Sometimes it’s better to let others do the talking. The following blog is from one of the participants in this summer’s Million Dollar Marathon. You can still apply to join the team here.
Well said Brady!!!
Training “officially” started on Saturday and I was dodging so many puddles that I felt like a contestant on American Ninja Warrior. Within the first few minutes my feet were soaked and I was feeling pretty underwhelmed by my inaugural run. That was, until I got to Lake Harriet and came upon hundreds of runners partaking in the 100% Irish for A Day 5K and 10 mile run. Conveniently, I needed to run 10 miles anyway and it is much more entertaining to do it amongst packs of runners in kilts, green tights and Lucky Charm-style hats and sunglasses. I normally do not condone “race-crashing,” but I was able to justify it on this special occasion.
It struck me as I ran in these less than preferable conditions that this summer when the MDM team runs across the country, chances are we will encounter adverse conditions like these, or perhaps worse. My mind was spinning as I contemplated the implications of this for the first time. Most of us are following Hal Higdon’s marathon training guide, (which, I agree that it is the best out there), but even Hal can’t prepare us for driving rain in the Pacific Northwest, snow in the Rocky Mountains, or gale-force winds across the Great Plains. You can’t train for these conditions…it takes courage, heart, dedication. Then I remembered who I was running with…CANCER SURVIVORS AND SUPPORTERS. My teammates have been through far worse obstacles in life, and it would be tough to assemble a team better prepared for this challenge.
I then realized that during my state of panic, I had increased my pace considerably without a noticeable increase in effort. I had gone to a place mentally that took me to a different level on my training run. I remember this “runners high” from past long runs and races I have run, and every time I wish I could bottle it up. The closest I can get is to recreate the formula that got me to this place on Saturday: 1) listen to good music, 2) envision yourself in the Rocky Mountains in a rainstorm; and lastly, picture running into the Atlantic Ocean with 159 friends and teammates. If you aren’t overcome with emotion at least once during your run, try again.
Now let’s get out there and become American Ninja Warriors.
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