Plethora

Marathon: Training

May 18th, 2009

The idea to run the Cleveland Marathon started as an idea to run the Cincinnati Marathon.

I was in Cincinnati, OH for training when I first started my current job. After training was done for the day, I get a phone call from Matty B (of B&B Brew) who wants advice on what kind of sales job he should try for and what I think of my current industry. This leads me to brag about my company’s CEO restoring the Cinci Marathon, which is actually a cool story. Bartley says something to the effect that we should run it and I say that’s a great idea. We end the conversation with me promising to try and get him an interview which never materializes.

Around 5 months later after several conversations about career moves, what we think about MBA’s, and what SMSU alumns are up to, Bartley brings up the topic again. This time he says, “Cleveland’s got a marathon, right?” I’m sure they do, but look it up anyway and find it’s in May, “Do you want to run that one instead? My friend Owen might run it, too.” I respond sure.

That next day I went to run and ran about 2 miles and was hurting. I remember having to walk…while on the treadmill. I’ve read that treadmill running uses about 75% the effort as road running. That means I’m a bit behind…it’s March at this point.

So, I ran a few more times and made it up to 4 miles without stopping, however, I’ve run all of these on an indoor track which is 16 laps to a mile! I hated it, but knew if I was serious I’d have to keep it up. I spoke to Bartley every once in a while and he was telling me how his training was going and that Owen was out. At this point I email dad about it. I’m 24 and after this long dad knows when I have an idea and ask him advice to cautiously give it, but realize I’m obsessed with something new every 6 months, “Dad, I’m thinking of running my own business” “Dad, I’m thinking of getting my MBA” “Dad I’m thinking of setting up Alpha Lettering” It’s always been something and he always says, “well, ok, so, what are you thinking” and then he soon realizes I’m almost completely full of useful fragments of thought and to let me down gently. This wasn’t much different. Dad basically says, “well, you’re starting pretty late aren’t you? You’re gonna have to start running probably 4 or 5 days a week with a long run on the weekends.” So, I kept running 2-4 miles about 3 times a week and the next week asked him if he’d make me a schedule to run. Dad did and at this point I still hadn’t registered. I knew I needed that out. When dad gave me the schedule I noticed the shortest run was 4 miles…he asked, “so, you’ve already been running, right, so we’ll start you low and have you run 4 miles every other day, you’ve been running at least 4 so far, right?” “Yeah” “Good.” He didn’t know at this point 4 made my heart start of fire and crippling me the next day.

As the mile amounts went up I run only outside with the logic that anything could happen on race day and I’d better be training outdoors. I ran in snow, freezing rain, rain, extreme heat, and wind.

Notable Training tidbits:
Had my Newsbleep shirt stolen along with 2 bandannas and half a protein bar
Ran 17 miles with a hangover and only drank about 16 ounces of water and no food while running and threw up for the rest of the night and nearly passed out/died
Ran 11 miles without a shirt and had 2nd degree burns on my shoulders, back, and chest. Linds says I have sun damage. Ran 3 days later resulting in the burns blistering on my shoulders and back.
Saw two ducks going at it, verted my eyes because it was too intense
Saw a raccoon
Ran about 10 feet from 3 deer feeding
Listened to almost the entire Miles Rausch CD Collection, This American Life podcast series, and NPR’s Planet Money podcast Series

So, that was training. Next post, the race.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized