I’ve signed up for two marathons in the next couple of months! Woot! Before you get all awed and excited, let me be clear. I am NOT GOING TO RUN A FULL MARATHON. My body is not ready for that, my mind is not ready, and my schedule does not have the time to train for such an endeavor. However, I plan to:
* Complete (in some combination of locomotion, but mostly walking) a half-marathon in San Francisco on February 7th.
* RUN as part of a 4-person relay team for the Oakland Marathon (historical event! first marathon in Oaktown in 25 yrs!!!) on March 28th. I just signed us up. Go, Team Penguin! We’ll waddle our way to the finish!!
I am excited about these events. Really excited. This morning I took a beautiful mini-run (2 miles) on the beach where we are staying. I felt so exhilarated and happy. Those two miles were slow, but easy, loping. I probably averaged about a 12 minute mile. Which is quite penguinesque. But I wasn’t trying to run fast or anything, I just wanted to see if I could run. I am hoping I can triple that for the relay in a few months.
One thing I am a little nervous about is that they state that no “musical devices” are allowed. Um. I am not sure I can run without one. In fact I am pretty sure I don’t even want to try. I am already scheming how I can put a little iPod shuffle in my hair and hide it. I NEED MY MUSIC: to keep my pace, and to keep the sound of my own heavy breathing out of my ears. There’s nothing that freaks me out more than the sound of my own labored breath.
I DID complete a full marathon back in 2000, the Country Music Marathon in Nashville Tennessee. I trained with Team in Training and had great fun. What I remember back then, though, is that I was almost 20 lbs heavier than I am now, and how I thought that in order to train, I need to EAT A LOT. Of pasta (carbo loading anyone) and Steak. Ha ha ha ha. I have photos of myself in my hotel room, porking out on creme brulee, spare ribs, Krispy Kreme donuts. Wow. I probably put on 5 lbs during the months I was training. Interesting, huh? I trained as a walker and did pretty well, but I never did anything BUT walk. Not any weight training or anything, except… lots of walking.
Things feel so different now! I’m excited for these marathons. I have to talk myself down from feeling somehow “less than” because I haven’t committed to running the full length. It’s just not in the cards for me right now, or rather, I’m not CHOOSING those cards. I don’t think I have anything to prove. I am just excited to participate in these two events in ways that feel healthy and good for me.
Ah, the wisdom of the aged. (snicker)
foodfoodbodybody 
January 10, 2010 at 10:39 pm
That is so weird about no music. Why on earth? Unnatural!
I’m psyched for you. Look forward to hearing all about your training.
January 11, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I’m with you at needing music to run but I remember participating in races, and with all the excitement around me I didn’t need my ipod until I was almost done and needing the motivation for the last sprint!
can’t wait to read about your training!
January 11, 2010 at 2:02 pm
A lot of races don’t allow the musical devices due to the sound possibly distracting the runner. Which is valid, but those of us who regularly run/walk with the iPod are lost w/o it.
The Atlanta Peachtree 10K also forbids musical devices, but I saw many people with them when I did it a few years ago.
January 11, 2010 at 3:38 pm
The last half marathon I did didn’t allow them (but people wore them anyway). I thought I was going to die without music but after doing all my long training runs sans tunes, it wasn’t SO bad (but I prefer with it, of course). My half in February allows it, so I’m *stoked* about that.
Good luck with all your training!
January 11, 2010 at 5:02 pm
You can do the run with no music. You’ll be surprised. It’s tough but it’s not impossible. Also, if you have a small enough music device, you may be able to get away with it. 🙂 I do triathlons and there’s no music allowed there either. I understand that on the swim and the bike, but not on the run. Yet, I’ve managed…without my music. I’ve listened to my running songs so often, I can pretty much run them through my head without the iPod anyway.
Congrats on signing up and good luck! You’ll be great!!!
January 12, 2010 at 4:20 am
You are such an inspiration! Go Foodie!
January 12, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Good for you for signing up for these events! I’m sure you’ll have a great time. I’ve heard that people sneak in ipods and such for races and most of the time it doesn’t matter (unless you win the race). I’m such a rule follower that I’d follow the rules anyway, plus I would be paranoid about disqualifying my team (probably wouldn’t happen but I’m a coward like that).
I do some runs without music anyway just because sometimes I don’t want to bring my iPhone with me (rain worries usually). I know what you mean about the sound of your breathing bothering me. I once nearly went bonkers listening to my breathing. Also the heavy thud thud thud of my footsteps was annoying the crap out of me. But usually I can be in my own head so much that stuff doesn’t bother me.
Maybe you could try dedicating each mile to someone special in your life and during that person’s mile you focus on thinking about them. I heard about a guy doing this for a marathon. Sounded like a good idea to me.
And boy if you think 12 min miles are slow, you should see me. I am not even fast enough to be a penguin.
January 13, 2010 at 2:10 am
If anyone is interested in running a full or half marathon for the first time and could use some guidance, check out this youtube video.
January 14, 2010 at 2:51 pm
You are so amazing and inspiring!! You will do so well I am certain. 2 miles is a long way penguinish or not!!
I am doing one as well in May for diabetes in SLC just a 5k though. I would love to get up to a half marathon. It is in the big picture 🙂
Love ya!