Impossible! This word describes how I felt about the idea of ever attempting to run a marathon. I have a friend, Karyn, who ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 1994. She ran to raise money for AIDS research, and I was amazed at the commitment and dedication she displayed as she trained for and reached her goal.
For a minute back in 1994, the thought that I may someday run a marathon crossed my mind. But that thought was quickly replaced by the word "impossible". 26.2 miles? Me? No Way!
Fast forward to New Year's 2003. I'm in a rut. I believe that some of us go through this as the New Year approaches. We take a look at our lives; examine our past, look ahead to the future. Hopefully as we look ahead there is something out there that lights the fire in us. Something that stirs up the passion inside. Well, not for me. I searched but it wasn't there.
I was in a rut professionally as rumors swirled about the imminent closing of the printing company that I had worked so hard for. I was in pretty decent shape, but even my workouts were growing stale. I needed a life changing event; something that I could set my sights on like a laser beam to ignite the fire inside. That's when the thought of running a marathon entered my mind again. I knew the time was right. I was at a point in my life where the challenge of doing the "impossible" was the spark that I needed. So I registered to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October of 2003.
The training needed to complete a marathon was like nothing I had experienced before. The long run is the foundation of a marathon training program. Basically, anything beyond 12 miles is considered a long run. Now for me, the idea of running 12 miles at one time was a huge hurdle to overcome mentally, but really that was just the beginning. Eventually my training program would consist of long runs of up to 20 miles, so the key for me was to set short term mileage goals on a daily and weekly basis. I mapped out my training for the year, and then focused on the daily and weekly goals. I believed that by accomplishing the short term goals, the long term goal of finishing a marathon would take care of itself.
The Marine Corps Marathon was upon me, and I couldn't have been more excited! After months of training, I was ready. The experience of being surrounded by 20,000 people, all of us with a common goal was phenomenal. Every street was lined with thousands of people clapping and cheering us on. Crossing the finish line was an emotional experience for me. I felt a great sense of pride in my accomplishment and I was so inspired by all of the other runners in my midst from all walks of life. The marathon experience truly was the challenge and inspiration that I was looking for at that point in my life. I was hooked!
Since then, I have completed six marathons including an ultra marathon of 50.3 miles. Some have been more challenging than others, but with each finish comes a sense of pride and accomplishment.
If you are searching for a "spark" as we move into 2008, you may want to consider the challenge of competing in a marathon. It truly is a life changing event that will have a positive influence in so many areas of your life. Don't let the word "impossible" hold you back!
Lee Daugherty is a personal trainer and fitness consultant based in Boonsboro, Maryland. For nearly ten years Lee has helped his clients succeed at reaching their fitness and weight loss goals. He has finished 6 marathons including the JFK 50 miler, an extreme test of endurance beginning in Boonsboro, MD. Lee is also host of Fitness In A Few, a podcast devoted to educating people on the benefits of living the fitness lifestyle. Lose Weight,Tone Muscle,Feel Great. Hagerstown, Maryland personal trainer.
