentality to continue beyond the race and into my life. I don't want my new found love of running to falter when I get busy or stressed. It's an ongoing experiment- but here goes!

And recipes- a friend suggested nomeatathlete.com- check it out my vegetarian friends!  

Rapid Disappointment

I walked into Rapid Transit for the first time today, feeling fresh and light from a brisk five mile run with my friend Liz. We browsed through the racks of tye dye spandex and chatted about new trainers. I waited with her patiently as the man I had come to see sized up the feet of someone's grandmother and helped her try on her new shoes. She paid for her purchase and he turned to me.

"A marathon? It's too late. That's impossible."

My heart cracked. A running store expert and marathon veteran had just told me I did not have enough time to train for the Pittsburgh. I bit my lip and nodded.

"You don't have time to even start training. Try the half. You look like you could break 1:30- make it into the top 25 women easy if you work in speed and get up to 35 miles now."

I glanced at Liz, then at the ground. I had wanted a training plan from him, having been utterly indicisive looking through websites on running. I had just been going by feel, running my miles.

Terry of Rapid Transit didn't understand, I didn't want to break a time. I wanted to break through my own limits. A finisher's medal was the only merit I was after. Call me stubborn, call me hopeful, but please don't say hopeless.

After he pronounced me without a chance he told me to come back for new shoes the next morning. Liz and I walked out the door slowly.

"I'm still running it," I said to the sidewalk.
"I know," said Liz.

I thought about the advice from my old high school distance coach the week before. I had messaged him- the man who had guided me through my first track race sophmore year with the promise that it would hurt, but less than hurting like having a baby. A man of infinite and accurate wisdom.
 "Kate," he wrote. I only needed to remember two things. "Continue to run miles weekly. When race day arrives, don't be nervous."
So that's largely my plan.

Terry said I was impossible.
To all the Terrys I would like to reply with my old team quote from my senior year:

"...Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing." 
(Thank you John Maxwell)