Stages of a marathon (or half marathon)

Disclaimer.... this is based on how I feel.... You may feel differently and in 11 days after I run New York, I may update how I feel. :>)  If you've notice there are tons of post on social media about races lately.. why? It's the season (cooler temps) to run! So I thought I'd share my feelings on a marathon. :>) 

  1.  Excitement / Eagerness (Marathon miles 1-7, half-marathon miles 1-3) – you’ve put in countless hours of training and given up so much during the months leading up to now.  You’re walking to the start line and you’re so ready to kick this marathon’s booty!  You are pumped.  The energy in the crowd is contagious!  You just can’t help but be EXCITED.   The gun goes off and you are so pumped you run out like a race horse jumping out when the gate springs open full force.  However, that race horse has a much shorter distance to go than what you are about to do!  So DO NOT let that excitement take over.  Remember that pace that you’ve trained to run and save your energy for the last miles of the race.  

Tks Nestor (One of my teammates)

2.   Nervousness / Apprehension (Marathon 8-14, Half-Marathon 4-7) – Now the miles are starting to hit you and you start wondering what the heck! You think why didn’t I just sign up for the half or the 10K… why am I doing this longer distance… can I do this??  Have I done enough training??? What have I done?  Am I really ready??? You’ll question everything… but as you do the miles will continue to tick down…. And soon you’ll enter the next stage.

3. Community  Determination / Willpower –  (Marathon 15-20, Half Marathon 8-11) You are now bonding with other runners… everyone is looking for encouragement… you’ll start to really notice the people on the streets cheering you on and you’ll be thanking God for them.  and You’ll keep telling yourself that you are going to do this… that Determination of not being defeated will show up … You’ll begin to encourage other runners just so they’ll say something back to you also. :>)  You really will mean what you say..but you’ll also be begging for it yourself.

4.    Rocky Stage – (Marathon 21-26, half Marathon 10-13) Now you will question your sanity.  I must be insane to do this! Your whole body aches.  You want to quit so badly.  You begin to pray whether you are religious or not.  You beg to just cross that finish line and say you’ll never do it again.  Most people call this the WALL.  Many training programs only go up to 20 miles for a marathon and 10 miles for a half so you’ll begin to question whether you really are sane or not because you may not have ever do the full amount of miles depending on your training.  But guess what…. That’s when GRIT/TOUGHNESS will enter! That’s why I like to call this the Rocky Stage! No matter how much pain you are in, there’s nothing that can stop you from finishing.  You’ll dig deep within your soul to gather all the strength you have to finish.  Heck, you may even picture Rocky while doing this (I know I do!).   and if you listen.. you’ll hear God speak and say… YOU CAN DO THIS>>>TRUST ME>>>

And then of course I'm also hearing so many quotes from my Rocky Movies like these that I love:

"The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. "

“Until you start believing in yourself, you ain’t gonna have a life.”

“Going in one more round when you don’t think you can – that’s what makes all the difference in your life.”

And then of course I'm also chanting my fav bible verses in my head that I love:

Isaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

You'll do almost anything to cross that finish line. :>)  And you'll never forget your first long distance race!

  5. ELATION – You cross that finish line and they put that medal around your neck! You’re so happy that you forget all the pain and you may even jump for joy.  All that self-doubt & all that negativity will no longer be in your mind.  You may even feel that you could run longer if you had to.  You are a MARATHONER (or Half marathoner)! You are a HERO! St. Jude HERO (for my team)! There is nothing like it! ENJOY!

Wishing all my peeps a great race! And to those that might read this and ask.. "why the heck do they do this?"... well all I can say is because we LOVE IT!  D

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