Some Thoughts on Running My Second Marathon
I ran the Portland Marathon this weekend. In recent years, I've become much more serious about my health and fitness goals, and marathon training is a significant part of that journey. The benefit of participating in one or two races per year is the seasonality it brings to your training schedule. I believe if I were only focusing on gym gains, my routine would become monotonous, and I might tire of it. Training for a marathon is so time-intensive that it forces you to put other goals on the back burner for a while. For a season, I focus more energy on increasing my cardiovascular capacity, run my event (which gives a sense of accomplishment and closure), and then enjoy having more time for other goals with renewed energy and perspective.
Having just closed another chapter in my fitness journey, I wanted to jot down a few thoughts and experiences from this weekend's run.
This is not just a race; it's a celebration
Most people who run marathons, myself included, don't have any real hope of winning. You truly are competing only against yourself in an incredibly challenging event where simply finishing is an accomplishment. When you forget about the competitive aspects, you can see it more as a celebration of the time you've invested and of having a body and mind capable of this feat.
I can do hard things
In my experience, the first half of the marathon is about physical training and strength. I never felt stronger in my life than I did for the first 13-15 miles this weekend. But then, at least for me, my physical training gives way to pure endurance and the ability to withstand discomfort. My toenails are bruised, my legs are cramping, my stomach can't take another gel pack or sip of electrolytes, and every fiber of my being wants to just walk to the closest corner and call an Uber. But somehow, you keep going.
I show up when it's time to show up
Somehow, you find the will to show up for yourself, and you discover deep truths about your resilience that can only be found when you've truly emptied yourself and pushed past anything that feels sane. The day becomes about discovering who can endure the most discomfort without quitting.
It never gets easier; you only get faster
The first marathon I ran was the hardest thing I've ever done. My second marathon was also the hardest thing I've ever done, but I managed to shave 11 minutes off my previous pace. The only comfort was that the faster I ran, the sooner the race would be over.
Tapering is AMAZING
I really enjoy the physical process of pushing my training volume to new heights and then pulling back for the few weeks before an event. We all know rest is an essential part of recovery, and this becomes a dedicated and focused practice of rest to make huge jumps in your gains.
Newbie gains are fun
Part of the fun of taking on new challenges is that you can regularly hit personal records every time you show up. This weekend I accomplished PRs in half marathon, 30k, and full marathon. I know a time will come that I can't reasonably expect to crush what I did before. But for now I get to enjoy besting my previous efforts.
Things I could have done better
- A big focus next time will be on race week diet and carb loading.
- I peaked my training volume a little too soon, and if life hadn't gotten in the way, I could have done a few more long runs.
- Clip my toenails.
All in all, it was a tiring but fulfilling weekend. I am sore all over and struggling to walk, but I feel comforted knowing that I showed up for myself this weekend. It's not something I can dedicate my whole life to, but every now and then, it's great to truly push yourself and discover what your body can do. These challenges and novel experiences are part of what make up a life, and they make showing up incredibly worth it.