Friends will ask about my running routine, my marathon strategy. I think of myself as somewhat disciplined. I keep up the weekly miles, going out because I know I should even if I may not feel like it. But a game plan, especially one based on research has never been my style. One can’t help but absorb some information, tidbits of sage advice expounded by other runners and millions of unavoidable column inches. But for the most part I tend to go my own way. My first marathon experience may illustrate this well.
Due to the influence of my wife and friends, running was becoming a casual part of my regular exercise regime. It was about this time that my kids’ school sponsored what they called a “fun run” in Prospect Park. Once around the inner loop a distance of 5 kilometers. I had never run anything remotely like a race. It was the last Saturday in October. The four of us headed to the park. We were glad to have the opportunity to exercise with our kids—and as it turned out it became a really fun and important event for our family.
We all ran and finished although as I remember my wife carried Luke halfway around the course. Out of perhaps seventy participants I came in twelfth. To put this in perspective it’s not a serious race but a school social event. The runners are all associated with the school and cover the gamut of first to twelfth graders, parents and teachers. Luke was eight and Hannah twelve. There were a few serious runners. I remember pushing near the end of the race to catch a teenager ahead of me when he suddenly turned off the road and stopped to throw up. At the time I was terribly impressed at this young man pushing himself that hard. But with the perspective of time and experiencing my own kids’ passage through the teenage years I now question how much was courage or perhaps the results of Saturday night activities.
For me the real result of the run was that it turned me on to the personal challenge of competitive running. It was great fun and I immediately began thinking of something more. It just so happened that the marathon was the next weekend. Of course! That was the something more at least in my mind. From a 5K, three and one tenth mile to the next step in the evolution: a marathon, 26 and two tenth miles. To me it made perfect sense.
I didn’t say anything to anyone about my idea especially my wife who would have been all over me to get out and train. I slowly upped my miles and didn’t let on until I reached a point where I felt I could take this idea beyond the concept stage. I also did not run to the bookstore and pile up on running books of which there are many that cover the spectrum of running philosophies. I just went out and did what felt right for me.
My no research rubric had almost disastrous results in my efforts to acquire a number for the New York City marathon. Our running friends had participated many times and I remembered they would go at a prescribed date to Central Park at four in the morning and wait in line to get a number. Little did I realize the changes the marathon had undergone. In 1970, the first year there were 127 runners. In 2009 there were 43,660. The increased field of entrants along with a thing called the internet had exploded and numbers were now given out by an online lottery whose date had already past. I kept running assuming that I would now have an extra and unexpected year to prepare.
One weekend at my son’s baseball league game I entered into conversation with another dad who was an engineer for the city and a long time runner. One thing led to another and I was surprised to learn that he had participated in mapping the course for the New York City marathon. Originally run as loops in Central Park, it now charted a course that touched each of the city’s five boroughs. Fred Lebow co-founder of the marathon and long time New York Road Runner’s president had recently been diagnosed with brain cancer and my friend was going to pay him a visit. He assured me that he would enquire into obtaining a number on my behalf. The following week at the baseball diamond he informed me I would be receiving my number in the mail. It was the only time I can say that I have ever had connections.
On this my third marathon I’m much more together. But still have yet to research running advice.
No comments:
Post a Comment