Signing up for a marathon

[teigyr]

Ok...I'm registered for a half marathon on 5/31. There is a marathon I'd like to do in October. I used to be a runner way back when but the aging process really hurts sometimes!!! My deal is, when I sign up for it, it's real. I pseudo-signed up for this marathon...ie I entered all the info and then closed the window.

I know I probably have too many past injuries to make running distance a lifetime goal. I think if ever I were to do this, it should be now. It'd be 3 months from the half and I'd be closer to there than I would be normally. I've done distance cycling events and I know the psychological factors involved when everything hurts and you seriously question your sanity...heck. I've even cried quietly to myself when climbing hills on the bike.

Do I sign up? DH, who is patient and all says to wait until after the half to see how I feel. I'm of the sort that I go in bull-headed then build up to it. I don't like the intangible and signing up means I'm committed. So, do I do this? There are walkers. Many walkers. I won't be last :D I don't care one bit about time, I just want to finish and feel good about it.

As a last sidenote, my latest long run was 9 miles. It hurt...OH how it hurt! But it's more than 3 mos until my half and it'd be 6 months from the full. My muscles never hurt but my ankles/knees do. I guess my justification would be "I could always walk if I had to".

I think I need to be enabled. This "enter" key must be utilized :) But honesty is always appreciated.

[KSH]

HA! Well, I signed up to do an Ironman (IM)... before I even did my Half Ironman (HIM). I wanted to "see how I did", but unfortunately I had to sign up or else the registration might have closed.

When I signed up for my HIM, I hadn't run more than maybe 5 or 6 miles at a time. A half marathon seemed daunting. But I did it! Sure, I got injured a month before... and couldn't really RUN the half, but I did run 2 half's before the race.

Now, here I am... 7 months out from an IM... and I haven't rode more than 100 miles on my bike (only did that once)... and I haven't ran more than 13 miles at one time. A marathon? HA! I can't believe I'm going to do a marathon.

I too have a lot of nagging injuries. Not old age... just that my body rejects running. So, I have taken to walking 5 minutes and running 2 minutes for anything over 5 miles. I am also focusing on speed walking. Right now, I can walk a 13:30 minute mile. I hope to get that down to a 12 minute mile come race day!

Moral of my story... do what you want to do. If your mind and heart are in it, your body will find a way. If you have injuries, look into a run/walk combo, and when you walk... walk fast.

Good luck on the half marathon!

[indysteel]

I say do it. I'm like you. I sign up first and then worry later, but I'm always glad when it's all said and done.

You go girl!!!! I'l be rooting for you from Indy.

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Teigyr... I be erring on the side of caution with your partner. I'm not a runner, never have been, but my partner was and I guess I can tell you a bit about his experience...

He used to run marathon distances, he is your age now... but he stopped running at about 30 because he just couldn't take the discomfort anymore.

He pretty much wore his worn his knees out.

Now, any time he does alot of walking - particularly down hill... and the few times he does run (like on our family sports day) he suffers for several days with the pain.

I would suggest, try the half, see how you feel during and in the recovery days, before you sign up/pay for the whole. But undertake the committment to yourself - if you really want to do the whole, tell yourself that completing the half in good form means you must sign up for the whole.

I anticipate hearing that you did the half and did it well, and feel really good about it/your body.
My man loves to run and he still really misses being able to do it.