My Marathon Experience

I’ve never been much of a runner, but I’ve also never been one to give up on a goal I have set for myself. 

It was 2011, and I had just graduated High School. I had also just decided I would run a marathon.  I ‘ve been involved in athletics my whole life; playing baseball, football, and basketball for the majority.  Despite this, I highly doubt I had ever gone more than 4 miles in one run before.  26.2 miles seemed daunting, improbable, and challenging.  I love a challenge. 

I signed up for the September 11th 2011 Bozeman Marathon which was set up to honor those who had fallen 10 years prior. My training began 3 months in advance, and I slowly but steadily improved.   As my training progressed, my goals also progressed.  I now not only wanted to finish the marathon, I wanted to finish it in less than 3 hours.  My time per mile would have to be under 6 minutes and 52 seconds to accomplish this. 

With a month left to train, I realized I hadn’t actually been “training,” but rather just running sporadically.  I decided to do some quick research and came across multiple articles and templates that advocated for at least one long run before beginning a tapering process. The furthest I had run up until this point was 12 miles. A week later I set out early in the morning to try and go over 18 miles.

I ended up running just over 21 miles with an average mile time of 7 minutes and 2 seconds. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of this pace, and became quite confident that with some adrenaline and race-day motivation I could shave off the time needed to achieve a sub-3-hour marathon time. I was extremely excited and optimistic. I was also wrong.

The day after my 21 mile run I became severely ill.  The long run had completely overwhelmed my immune system.  The sickness was relentless and involved multiple days of puking, a high fever, and the inability to train. My planned taper turned into complete abstinence.  I managed to run twice during that three week period, once for 3 miles and once for 4.  Each of those runs left me completely exhausted.

These last two weeks before the run were also my first two weeks of College at the University of Montana. I spent the majority of those days lying in my dorm bed.

My parents and supporters told me there was always another marathon, always another opportunity. It would have been easy to agree, it would have been easy to take their advice, and it would have been easy to try another time.  I didn’t like easy.  I decided I would run the marathon anyway.

With the majority of my training completely lost, I shifted my goal once again to just finishing the marathon. I also added a stipulation of avoiding any walking at all cost. If I was going to “run” the marathon, then I was actually going to run it.

During my 21 mile run three weeks prior to the marathon, I didn’t “hit the wall.” I felt energized and in control the entire run.

During my marathon I hit the wall at mile 5. At mile 7 I had to walk through a water station for the first time, failing my goal. At mile 12 my parents told me that I could quit at any time and try again on another date. They told me they were proud and that I had done enough. They were 100% right and had my best interest in mind. But that also pissed me off. A deep fire was lit to prove them wrong. They had pushed the right button.

I almost quit multiple times, and the voice in my head became incredibly persuasive and equally logical.  But I didn’t quit, I couldn’t quit.

Excruciating cramps began in my legs around mile 18.  I hobbled, hopped, and “ran” with what must have been the most awkward looking form.  Each step was increasingly painful, but each step also brought me closer to my goal.

At mile 23 I passed my parents again. I attempted to run normally for the 70-80 yards I was in their view. That attempt was probably pretty poor, but they never mentioned it.

I finished the marathon much more slowly than I had set out to do.  I finished the marathon in a grueling 3 hours and 43 minutes. I FINISHED the marathon!  Complete bliss.

I learned a lot about myself that day. I learned about pain.  I learned about obstacles. I learned about perseverance.  But most of all I learned that I can achieve any damn thing I set my mind to.

Comments 99,474

  1. This is the right web site for anybody who would like to understand this topic. You realize so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually would want toÖHaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that has been written about for a long time. Great stuff, just great!

