Marathons, Drugs That Are Good For You

In January of 2008, when I decided out of the blue, that I wanted to run a marathon, My family didn't know what to think.  I wasn't even a runner.  I had just seen the movie The Bucket List and for some reason thought that this would be cool to add to my list.

I decided that I should run a half marathon first and then go full out.  I looked for a schedule online and found this great website marathon guide. Naive to the terminology I thought that a trail run just

meant that you were not running on the road.  Ha ha.  The joke was on me, but I completed the 13.1 miles of hills and rocks and tree stumps.  I only fell twice.  My friends and family at the finish line had weird looks on their face.  I'm still not sure if it was because they didn't think that I would finish or because they didn't expect me to come out all banged up and a little bloody.

Finishing gave me the confidence I needed to go for the full 26.2 miles.  I returned to the faithful web to find a training schedule and found Hal Higdon's page.  It's awesome.  My husband was a little curious and decided he would train with me "until the miles got really crazy".  They don't call it a "runner's high" for no reason.  Not only do you feel great, you become addicted.  He couldn't stop, even when the training miles "got really crazy".  In October 2008 we both ran our first marathon.  We weren't exactly couch to marathon, but we were pretty darn close.

Here's how it goes.  You wait at the starting line feeling a little buzzed.  The gun goes off and you are on your euphoric trip.  Floating, not running, for miles and miles.  Then the buzz wears off and you crash.  Why am I doing this?  Why did I do this?  I am definitely never doing this again!  No more runners' high for me. 

Then, in the distance, you see it.  The finish line.  Out of nowhere comes a burst of energy and again you are floating.  Only this time you are floating really fast towards the finish line.  The very second you cross it you think I can't wait to do this again!  All of the misery of the crash is somehow erased from your brain (sort of like child birth).  And, that's how you get hooked.  Marathons are as addicting as any drug, but only with positive side effects.

Here's my Month 3 Training Schedule for a fall marathon.  You'll see P90X blended in with my training this year.  I may get a little crazy and even through in a little Insanity on a few days.  Two more addictions.