Ten days ago, I set off on my long distance run for the week. Maybe I’d hit 15 miles. Instead, I ended up having my first marathon experience by completely 26.2 miles.
That really wasn’t my plan. It just sort of happened.
Not that I wasn’t running regularly. I ran 13 miles a week earlier and was regularly running 4 miles a couple times a week.
It was a beautiful Sunday. The weather was perfect when I started out at about 7:30 in the morning.
I live in Sacramento, so my plan was to run to the Capitol building and loop the Capitol Mall a few times.
Then I’d run to beautiful McKinley Park in East Sacramento and get a few laps in there, and then head home.
When I got to Capitol Mall, my plans changed. The California International Marathon (CIM) was that day and the big finish is right in front of the Capitol.
I definitely knew the race was taking place, but I didn’t realize that hours before the first runner would cross the finish line the area would be bustling!
I felt the excitement of all the volunteers getting ready for the post-marathon festivities.
It made me more motivated than ever to get in those miles. Maybe I’d push my goal from 15 miles to 20.
I’m training for the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon in June 2017, and I from what I’ve read, most people running their first marathon ramp up their mileage to 20 before they tackle their first race.
Why not get that milestone out the way exactly 6 months before my first marathon?
With a few motivational podcasts cued up on my iPhone, including some Rich Roll podcasts to get inspired during my run, I was actually enjoying myself when I got to the 15-mile marker.
I even adjusted my run to go by the CIM course, and was lucky enough at 5 miles from the finish line to see the man who went on to win the marathon!
With that extra inspiration, I decided what the heck; I was definitely going for 20 miles.
But once I got to about 18 miles, my addictive drive for more kicked in and pondered the idea of just running a marathon. At 18 miles, what is 8.2 more?
For me, as someone who likes to plan, the idea of not experiencing a full 26.2 mile run until race day seemed a little crazy anyway.
Pushing on, making my course up as I went.
I passed by countless marathoners that had completed the CIM and were heading off to celebrate with medals around their necks.
I crisscrossed all around Downtown and West Sacramento to make up the last few miles of my run.
Finally, I was done-26.36 miles in the books!!
Home was a little further than I thought, hence the extra 0.16!
I was ecstatic! My time was 4 hours and 12 minutes, which made me feel pretty good considering I didn’t bring anything to eat along the way, and I only had one water bottle.
Running this unplanned marathon meant more to me that I can express.
Considering six years ago I couldn’t gather the strength to walk to the mailbox, I am beyond grateful that my body has allowed me to push it to places I could never have imagined.
And sure, I didn’t get a medal or hear the cheers when I crossed a finish line, but the confidence that the run gave me was priceless.
And with my new found confidence, I decided to sign up for the 2017 CIM today.
Sure, it’s almost a year away, but why not sign up? The rates are low (only $99, but limited to the first 500 entries) and my motivation and inspiration are high.
Plus, it would be great to finish off that distance with a proper celebration!!
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