    Reply

  3. אל תרגישו לא נעים, אנשים רבים מגיעים לבילוי עיסוי אירוטי בדירות דיסקרטיות בבאר שבע.
    אין צורך לעשות הזמנה מראש, פשוט מגיעים על בסיס מקום פנוי.
    הצורך באהבה הוא צורך אנושי ולכולם מגיע ליהנות.
    כמובן, שב-SODI.co.il תוכלו למצוא
    את כל הפרטים ליצירת קשר עם אותם מתחמי החדרים,
    כך שבמידת הצורך והרצון, יהיה באפשרותכם להתקשר או לשלוח מייל
    למקום ולברר את כל הפרטים הרלוונטיים בטרם ההגעה.
    סיבה ראשונה – בילוי עם נערות ליווי בנתניה הוא חוויה משחררת אשר כל הגברים צריכים מידי פעם.
    המשתתפים במשחק התפקידים לא
    צריכים להיות שולטים במצב. אלו הם הדברים הבסיסיים ביותר שאתם צריכים בשביל בילוי זוגי סוכר.
    חללי עבודה משותפים בבאר שבע הם אחד מהטרנדים הכי חזקים בשוק
    התעסוקה בשנים האחרונות. ביקור במקום לפני הטיפול:
    אם אתם רוצים להיות בטוחים במאה אחוז
    בתמצאו מקום שעושה עיסוי ארוטי בנתניה שעונה
    על הדרישות שלכם, אנו ממליצים להתחיל בשיחת טלפון ולשאול על
    טיפולי העיסוי, על ההסמכות של המטפלים ומה הם בעצם מציעים.
    חשוב לקחת בחשבון שלפעמים צריך לנסוע קצת בכדי ליהנות משירותי השכרת חדרים לפי שעה שעונים על
    אותן הדרישות בצורה הטובה ביותר האפשרית.
    סוויטות לפי שעה בחיפה אף מציעות פינוקים נוספים כמו ג’קוזי
    פרטי בחדר, סאונה או ג’קוזי ספא.

    Reply

  4. Hey There. I discovered your blog the use
    of msn. That is a really well written article. I will make sure
    to bookmark it and come back to read more of your helpful information. Thank you for
    the post. I will certainly return.

    Reply

  10. My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and
    find a lot of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.

    Do you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs?
    I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write regarding here.

    Again, awesome web log!

    Reply

  15. Searching for a moovie to deliver out the soft side of your favourite football fan? Life-long Noyre
    Dame fan Rudy Ruettiger wore the quantity 45 for two defensive
    snaps in a single game throughout his single year. What’s essentially the most points scored by a single player in an NBA recreation? It is unknown exactly when the primary basketball recreation was played, but schools were taking part in basketball games within the 1890s.
    The first March Madxness tournament was in 1939 and the first NBA recreation was performed in 1946.
    The Oregn Webfoots received the primary March Madness championship.
    There are more school basketball conferenches than there are NBA groups!
    Skilled basketball gamers are anticipated too dedicate their lives
    to basketball and spend grfeater than 20 hours every week on the
    sport. Who’s scored the most factors in NCAA Division I basketball history?

    The NCAA limits student-athletes to taske part in athletics no more than 20 houirs per
    week, however there are exceptions to the rule.

    Reply

  16. Скачать приложение Olimpbet можно только с официального сайта букмекера.
    К примеру, на мобильном сайте Винлайн можно только скачать приложение
    и ознакомиться с правилами. Помимо возможностей, на
    сайте Винлайн есть и ряд ограничений.
    При регистрации человек вводит ряд данных,
    в частности, фамилию, имя, отчество, адрес проживания/прописки.
    При этом «Труд» оставил позади себя в турнирной таблице сразу
    семь команд из столиц союзных республик:
    «Молдову» (Кишинёв), «Кайрат» (Алма-Ата),
    «Нефтяник» (Баку), «Беларусь» (Минск), «Спартак» (Вильнюс), «Даугаву» (Рига) и «Калев»
    (Таллин). При регистрации нужно указать номер
    телефона, электронную почту и промокод (если он есть),
    а также подтвердить свое согласие с правилами букмекерской конторы.
    При выполнении этих условий ставки, рассчитанные возвратом, а также пари на противоположные исходы одного
    события (например, П1/П2, тотал больше/тотал меньше и так далее) и проданные
    ставки (Cash out) не учитываются.
    По итогам каждого месяца сумма всех квалификационных пари подсчитывается.
    Если выводимая сумма больше суммарного размера всех депозитов игрока, оплата комиссии будет возложена на самого пользователя.
    Откройте профиль игрока, пункт «Работа со счетом».

