Why Run??
I have decided this year that I want to run a marathon. I have never done running of any distance before. So why? I have always held a great respect for those that have accomplished the task of 26.2 miles under human power. It is one of those items that I place on my “to do in my lifetime”.
I have no illusion that this will be easy. I expect set backs and challenges, many of which will be the aspect of planning this around my family and our schedules.
I also know that if I accomplish this, I will have risen to a challenge placed in front of me. I can think of one time before that I have intended on doing something of this scale and worked and stuck to it; that was the learning to play a musical instrument. At 18, I decided that I wanted to learn to play bass. And I worked – hard – at it. There were set backs and times that I remember when I would have this feeling of “I have done this”. I am still not a great player. But I can play. That is what I am shooting for. Not looking to accomplish the run in a time but simply to finish. To say “I have done this”.
The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer
I am following a program laid out in a book called The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer. It is designed by two college professors. One is a physical education professor and the other a psychologist. There is a 16 week training program, each week adding progressive distance and mental training. The book was published in 1998. At the time of the publication they have had 200 people complete their course and all but one of them completed the marathon.
There is also a basic “pre-training” for people like me. This is designed around getting your muscular and skeletal system ready for the pressures.
I will track all the progress here and posting the marathon I will be competing in. It will most likely be early fall. Depends on local availability.
I know I have a long and very challenging time ahead of me. I also hope that this will allow me to take up running in a regular exercise habit. Wish me luck.
