The Real Marathon

Posted by yoherb on 12/7/2006 on yoherb's blog

When I'm near the end of a tough workout, I often say out loud, "This is the marathon. The marathon is not the marathon."

My friends who don't run are often amazed that I'm going to run 26 miles. I tell them, that's the easy part. The hard part is getting there. Case in point yesterday...

I was scheduled to do a track workout mid-day with a co-worker. 4x1600. This is on the heels of 15 miles three days before. Also this week I also have an 8 mile tempo, and then 20 on Sun. So, while 4x1600 isn't too tough, it's a tough week.

Well, things feel apart and the run didn't happen as planned. I was determined to get the run in so we decided to go to the track at 6pm. It was totally dark, cold, and one half of the track was covered in ice/snow. So, we ran half, then turned around. It was like running 8 x 200m ladders.

There's just "something" about doing a speed workout in the dark and cold. Running back and forth, gasping for air. You realize that you are not like most people :-) So, as I was pushing it on my last 1600 I said out loud, "This is the marathon. The marathon is not the marathon."

I bet I'll be saying the same thing on Sunday at about mile 18...

email | report | digg this

Tags:

5 comments

tobias says:

as the "co-worker" mentioned, hats off to Herb for competing in the real marathon before the actual marathon. And at that point, he is competing against himself - which is the toughest competitor of all. Your brain is thinking: "beer and football at home with the kids vs 4x1600 on a frozen track?" and you have to fight the natural instinct and get yer arse out there. Every night. For four months. That's way tougher than a one-off 26 miler.

I'm just happy / honored to accompany him on the occasional sprint - even if it is on a half frosted track!

by tobias (not verified) on Thu, 2006-12-07 15:47

simon says:

Way to go guys! Totally not like most people!

That "natural instinct"...I'm a big fan of the sofa myself, so I'm not downplaying my natural laziness, but I have often felt that it's not just my sluggishness I am dealing with, but a sort of cultural couch potato-ism.

Since moving to Boulder from London, I find it easier to get out and train -- because loads of other people are doing it. I'm not fighting against some kind of generic black cloud of unfitness.

I remember reading the autobiography of the late great British runner Gordon Pirie -- he spoke about this a lot. He talked about running down empty streets where in every house you could see the flickering light of tv screens.

"Fitness is a challenge, and because of the strange apathy of people in general the challenge is greater than it needs to be. One must overcome the physical resistance and the psychological burden imposed by the lazy ones who will not bestir themselves to a minimum, let alone a maximum, effort." ("Running Wild" by Gordon Pirie - published in 1961.)

Good luck on Sunday, Herb! Where are you running? Houston?

by simon on Thu, 2006-12-07 16:57

yoherb says:

Thanks Simon.

Tobias (my running partner last night) is from the UK and just moved to Boulder. You two should hook up.

Sunday I'm doing 20 m around Boulder. The marathon is Phoenix in Jan.

by yoherb on Thu, 2006-12-07 17:14

simon says:

That's cool, I'll email him.

I am just about up to 20 miles a week right now; have fun on Sunday!

by simon on Thu, 2006-12-07 20:28

brad says:

I know that track workout! About a year ago I had a similar "experience" - I did 10 x 400 in a snowstorm at Fairview. It was completely abysmal - there was about a foot of snow on the track by the time I finished and I was chanting something in some other language that translated into "this is the marathon." You are a stud!

by brad on Fri, 2006-12-08 04:13