First Time Marathon

Have you ever had that thought to run a marathon? I know it’s a pretty wild idea when running isn’t necessarily your passion, but I had the opportunity fall in my lap and decided to go for it! I was 33 years old, had four children and my brother-in-law approached me at Christmas time in 2002 if I wanted to be listed as part of a team entry for the St. George Marathon that was going to take place in the beginning of October 2003. If one of us got drawn then we all could run, so our chances were better if there were five of us entering. (As a side note we got drawn, but funny thing was that in the end, I was the only one who ended up running.) I said sure, but I hadn’t been running. I asked how long it took to train for something like that and he said beginners could train for a marathon in four months, but that I would probably want to start sooner than later getting in shape, as it would only help in my efforts.

So, it began. I found a running schedule that I thought best suit my day, especially with four kids, a husband and responsibilities all around me. I knew once I started though, it was going to be a serious time commitment. Being a bit OCD and a little ADHD, and even neurotic about running outside all by myself, I found a 24 hour gym where there was a section upstairs for only women, so I could jump on a treadmill and run without being bothered. The times I did run outside though, my sweet husband either jumped on a bike and rode alongside me, or put our children in car seats or seatbelts and drove behind me, which actually got him in trouble a few times by other on-lookers who thought I was being followed by some scary stranger guy in a mini-van with a bunch of children in the car. Weird I know. But the training was actually exciting and motivating as I saw the improvements and successes while accomplishing longer mileage and a more fit body.

The day finally arrived and I have to say butterflies would have been an understatement, but getting down to the track was one that was filled with so much excitement! You could just feel the energy and electricity in the air…. it was absolutely incredible! When you line up, you get behind the pacer holding a sign saying the time you think you’re going to run your marathon in, which I was hoping for about 5 to 5 ½ hours, so that was the group I stood with when the race began. The nice thing is that you don’t have to stay with your group and as I found my groove, I felt at moments that I was just floating. Training on a treadmill for most of my runs, kept my pace consistent, but the real shock came when I crossed the finish line with a time of 4:15.04!! My husband and children were waiting for me at the finish line, and with tears streaming down my face I couldn’t have been more grateful for the experience. I knew that I had just accomplished one of the hardest things ever, and it felt amazing!

Christine….Mesa, Arizona