Last year I wrote an entry about buying a property for the first time, with suggestions/tips for prospective homeowners as clueless as me, and I got feedback (even from strangers) that it was a helpful read. So this year, I thought I'd share my experience of running a half-marathon, for those who have never done a running event but might consider trying. Actually, the time period for both activities were quite similar--I looked at houses for about 2.5 months before picking one and closing, and I trained for about 9 weeks before marathon day. Ensuing stress and necessary courage to follow through on both occasions were also comparable.
My rather meager running history began in middle school PE, where I remember doing something called the 20-minute run (basically everyone ran around the field nonstop for 20 minutes), and it was nothing short of torture. After finishing my required PE credits in high school, the only running I ever did was away from bugs or toward food. During college, I joined the YMCA next to school because they had individual TV's on their treadmills. Once in a while, I'd run outdoors along the Charles River or through Boston Common because it was super pretty...also, as far as I know, running is the cheapest and quickest way to stay in shape.
After moving to Michigan, 4 miles was the length of my basic run. The thing is, like a typical older child, I'm kind of competitive. My competitiveness toward other people can be curbed, especially when it's obvious they're better than me, but competitiveness toward myself often gets out of hand. Basically if I do an activity more than once, it's SUPER important that I improve each time...I don't know why, that's just how my brain works. Last spring, Detroiters were blessed with one week of unbelievably perfect weather, and deciding to make the most of it, I went on daily runs and increased a mile each time, so by the end of the week, I had reached 8. Experienced runners say this is rare, to jump from 4 to 8 miles in 5 days, but I had no idea...I was simply so happy to be outside and so determined to get better. Unfortunately, the next week I sprained my ankle and couldn't run for several months. During that period of rest, I told a friend about my random burst of exercise, and she said seriously, "If you can run 8 miles, you can do a marathon!" (Apparently the starting length for a beginner's training program is 8 miles.) That got me thinking...was it possible that someone like me could actually run a marathon???
Eventually I forgot about it, especially since it took forever for my ankle to heal, and I hadn't run in ages. In late July, I heard about a fundraising organization partnering with the Detroit marathon to provide clean water for impoverished people in Africa. It seemed like a sign, and after a LOT of wavering and nail-biting, I finally signed up for the fundraiser and a half-marathon (it was too late to start training for a full).
For those who want to train but don't run regularly, the beginning will be brutal. There's a phase when you get endlessly multiplying blisters, and a phase when you're just so friggin sore all the time. Both seem like they'll never end, but they do eventually subside. The first pair of shoes I bought didn't fit correctly, so I got jogger's toe (aka subungual hematoma, where one of your toenails turns reddish-black/purple from excess contact with the front of your shoe). It's a bit scary if you've never seen it before, but after a few days, it shouldn't hurt, and as long as you keep it clean and switch shoes, you're fine. As the length of your runs increases, you'll encounter other issues, like chafing on the inside of your thighs if you wear shorts, and having to carry water on your runs. A handheld water bottle with a pouch for a phone (from REI) worked for me because I don't mind holding something while running, but most people get some sort of belt with waterbottle-holders.
It's good to refer to training schedules online, but in the end, just observe your body and adjust accordingly. I wouldn't recommend purchasing a schedule or following one exactly unless you have NO clue what to do. A lot of schedules are too time-consuming, in my opinion. After the first few weeks, I figured out what my body was capable of and made my own schedule based on that. I'm a big proponent of more effort/less time regarding exercise, so I only ran 2-3 times a week (1-2 short runs, 1 long run). Short runs=3 miles, long runs=anything more. My prep went something like this:
Week 1= 3 mi. + 5 mi. + 3 mi.
Week 2= 3 mi. + 6 mi. + 3 mi.
Week 3= 3 mi. + 7 mi.
Week 4= 3 mi. + 8 mi.
Week 5= 3 mi. + 9 mi.
Week 6= 3 mi. + 10 mi.
Week 7= 3 mi. + 11 mi.
Week 8= 3 mi. + 9 mi.
Week 9= 3 mi. + 5 mi. + 3 mi.
I'm not advocating this plan, but it worked for me. I figured out the minimum amount of short runs I needed to get through a long run later that week. If you run too often, you'll be too tired for a good long run, but if you don't run enough, your body can't handle the sudden long stretch. By the way, you're not "supposed" to do the full length of a marathon until the day of the event. This is very antithetical to musical training, with all the dress rehearsals, run-throughs etc. But somehow it worked; never underestimate the power of adrenaline.
A few tips that helped me-
1) After every run, soak your feet in lukewarm water. It feels good and washes away sweat/dirt ASAP. I also had minty cream that I put on my feet/ankles after showering.
2) Focus on one goal at a time. First I simply concentrated on surviving each long run. Then it was increasing my pace during short runs. Then it was running earlier in the morning (marathon starts at 7am, with arrival time around 5:30am).
3) Find out app. what temperature it'll be on the day of your event and run at least once in similar conditions, in the clothes you plan to wear.
4) Compile a good playlist. Unless you're one of those superhuman runners who don't need music, this makes ALL the difference. Some of my favorites:
Beat It/ Michael Jackson
Don't Stop Till You Get Enough/ Michael Jackson
Mambo/ Tropkillaz
Baby Baby/ Tropkillaz
Run The World/ Beyonce
Krazy/ Pitbull
The Anthem/ Pitbull
Move Shake Drop/ Pitbull
Live It Up/ JLo, Pitbull
I Feel Good/ James Brown (Fatboy Slim remix)
Uptown Funk 8-)
On To The Next One/ Jay-Z
Get Loose/ T.I., Nelly
You Can Do It/ Ice Cube
B.O.B/ Outkast
Shots/ Lil Jon, LMFAO
Sexy Back/ Justin Timberlake (Drastik remix)
Turn Down For What/ DJ Snake, Lil Jon
Most of these songs I don't like at all unless I'm exercising. Like "Shots"...the lyrics are despicable! But if I tune out the words, it's actually quite a good song. (Weirdly enough, I do the same thing to enjoy opera/lieder, although that's because the lyrics are in another language.)
5) Having a cause/charity to run for is key. I don't think I could've gotten through those 9 weeks with only myself as motivation. But with every selfless donation, every kind word of encouragement, and every individual I was able to help, I gained energy and purpose and joy (!) to run a little bit faster/longer. :)
