- This was printed on my birthday in October of 2013 in The Madera Tribune, a newspaper in Madera, California. This was the 23rd installment of my weekly column, Mind Over Miles.
Today I’m another year older, but from a running standpoint I’m still in
the same age bracket that I was in yesterday, whether the race breaks
it down to 20-29 years or 25-29.
There’s nothing special about this birthday, except for the coincidental
fact that I’ll be 26 and two weeks (and three days) old when I run my
second 26.2.
And let me tell you, Nov. 3 can not come soon enough.
I’m getting antsy and tired as I reach the peak in my Two Cities
Marathon training. Saturday will be my longest training run — 20 miles
— before I taper down to rest my legs before the big show.
This point in training was hard the first time around, before the Santa
Rosa Marathon, and it’s not any easier the second time. In fact, it
might be worse this time because cold and flu season seems to be
peaking along with my weekly mileage. A runner’s immune system
takes a dip as mileage increases. Combine that with a lack of sleep
during a busy time of year, and a bunch of viruses floating around, and
you have a recipe for disaster.
I need rest.
But as any mom will tell you, resting is easier said than done. I have
Pinterest-worthy Halloween costumes to make, delicious Instagram-
worthy dinners to cook, rooms to clean, play dates to attend, columns
to write, news stories to edit, groceries to shop for, books to read,
baths to give… and that’s just an eighth of my to-do list.
I’m just not the resting type. I’m the multitasker, the neat freak, the
OCD chick, the do-it-all Supermom. I haven’t yet learned — and
maybe I never will — how to let go and rely on anyone but myself.
Sometimes I wake up at 4:25 a.m. on “run days” and I’m so tired I
want to turn off my alarm and hide under the covers. I go as far as
thinking up excuses I could text to my running buddies as to why I
couldn’t make it out that morning…then I get my lazy butt up.
On those days I have to hustle to throw on my running gear, watch
and shoes to make up for the time I lost being wishy-washy in my
bed.
I’m proud to say I’ve never actually stayed in bed and texted excuses
to my running family. For one, I wouldn’t be able to check the run off
my to-do list for that day — and heaven forbid I skip something on my
list(s).
Secondly, running gives me a rest of a different kind — a mental
break. I can listen to others or listen to nothing. I can listen to the
cadence of footfalls on the pavement. I can listen to the rhythm of my
breathing. I can zone out. For an hour (or three) out of my day, I can
forget my to-do lists and focus on the task at hand — preparing my
body for the marathon.
For some last-minute speed work, I’ve made plans to race a 5K here in
Madera the weekend prior to the Two Cities Marathon.
I’ll be at the Run For Your Life 5K at Home Grown Cellars, 13702 Road
20, on Saturday, Oct. 26 to kick off the Madera Pomegranate Festival.
Information and registration forms can be found
at www.homegrowncellars.com.
Upon the request of the race’s organizers, Alex and Jackie Lehman, my
running buddy Audrey and I ran the course last week, equipped with
our GPS watches, to ensure it is a full 3.1 miles. (My Nike+ watch
showed 3.09 miles once we hit the finish line, and Audrey’s Garmin
watch marked 3.11.)
I hope to see you out there!
Gazelle Runs Ultras 