Okay, so I admit I don’t actually own any Lederhosen, but it caught your attention, right? I am really writing this to share about my experiences leading up to, during, and after the Oktoberfest Marathon in Spring Lake, Michigan on September 21st. This was my third marathon for the year and my tenth marathon ever (eleven if you include my one ultra). I can now check state #9 off my 50 States list: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, and Michigan.
Since this trip was over five hours and the race was on Saturday morning, my family was not able to come with me, which meant a road trip with my brother! We hadn’t done something like this in a long time and it was great to have him along. He is so intelligent and able to converse on many topics as well as being a great listener. I really lucked out in the sibling department (with in-laws too). I picked him up in Chicago and we dealt with heavy traffic for a while, so we didn’t quite make it for packet pick-up on Friday night (darn that Eastern Time Zone again!). While this was a problem for my last marathon, this race started at 8:00 A.M., so I had more wiggle room and less stress. It was a small race, so even with a fairly long line at packet pick-up, I had time to spare before the gun went off.
Given my history of scatterbrained tendencies, there were some hiccups in my race preparation. I forgot the top seal for my hydration bladder as well as my Clif Bloks (not sure why I put them in the silverware drawer instead of with my other running gear). Thanks to my resourceful brother and my sweet tooth, we solved those problems with office binder clips and Skittles. Well, mostly solved, I lost a fair amount of water down my back in the beginning of the race, but it was warm anyway, so it felt kind of good.
I went into this race with one goal: to finish with a smile on my face. This year has been a struggle with multiple injuries and many weeks of physical therapy, as well as an international mission trip and a move to another town, so training has been scattered (like my mind!) and things like pace work and strength training were almost nonexistent. Thankfully, as I get older and I put more miles on my legs, my standards have changed. I no longer need to push myself all the time, like I am on a mission to punish myself or prove myself. It is a beautiful thing when you can let go of arbitrary standards you’ve set for yourself. Does this mean I don’t have goals or I don’t work hard in my training? Absolutely not. I am a competitive person and I love a challenge, but I have also been a slave to perfectionism and people-pleasing long enough to recognize that those things don’t serve me (or anyone, really). For another great perspective on letting go, check out this article by Kathryn Kos.
It was a small race (I think less than 50 people completed the full marathon), but it was well-organized, and the bike path through neighborhoods and along the lake provided some nice scenery. There were ample aid stations with friendly volunteers and their smiles and encouragement came through during some rough spots. One neat thing to see was a woman who was celebrating her 50th marathon on her 50th Birthday! Wow. That’s an impressive accomplishment. I hope my mind and body will allow me that same gift: to run for many years, seeing many sights and meeting many people along the way. Fun facts aside, I knew this race would be difficult because of how warm and humid it was (think 75% humidity and 80 degrees by the end), but I wasn’t sure how exactly that would play out. Since giving up my obsession with stats and fitness apps, I have had to estimate how many miles are on my running shoes before I replace them. I love my Brooks Women’s Ghost 11 shoes, but I could tell they had lost most of their cushion leading up to the marathon. I ordered new ones online, but didn’t want to break them in during a race. The nice thing about these shoes is that they have a wide toe box and plenty of cushion, but not too much. I often get a soreness in my Achilles tendons when my shoes are nearing the end of their wear, but that did not happen this time. Any discomfort I felt during this race was simply par for the course when you run 26 miles. My BASE salt and Hammer Endurolyte pills kept cramping to a minimum, but the humidity just wore me out.
Around mile 15, I started feeling like I really didn’t want to continue. I was thinking to myself, “Michigan is nice, I can take another trip here sometime. My brother might be getting bored waiting for me, maybe I should just quit.” As soon as that word entered my mind, my stubborn nature won out and I called my husband. He answered with some concern in his voice and I told him I was hurting and needed a pep talk. He reminded me of how strong I am and how many times I have made it through conditions just like this. I asked to talk to my kids and hearing their sweet little voices say, “We love you Mommy. You can do it,” and, “I hope you win and you get a puppy,” brought some warmth to my heart and a lightness in my legs that I desperately needed at that time.
I won’t lie and say I didn’t still consider quitting, but I kept going. Somehow, around mile 22, things got better. I ended up being able to pass a few people toward the end and came across the line as the first woman (lest you think I am an impressive athlete, remember how small this race was). My place earned me a nicely engraved Stein that I will likely never use (despite my German heritage, I can’t stand beer). I went to the food tent desperate for some pizza, only to find out the cheese pizza was gone. I began to question my life choices (Vegetarian Smegetarian), but opted to share the pepperoni slice with my brother since he had just waited for me for nearly four hours. We went out for yummy Mexican food after I cooled down, refueled, and showered, then drove up to my Great Aunt’s house for a visit. Her house is on a quiet country road near a beautiful lake, and she is a sweet hostess who loves to read and play Scrabble, which warmed my heart and reminded me of my Grandma. So, there you have it. I am a human being who, though I might seem fit and tough to outsiders, still wants to quit sometimes. I still need help and I am not afraid to call someone and ask for it. I hope you will remember this and do the same the next time you’re struggling!
Redefined Runner 