    2. Открыть раздел «Работа со счетом» и выбрать вкладку «Выплата».

    Reply

  17. Planning to buy and “fix up” an old residence, they contact an actual property
    agent, who satisfied them tto purchase “the old Hackett Place” in (fictional) Lansdale
    County, Connecticut-a leaning, dilapidated, nearfly 200-yr outdated farmhouse on some 35 acres
    the place, they’re advised, Normal Gates stopped to water his
    horses through the Revolutionary Warfare. If you are anxious to buy
    now just ddue to your own financial state
    of affairs or resstrict yourself to a specific location, you could not see the forest for the bushes.
    Those tha went back to re-watch the movie after studying of the twist
    ending couuld discover that the color red
    is used with grerat care in the movie. Nemer, Paul (Could 2, 2009).
    “Smackdown Results – 5/1/09”. Wrestleview. Cole gets in big
    botther when he screams outt his teacher’s former nickname — Stuttering
    Stanley — whereas iin class in tthe future. Then there were the heels, who would usually threaten to steal
    belts, interfere with matches and have been common menaces to the ring;
    Ric Flair back within the daay waas thought of one in all the best heels within the trade.
    Back within the 1980s, many wrestlers would strolll in the direction off the ring,
    but the final word Warrior charged the ring, setting the power for the match.

    Reply

  18. En iyi bahis siteerinin illegal ilan edilmesi yüzünden sitelerde oyun oynayan bahisçiler ceza alabiliyor.
    Bahisçilere sorun çıkarmayan Betwinner’ın Curacao’dan alınan oyun oynatma lisansıda sitenin güvenilir olduğunu kanıtlıyor.
    Curacao lisansını kullnan ve bahisçilere sorun çıkarmayan Restbet’in güncel giriş adresine erişim sağlamak için aşağıdaki
    butona tıklamanız yeterli. Böylece en ufak sorun yaşamadan sitede
    güvenle oyun oynama şansını yakalıyor ve sorun yaşadığınızda anında çözüme kavuşturabiliyorsunuz.
    Bu lisans sayesinde sitede herhangi bir sorun yaşamadan birçok oyunu oynama şansını yakalayacaksınız.

    Arsenal, Southampton, Flamengo ve Sao Paulo gibi kulüplerin sponsorluğunu yapan sitede srun yaşamayacaksınız.

    Başarılı bahis siteleri arasında yer alan Stake’in güncel giriş adresine
    erişim sağlamak ve sitede güvenle yun oynamak için aşağıdaki butonu kullanabilirsiniz.
    Her geçen gün biraz daha popüler olmayı başaran Betwinner’ın güncel giriş adresine erişim sağlamak için aşağıdaki butonu kullanabilirsiniz.
    Piyasadaki en yüksek bahis oranlarını sunan ve her geçen gün biraz daha popüler olmayı başaran 1xbet’in giriş adresine
    aşağıdaki butonu kulanarak ulaşabilirsiniz. Stake: Başarılı baahis siteleri arasına giriş yapan Stake, kısa sürede popüler olmayı başardı.
    Özel Müşteri Temsilcisi: En iyi bahis siteleri 2022 listemizde yer alan bahis sitelerinin VIP üyelik
    dönemini başlattıkları biliniyor. En güvenilir siteler arasında yer alan Restbet’in 2022
    yılında yine hizmtleriyle faark yaratması bekleniyor. Yeni
    yılda farklı oyunlara da yer vermesi beklenen Betpas’ın Curacao’dan alınan bir oyun oynatma lisansı bulunuyor.
    Bahisçileri memnun etmeyi başaran Süperbetin’in Curacao’dan alınan oyun oynatma lisansı bulunuyor.
    Bu sitelerde oyun oynayıp, belli şartları yerine getirmenizin ardından özel müşteri temsilcisine saip olabilirsiniz.
    Dizideki bölümleri iki çeşittir: ilki, mitoloji bölümü
    adıyla nitelendirilen uzaylı komplosunu ele alan vee devamlı bir hikâye örgüsüne sahip olan bölümler, ikiincisi hher biri kendi içinde bağımsız bir hikâye örgüsü olan, paranoral dosyaları konu
    edinen stand-alone ya daa “monster of the week” adıylaanılan bölümlerdir.
    Listemizde yer alan bahis sitelerinin büyük bir bölümünde yüksek limitlerle oyun oynamak mümkün. En iyi bahis siteleri 2022 listesinde yer aan birçok bahis sitesi
    bulunuyor. Yasa değişir ve Türkiye de bahis sitelerine lisans veren ülkeler arasına girerse bu listede yer alan birçok site legal
    şekilde lisans alır ve yoluna deevam eder.

