Honestly, I lucked out and had a running buddy for my marathons. You do run out of things to talk about, but I would say by mile 16 I was “in the zone” and wasn’t much of a conversationalist. For the Twin Cities Marathon (my hometown marathon!) there are spectators almost the whole way, and tons of people blast music (especially at the end when you need it), so I never felt bored.
Right now I’m focusing more on strength training and core (I’ve taken some time off running because of a hip injury
) But I like to try and hit 9-12 miles on a typical non-training week. My favorite runs will always be the long run though! I love challenging myself, there’s tons of beautiful lakes and paths in Minneapolis to run around, and I love rewarding myself with a Chipotle burrito and a nice long shower after running.
3. Most people ask what your favorite race is but I’m interested in your most difficult race…what happened and how did come back from that experience?
Ohhh this was a bad one! My fiance (now husband) and I signed up for Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth (a few hours drive from home). It was my second marathon and his first. We trained really well, but ran a half marathon together about a month before and he pulled something. He tried to keep training but a lot of our (really important!) final long runs were cut super short and he was not working at full capacity. He’s a stubborn guy though, and I wanted to run and was well-trained, so we decided to “muscle through it.” BIG mistake! The day was very cold and we were under-dressed at the start. Plus the start was delayed, so that gave us even more time to get extra-chilly. He started feeling some pain around mile 5, but was able to run strong through the half. However, at mile 18 he looked at me and told me, “I just can’t run anymore.” I tried to convince him to go to a medical tent, but he was determined to walk it in. We walked the last 8.2 miles of that marathon and honestly it was the hardest thing I have ever done. It’s slow and exhausting and I definitely started cramping up about a mile into it. But we made it across the finish line in 5:55. I hope never to repeat the experience, but it certainly taught me a lot about my own personal endurance and pain tolerant. Fortunately, I was already signed up for my third marathon 3 months later, so I had to get right back on that running train unless I wanted a repeat! The first few runs back were more mentally challenging than physically, but knowing that I absolutely could finish a marathon even under terrible circumstances pushed me through the tough parts of marathon #3.
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4. What are your 4 go-to non-running workout moves?
I did a lot of ballet in high school and college, so my favorite non-running work-out is taking ballet class! It doesn’t feel like exercise to me, but a good class combines strength, stretching, and cardio. I do like Barre fitness classes too, but there’s something about a studio that really makes me want to get out there! I prefer adult classes now, so there’s not the pressure to be the best or look perfect, but it’s really fun and always challenges me in new ways. Otherwise, I’m a big fan of this 8-minute abs video that Hungry Runner Girl posted. That and my favorite “love-to-hate” of planking!
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5. Training for a full marathon is time consuming and requires a lot of Mental focus…how do you stay determined and on track for the “long haul”?
I keep my training calendar on the fridge so it’s right there reminding me of what I have on the books. It keeps it much easier for me to say “no” to things that aren’t going to help with training (that second glass of wine or third “treat” of the day…), and yes to things that will (staying hydrated! Getting enough sleep!). Plus I cross off workouts as I do them, so once you’re through a few weeks it reminds me of all the work that I’ve already done.
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6. Describe what it feels like when you cross the finish line of a marathon. (the good, the bad, the ugly)
Right away I always feel GREAT! It’s OVER, they give you a blanket, and you can finally scarf down a banana and whatever other food they have for you! It’s definitely surreal and I always get overwhelmed by how grateful I am to my body that it made it 26.2 miles. Then I always get leg cramps and the exhaustion hits me. I always try to walk for a few blocks before I get driven home and settle on to the couch. (Honestly, after Grandma’s Marathon the walking was not optional– the hotel was 1/2 a mile away and there was no way to get there other than walking because the streets were PACKED. It was miserable at the time, but that was definitely my fastest marathon recovery time). I’m definitely one of the lucky ones though. I bounce back from marathons pretty quickly. I’ve always gone back to work the Monday after a marathon (once as a nanny – props to all the moms out there who run! Chasing toddlers after a marathon was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done). I’ve had running buddies get some major tummy issues (diarrhea and upset stomach mostly), but I’ve avoided it.
~ THANK YOU Hallie FOR YOUR MARATHON INSPIRATION~
*If you are interested in participating in my series, I’d love to hear from you – shoot me an email thehinzadventures @ gmail.com
The post THE 6 FOR 26.2 INSPIRATION SERIES – Hallie appeared first on Learning Patience.
