As most of you probably know by now, I'm training for the San Diego Rock-n-Roll Marathon. Only 20 more days til the grueling 26.2 miles! Now let me say I AM NOT A RUNNER. I do not like to run more than 20-30 minutes max at a time and think it's insane the people that actually do enjoy running more than 3-5 miles/day! I can give you five million other things I'd rather do than run more than 3 miles. I'm also not fast, so to run anything more than 5 miles takes up more than the time I have scheduled for cardio. So why am I doing it? Well I'm using this marathon as a fundraiser and bring awareness to a global problem. This coming July I will be traveling to a border clinic in Thailand to work at a refugee clinic with my friend Missy. This clinic sees a lot of people injured by landmines or bombs. I will be spending a month working with rehabilitation of these landmine victims and this "fundraiser" is to help cover some of the costs of the trip as well as get some prosthetic supplies. So why a marathon? Well I've already done a half (and at mile 10 I remember thinking, "how and why would anyone want to run 26 miles). I figured that a) it would be a challenge for me b) the pain that my body will/has endured is nothing compared to those I'll be working for, c) if I am asking people to support me, the least I can do is show dedication to the cause and d) part of me is running for those that no longer can.
Training: I think I started training in February but I honestly can't remember it's seems so long ago. Basically when I started my longest run at any given time was 5 miles. Slowly I worked my way up adding 1-2 miles per week to the "long" run. Today was the longest run I'll do before the race. It was suppose to be 20 miles but I think at the end I only got in 18.5-19 miles, secondary to the torrential downpour! I really can't win training in South Carolina. It's either extremely hot and humid (80-90 deg) with the sun beating down on you or a comfortable temperature but the risk and probability of getting soaked (like today!). I tried running through the rain but after an hour of the pouring rain and temperatures dropping, I decided to head to the gym to finish up the last hour of running. I should also mention, I nearly got hit by a car when crossing a street where I had the walking man signal! Don't get me started on drivers in the South! For the next 2 1/2 weeks I'll be tapering down until the big day, May 31st at 6:30AM.
Choosing the Location of this Marathon: I LOVE SAN DIEGO! Not only does it have the perfect temperature. It is relatively flat, the scenery is amazing, the people are awesome and there is always the opportunity to go surfing at some point while I am out there. I should also mention the biggest reason why I'm running it in San Diego and that is MY FAMILY. As some of you know my older brother, Stephen, is stationed out there. He has been on a deployment in Iraq and he has sworn to me that he will be back in SD for my run. This will be the first time I've seen him since before he was deployed. Not only will he be there but he will be running some of it with me! I'm also blessed to have a younger brother who will be coming down from LA to run a few miles with me as well. So all 3 of us kids will be out in SD together and they'll be with me as I run the endless miles. I think I'm just as excited to see and run with them as I am about the thought of finishing the race in general! In addition to them, my parents will be flying out to cheer me on as well. I really am blessed to have an amazing family to help me finish this thing.
Well I'm off to prop my feet up and attempt the academia world... ugh. What's worse running 20+ miles or studying??
on a nice day: studying is worse
ReplyDeleteon a shitty day: running is worse
miss you! love you! i will read this as faithfully as you write it :)