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
darknet market list darknet market lists
dark web link black internet
deep web drug store dark market 2023
darknet markets darknet drug market
dark web markets tor markets 2023
dark market darknet market
deep web drug url darknet drug links
dark market deep web drug markets
dark market list deep web markets
gps tracking program registered retirement savings plans what are champagne diamonds
darknet market links dark net
Hello, all is going sound here and ofcourse every one is sharing information,
that’s genuinely good, keep up writing.
darkmarket 2023 deep web drug links
onion market tor markets links
dark markets deep web drug markets
dark web market list darkweb marketplace
darknet market dark market url
how to get on dark web darknet market
darknet market links deep web markets
darkmarket dark market onion
dark website dark website
dark web markets darkmarket
best darknet markets dark web search engines
darknet drug links dark market 2023
dark web markets darknet market links
dark web market links dark websites
darkweb marketplace tor marketplace
Good day! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading through your posts.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the
same topics? Appreciate it!
dark markets 2023 tor marketplace
tor markets 2023 drug markets dark web
darkmarket list dark web search engines
blackweb the dark internet
darknet drug links dark market onion
deep web search dark web websites
scuba diving vacations hawaii next gen graphics card starfront collision ipad
darknet site darknet markets 2023
darknet markets 2023 blackweb
darknet markets dark web sites
dark market list dark web sites
blackweb official website dark web access
bitcoin dark web darknet market list
darknet websites darknet seiten
dark websites deep web drug links
tor dark web dark markets 2023
dark web search engines dark web drug marketplace
darkmarkets darkmarket url
deep web links darknet market lists
darknet drugs dark web drug marketplace
tor market url dark web link
tor markets links bitcoin dark web