We all love a good underdog story. We love to watch the weak or underestimated rise up victoriously as David slays Goliath or Rudy sacks the quarterback in the final play of the game. We see ourselves in these underdogs, and we want to believe that we, too, could rise victoriously against all odds. Two … Continue reading In It For the Long Run
Tag: marathon
The Pains of Taper Madness
Two weeks ago I ran a mess of a 20-miler. I was exhausted, feeling low, and stuck in the mud. I questioned why I keep putting myself through the struggles of marathon training. Running hurts. It takes up all my time. I’m constantly tired and hungry (a combination that never ends well). Then last weekend … Continue reading The Pains of Taper Madness
No Mud, No Lotus
The path to success is usually by way of repetition. Musicians practice scales. Basketball players drill free throws. Students learn vocabulary words with flash cards. As we all learned in elementary school, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. We drill good behavior until it becomes second nature so that we can perform … Continue reading No Mud, No Lotus
Unprofessional
A friend and I had an argument recently. I had set an early curfew for myself to be rested for my run the next morning, but when I started to leave my friend said, "You're not a professional, you know. You don't need to be this strict about everything. It's not like you're gunning for … Continue reading Unprofessional
The Optimist
I don't consider myself an optimist. Chipper affirmations are usually met with a wince and a heavy amount of side-eye. What may be intended as positivity is received as trite, simplistic, and belittling. Oh you have a problem? Chin up, sunshine. Everything happens for a reason. Life doesn't just work out because we smile and … Continue reading The Optimist
Best Laid Plans
Plan A is lovely. Plan A is preferred. Plan A is the best intentions of our best prepared best self. There's a reason it's at the top of the list. There's also a reason why we usually end up on plan B (or C or D...). Life is too messy for Plan A. The A … Continue reading Best Laid Plans
No Alarms. No Surprises.
No. I'll pass. Thanks, but no thanks. If you were planning on inviting me to try that new restaurant, or join you at a new weightlifting class, or taste this delicious new recipe you invented, the answer is no. The marathon is next weekend, and I'm taking no risks. I'm as boring and predictable as … Continue reading No Alarms. No Surprises.
Mixing It Up
Racing is made up of lines -- starting lines, finish lines, point-to-point courses. But training for a marathon is anything but linear. Four weeks ago I completed a half marathon. Logically speaking, this means I'm halfway there for marathon training, right? Wrong. While it may have been tempting to use the 13.1 mile race as a launchpad … Continue reading Mixing It Up
Take Two
I said I wouldn't do another. Training was brutal, and once was enough. I lost sleep. I lost toenails. I lost touch with friends. For half a year, I did nothing but work, eat, and run. Completing the 2011 Twin Cities Marathon ranks among my proudest moments, but it came at a cost. So I thought … Continue reading Take Two