    Reply

  19. Pingback: 3charming

  20. Pingback: 3ninety-nine

  23. Возможность выйти из ставки до окончания матча в букмекерской конторе Пин Ап Бет называется «страховка вставок» илиcash-out.
    Дерек Макговерн предрёк невыход всех сборных Великобритании на Евро-2008 вместе с отставкой
    их тренерских штабов и сделал ставки на то, кто выйдет
    в сборной на матч против Хорватии в ноябре.
    Я могу повторить только то, что уже говорил неоднократно:
    в прошлом году состоялся самый лучший чемпионат мира за всю
    историю, и состоялся он в России.
    В связи с санкциями в отношении российского спорта сборная России участвовала под названием РФС
    и флагом Олимпийского комитета России.

    Победителем чемпионата впервые
    в своей истории стала сборная Японии, одолевшая по ходу
    турнира и хозяек первенства, выигравших
    два предыдущих чемпионата мира,и двух других фаворитов: сборные Швеции
    и США.

    Reply

  28. Além ddas apostas esportivas, a 22bet também oferece uma grande variedade de outros produtos.
    No site de apostas 22Bet são ofrrecidos muitos métodos de
    depósito e de saque e o grande diferencial dass demais casas de apstas é a variedade de opções.
    Muitos eventos nos desportos cibernéticos.
    Estee presente oferece muitos benefícios com restrições mínimas.
    A aposta é 30 vezes a quantidade do presente. O acumulador do
    dia aonde aposta nas seleções que a 22bet oferece e podee potencializar seuus lucros.
    No fim-de-semana, nomeadamente no domingo, o escritório do agente de apostas está a oferecer aos
    seus clientes um bónus lucrativo. Para esclarecer o número de bónus e apostas grátis, pod utilizar o screenshot fornecido.
    Os organizadores dão aos jogadores umm presente de 1.500 euros durante um certo número de dias.
    Os jogadores activos estão semre a fazê-lo, e aqui está um belo presente a chegar, não se pode dizer por nada.
    Mas como receber e utilizar o presente em questão envolve certos termos e condições, vale a pena analisá-los mais
    de perto.

    Reply

  50. prozac yan etkileri kilo kaybД±nedensiz kilo kaybД± diabetli hasta kilo kayb? ishal iЕџtahsД±zlД±k kilo kaybД±kilo kaybД± yaЕџД±yorum
    visanne kilo kaybД±erkeklerde kilo kaybД± nedenleri bobrek yetmezligi kilo kayb? yaparm? gastirt ve kilo kaybД±mide kanseri kac kilo kaybД±
    ishal ve kilo kaybД±ani kilo kaybД± nasД±l anlaЕџД±lД±r yasl?l?ga bagl? kilo kayb? kilo kaybД± bilekte ЕџiЕџlik 15 yaЕџyenidoДџaanlarda neden ilk gГјn kilo kaybД± olur
    hızlı kilo kaybı içinhızlı kilo kaybı sebepleri bebeklerde reflu kilo kayb? yaparm? reflü ameliyatından sonra kilo kaybıbövrek ve kilo kaybı
    kilo kaybı için kalori hesaplamakilo kaybı yaptıran yiyecekler b12 eksikligi kilo kayb? mide ameliyatıda çok fazla kilo kaybı ridkleriyeni doğan bebeklerde kilo kaybı nedenleri

    Reply

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *