Get faith and culture news for women here
  • Home
  • My Book: Leaving Cloud 9
  • About
    • Family
  • My Writing
  • Book Reviews
  • Podcast

Ericka Andersen

The Sweet Life with Ericka

Navigation
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Should I Run a Marathon Without Having Trained?

Should I Run a Marathon Without Having Trained?

February 28, 2012 by Ericka

Share this post
Pinterest0
Twitter0
Facebook0
Google+9

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Post-Baltimore Marathon…after I PR’d and thought I was going to start running like a marathon a month. And…#fail.

Have you ever run a marathon without really training? I signed up for the DC Rock n’ Roll Marathon back in November or so — fully intending on training like a pro throughout the winter. I bought some winter running pants, gloves and printed out a detailed schedule of training from Smart Coach. It was happening!

And then. The wicked Mr. Winter came in and broke me down. What is it about the bone chilling cold that causes your body to malfunction like whoa? It sure did for me. It’s like the cold invades my body and turns me into an old woman, with inexplicable back pain, weird joint aches and half-colds that never actually go away.

The back issue came and went, a couple times, but finally feels gone for the season. But then I had weeks of just feeling totally exhausted. I’d wake up on a Saturday after a full 9 hours of restful sleep and struggle to get out of bed. What was up?

This is how the cold made feel. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!

Whatever it was, training was put on hold as I struggled to just get in minimal miles. I decided I’d just be running the half marathon, instead of the whole. For some reason, I couldn’t get myself to change it online though. I could change my registration to the half or just wait until race day and decide then. According to the website, if you downgrade to the half, it will automatically register on your shoe tag so I can essentially decide on race day which I’m running.

I’m 95% sure I’m running the half. I know I should. What is it that tugs at me to just “try it” on the full? It’s the nagging knowledge that I know I’m capable of running a sub-4 — but not without real training (I think.) Still, I know I will be jealous of the “fulls” at the end of the day. But, I keep reminding myself, I’m no SR — she’s one of a kind!

“You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can’t know what’s coming.”
                       — Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic marathon gold medalist

This seems to be my problem. I’ve forgotten the sheer agony of mile 22 alone! I remember only the glory of the finish line — that is, just before and after I’m done feeling nauseated 🙂

When I get real about it, it seems like a bad idea. I remember the awfulness of Marine Corps last year, running a marathon not two weeks after I’d just run one. Oh, the unforeseen hardship! I had no idea how hard it would be since I’d just PR’d like a rockstar. I think it would be the same with this. And, I’m not sure having “on more medal” would be worth the anguish of an untrained race.

However, I do remember just reading about Courtney’s on-a-whim decision to run a marathon in Hawaii and I think that’s what got me to this precipice! But…then again, she and her friend ran it leisurely and for fun. And I have no fun friends with which to do that with! (Anyone?)

Just after the very rough Marine Corps Marathon.

In the end, I think I’d be just fine. I wouldn’t get injured and I’m fully confident my body could handle running a marathon. But, at this point, do I want to push through a really tough 4+ hours of running — or breeze through 2 and join my friends for a fun, post-half brunch? I’m not saying I 100% won’t run the full but I’d need some really convincing to do it at this point!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

« BOMF: Open-Mic Night!
Crossfit: And So It Begins »

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    October 9, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Find out if you stay registered for the full and then only run the half if you still get a medal. If so, don't decide till mile 13 what you're going to do!

  2. Anonymous says

    October 9, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    Find out if you stay registered for the full and then only run the half if you still get a medal. If so, don't decide till mile 13 what you're going to do!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Welcome! I'm Ericka: Writer, podcaster, wife, mother, runner and Enneagram 4! I write about faith + politics + addiction + church planting. I wrote a book once too -- see below!

Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected From the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma & Mental Illness

My Podcast: Worth Your Time

Most Popular Posts

Popular posts

The Blend Retreat With Balance Bar in Boulder, Colorado!

Remember that photo? Yes, taken in beautiful Salt … [Read More...]

Electrolytenment: Finding My Hydration Zen

Water. It is my number remedy to all things in … [Read More...]

My Top 10 Favorite Brands

On this blog, I often do sponsored posts and run … [Read More...]

10 Tips for First Time Marathoners

The most frequent question I get on here is, do … [Read More...]

Bahamas Marathon: A Weekend in Heaven

What an amazing whirlwind of a weekend! Last … [Read More...]

Protein for Moms: Why It’s a Must

Before having a child, I pictured fun times … [Read More...]

Can’t Wait To See These People!

Just posting this photo because I'm so excited to … [Read More...]

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah: President & CEO, Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah is one impressive -- and … [Read More...]

The Dilemma of Marathon Training

On Monday, I attempted to fun home from work. It's … [Read More...]

Summer Lovin’ Already

Who is that large man behind us, you may be … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2021 · WordPress Maintenance & support by Fixrunner.com · Built on the Genesis Framework

Copyright © 2021 · Genesis Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in