I've been feeling the lure of the marathon.
How amazing, I've thought, would it be to be able to say that I've run a marathon?!
I've done a half marathon race once, have gone just a bit further once as a training run, and am scheduled to run my second half marathon race in less than two weeks.
"How was your marathon?" more than one person asked me when I returned home last month.
"Oh," I'd respond, "It was just a half marathon. But it went great!"
Just a half marathon.
Just.
Maybe it's the terminology that has led me to believe that a half marathon isn't quite enough. When something is referred to as "half," it seems somehow incomplete.
But why should 13.1 miles...on foot...feel like it's less than enough? I've found myself wondering, if the term "half marathon" was replaced with a "stand-alone" title (like a 21K, since 13.1 miles is just over 21 kilometers), would I even feel the need to train for a marathon? I admire those who do full marathons. I think it would be cool to be that fit. But honestly, training to run 13.1 miles has been hard on my body.
And even if I decide to never run a full marathon, that's okay. Because I've had a very important realization:
A half marathon is still a complete run, despite the "half" part of the name!
Originally posted on C. Beth Blog.
How amazing, I've thought, would it be to be able to say that I've run a marathon?!
I've done a half marathon race once, have gone just a bit further once as a training run, and am scheduled to run my second half marathon race in less than two weeks.
"How was your marathon?" more than one person asked me when I returned home last month.
"Oh," I'd respond, "It was just a half marathon. But it went great!"
Just a half marathon.
Just.
Maybe it's the terminology that has led me to believe that a half marathon isn't quite enough. When something is referred to as "half," it seems somehow incomplete.
But why should 13.1 miles...on foot...feel like it's less than enough? I've found myself wondering, if the term "half marathon" was replaced with a "stand-alone" title (like a 21K, since 13.1 miles is just over 21 kilometers), would I even feel the need to train for a marathon? I admire those who do full marathons. I think it would be cool to be that fit. But honestly, training to run 13.1 miles has been hard on my body.
- I've gone through expensive physical therapy for running-related issues.
- I have to spend a lot of time keeping my muscles loose so I can continue running.
- My long training runs are still very challenging. I'm happy that after last Saturday's 10.65 mile training run, I'm doing pretty well. But on the day of that run, my body was sore and exhausted.
And even if I decide to never run a full marathon, that's okay. Because I've had a very important realization:
A half marathon is still a complete run, despite the "half" part of the name!
Originally posted on C. Beth Blog.