15 MILE RUN INVITATION
It is funny when people ask me if I have always been a runner, because it has forced me to look for the answer which is not clear. I have always attempted to run, but I had little to no discipline with running. As soon as I felt uncomfortable, I looked for my escape route.
I ran cross country and track as a youth. Coaches would encourage my running and recognize a natural physical ability to run, but the mental capacity for it was seriously limited. I remember in High School I would make a conscious effort to hide on our distance runs, so I did not have to put in the hard work. In College, through my 20’s and into my 30’s, I ran intermittently but I was not committed and, as I mentioned before, when discomfort crept in I quickly crept out.
It was not until I faced the most uncomfortable time in my life, when I had so much pain to release from within me, that I started to walk, which led to hiking —which led to running.
It was in June of 2021 that I stayed with a few friends in Eastern Washington. One of these friends, Aaron, is an avid ultra runner and invited me to run with him the following day. I said I would go, and I felt up for the challenge although I had not run in years.
I had been walking and hiking for an entire year, covering a fair amount of terrain, which made me confident that I would do well with the running. Aaron asked how many miles I would like to cover and I arbitrarily decided 15 miles. So, we set out the following day on a 15 mile trail run.
A mile into the run he inquired when the last time I ran 15 miles was. I laughed and said I had never ran 15 miles in my life. This is not an uncommon approach I take in life.
I jump in without hesitation or preparation and figure it out as I go. I have come to appreciate and love this about myself but, as with all things in life, there are pros and cons to this approach. As we ran, Aaron was incredibly encouraging about my natural ability to run and casually suggested I run my first marathon. He even offered to coach me.
I answered yes immediately and without hesitation. Unaware, that this invitation to run a marathon would become so much more.
That day something inside of me shifted. That shift took my running from an occasional recreational activity to an entirely different playing field. After that weekend, I started to search for a marathon as Aaron started to develop my training program.
I quickly discovered that there were limited in-person marathons occurring as we were emerging from the Covid pandemic. I found one in Lake Tahoe, California, in October 2021. That would give me four months to train. Aaron was confident that was plenty of time but that I start training immediately. June and July flew by in the blink of an eye. Then, a few obstacles were introduced.
Every summer there is an unlucky area that makes the news due to fires, and in 2021 Lake Tahoe was engulfed in flames.
At the end of August, individuals who were planning to run the marathon in one month were notified that the wildfires were devastating the area and not contained. No one could predict when the fires would be managed, what damage would have been done, and what the air quality would be. The call was made and the marathon was postponed until further notice.
I deferred my entry fees until 2022 and refused to let this stop me from running my first marathon. Aaron and I quickly decided we would run a two-person marathon together. The training and the race would continue as planned. One week after the news of the marathon cancellation, Aaron’s life became increasingly busy and we no longer kept in contact. Obstacle number two: I no longer had a coach or partner for my first marathon.
One month out I faced difficult, tireless runs, no training plan, no coach, and no event. I was going to have to do this solo.
I decided that I would follow the general outline that Aaron had provided each week, continue my training with no coach, and I would run my own marathon. I decided to organize my own marathon. I would map out 26.2 miles and invite family and friends to be at the start, middle or end.
I was running to honor each individual in my life that had shown up and assisted, encouraged, and supported me through the most difficult leg of my journey. I would mark a course and invite family and friends. I wanted to share this momentous event with each and everyone of my tribe.
After all, the marathon represented a large part of my healing journey, and I dedicated a mile to each person that played a role in my journey.
The event was straight forward. I sent out an Email inviting people to be at the start, the middle, or the end of the marathon course. I chose the Snoqualmie Valley Trail from Duvall to North Bend located in Washington State. Although in a beautiful setting, there were a few hiccups with the course.
I ended up walking two miles to the starting point which was a nice warm up for me, but a surprise for those coming to the start.
The half-way point was over a mile jaunt from the parking area to the trail for my dedicated fans.
Finally, the finish line was approximately eight miles further from the actual 26.2 miles traveled on the trail.
This meant I finished the race without my tribe, and had an additional eight miles to walk. All together I covered 36.2 miles for my first marathon. Albeit 10 miles walking, but they still count.
This event, and all of the obstacles I faced approaching the event, through and after the event, continued to solidify the inner strength that I have always had but was beginning to believe more and more.
After my first Marathon, I took a small hiatus, as an old knee injury had been bothering me throughout the training. I decided I would focus on healing my body through the winter with physical therapy and yoga, and I would revisit my running in the spring. After a series of physical therapy appointments, I was given recommendations of steroid injections and/or surgery.
The physical therapist felt there was nothing she could do to help my knee further. She also suggested that I stop running.
I considered all that she was saying for a week and then decided I would try a holistic approach before an invasive approach. I contacted a dear friend of mine that is a Reiki Master and said I needed her to help me be able to continue running.
The following day I was laying on her table, and she went to work. Without diving into great detail about Reiki, I will summarize that my knee, along with other injuries and pain, started to dissipate that winter, and entering the spring I felt invigorated and ready to run again.
As I dabbled with my running, I looked for a coach that could help me prepare for the Lake Tahoe Marathon 2022. My registration from 2021 rolled over to 2022, but I was given an option. I could run the Lake Tahoe Single Marathon, or I could run the Lake Tahoe Triple Marathon. I mentioned it to a few friends who thought the idea was absurd.
I have not known me to be anything less than absurd. The idea continued to intrigue me and I knew I was going to do it.
I started working with a Coach in March and will be running the Tahoe Triple Marathon in October. I am confident to say I found the mental capacity for running after all of these years. My answer to those that wonder if I have always been a runner would be yes:
I have always been meant to run, it just took me time to find how to become a runner.
Less than a month remains until the marathon starts! Please consider making a contribution to Movement For Meditation for assistance with trip and travel expenses. A portion will also apply towards the charitable causes I am raising awareness for. Thank you for your dedication and support! Find out more, here!