October challenge: the marathon
I set a goal to accomplish one physical challenge each month starting in June 2007 when I turned 49 and ending in June 2008 when I'll turn 50 as a way of celebrating this milestone birthday.
In June I participated in the Green Mountain Relay, running 3 legs of a 200-mile relay on a team of 12 people. July was the 5K trail race in Rutland, Vermont. In August I did an Olympic distance triathlon (.9 mile swim, 28 mile bike and 10K run) at Lake Dunmore. September saw me riding a very wet and cold bike century around Saratoga, NY. Yesterday I ran the Cape Cod marathon in Falmouth, MA on a beautiful day: temperatures in the 50's with day-long sunshine. The only downside was gusty winds, but even they really weren't a factor due to the tree-lined course.
I trained for this marathon with Leigh Ann, who was running her first marathon. She got the long-distance running bug training for our Maple Lead Half-Marathon, and decided to keep on training for the Cape Cod race. We ran together for about 6 miles, then she took off when the course got hilly at the 17th mile and finished 3 minutes ahead of me. Way to go Leigh Ann! When it came to the hills, she said we should just put our heads down and keep on running - and that's what she did.
I also saw Rosemary Rusin, a local runner, who was competing in her 22nd Cape Cod Marathon and her 100th marathon overall! Rosemary is always a strong runner and finished in 4 hours and 40 minutes.
I like to set three goals for every race: a hard to reach goal (4:22 in this case), a moderate goal (4:30) and a last-chance goal (cross the finish line standing). I made my moderate goal, finishing in 4:28 and change. It feels great just to cross the finish line, even better to get a bottle of cold water from one of the friendly volunteers, and absolutely wonderful when I meet my husband at the end of the finisher's chute and get a big hug.
I don't have a specific goal set yet until April, when I plan on running a half-marathon in Valparaiso, IN, my hometown. I'd like to run a snowshoe race, maybe a citizen's "race" on cross-country skis, and something with each of my sisters in their states (Michigan and Texas). I'd better start planning!
In June I participated in the Green Mountain Relay, running 3 legs of a 200-mile relay on a team of 12 people. July was the 5K trail race in Rutland, Vermont. In August I did an Olympic distance triathlon (.9 mile swim, 28 mile bike and 10K run) at Lake Dunmore. September saw me riding a very wet and cold bike century around Saratoga, NY. Yesterday I ran the Cape Cod marathon in Falmouth, MA on a beautiful day: temperatures in the 50's with day-long sunshine. The only downside was gusty winds, but even they really weren't a factor due to the tree-lined course.
I trained for this marathon with Leigh Ann, who was running her first marathon. She got the long-distance running bug training for our Maple Lead Half-Marathon, and decided to keep on training for the Cape Cod race. We ran together for about 6 miles, then she took off when the course got hilly at the 17th mile and finished 3 minutes ahead of me. Way to go Leigh Ann! When it came to the hills, she said we should just put our heads down and keep on running - and that's what she did.
I also saw Rosemary Rusin, a local runner, who was competing in her 22nd Cape Cod Marathon and her 100th marathon overall! Rosemary is always a strong runner and finished in 4 hours and 40 minutes.
I like to set three goals for every race: a hard to reach goal (4:22 in this case), a moderate goal (4:30) and a last-chance goal (cross the finish line standing). I made my moderate goal, finishing in 4:28 and change. It feels great just to cross the finish line, even better to get a bottle of cold water from one of the friendly volunteers, and absolutely wonderful when I meet my husband at the end of the finisher's chute and get a big hug.
I don't have a specific goal set yet until April, when I plan on running a half-marathon in Valparaiso, IN, my hometown. I'd like to run a snowshoe race, maybe a citizen's "race" on cross-country skis, and something with each of my sisters in their states (Michigan and Texas). I'd better start planning!
posted by Lynn Grieger and Mike Ryan at
7:58 PM
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