Little Miss Runner Pants

DATE: 12:35 AM
Sorry I'm just catching up with some of my blog reading. In the short time that I have been reading you writings, I have been impressed by how much you have learned simply from running. I hope after you become succesful at whatever you do, you can look back at some of the thoughts you have written here and see how much of a transformation you have made. As the last line of your M. Williamson quote says: "As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Keep on tackling your own fears and inspiring us to tackle our own.

DATE: 12:58 AM
I'm kind of behind on blogging this weekend, but thought I'd throw in my comments as well. When you run your first marathon you are no longer a hobby runner, you pass to the other side and there is no going back. You have changed, you have proved to the only person who really counts (yourself) that you can do anything you put your mind to. And this IS scary, because you keep setting your goals higher and higher. The more races I ran the greater my fear of not meeting my own expectations became. Then the day finally came when nothing worked and I didn't finish a marathon. On this day I realized that I had passed to the other side, I was a new me that refused to be thrown by this experience - I got back out there and picked up where I left off. Yesterday, three weeks after the DNF, I set a new personal best with a 10K race. This was the evidence that I needed that I am "healed" and am ready for my next marathon journey. You are the new a.maria that is an inspiration and example to a lot of people (as sjt said). Our running journey is the sum of all the good and bad days, the races, the tapering, the laughter and the pain. Keep making the most out of it, it is YOUR journey!

DATE: 10:01 AM
I think some people missed the point of your post...What does it mean if you do? It means you're incredible, that you have the heart and dedication that almost everyone in this country lacks. That you've reached deep down inside you and tapped resources that most don't even realize are there. Now you're starting to realize the extent of the things that you can accomplish. Not even just in running, but in life. Now you know that you have what it takes to accomplish anything that you set your mind to and that's scary, because, what do you do with that knowledge? I'll tell you that you can never go back, you can never be a "normal" person again and be happy. You'll always want to push your limits, and see how far you can go. You'll always want to accomplish more, make yourself just a little better. So keep pushing, and if for some reason, somehow, someway, you do bonk, or get hurt, that's okay, it just means that you pushed yourself too far, and now you know your limits and where to push next time. I don't know you, and will probably never actually meet you or get to know you better then I do now, but I can tell from what I've read that you have that potential for greatness in you. Others see it too, even if they don't realize it. That's why you get 20 people congratulating you on your "skinny jeans." You're an inspiration and an example to a lot of people, and we all know your greatness, it's good to see that you are starting to realize it too.

DATE: 12:10 PM
SJT...yeah. i think a lot of people missed it, but you're dead on. its about what do you do with the knowledge that you CAN do. you're exactly right.coming to terms with that is this marathon's journey. thank you. THANK you for getting it. and who knows, with all these RBF meet-ups... maybe we will meet!! ;)

DATE: 9:09 PM
i didn't get it? i can't believe i didn't get it. that's just bs right there!

DATE: 10:59 PM
Thankyou for your post. As someone who has been running for years, but only just recently starting really training, this is very inspiring.It's so true that 90% is in your mind. But if you really are that sore are you doing something about it?Like, I;ve heard that ice baths aregood for helping ones legs recover, and I took a cold bath a week back when I was too sore and it was pretty good....Or is this just run of the mill for marathon training??? I want to do one in a few years ( I'm trying a 10km and a half marathon first!) and just wondering what to expect.Lack of social life? Being tired at work? Constantly drinking water/gatorade?I'm curious!

DATE: 11:17 PM
the first time i rode 100 miles with my bro about 10 years ago, i pretty-much wanted to kill myself for even trying by mile 85. he just said "dude. it's not like you're gonna stop. get over it. suck it up. finish strong."that's the same thing i tell everyone now, because it's the most important thing. to me, anyway. you can feel like all crap for as long as you want, but don't do that to yourself on that day, and especially when you're crossing the finish line. where will that leave you mentally?everything is just part of the process. some people hate the process. you're up, you're down, your fast, you're slow, and you can't always figure out why one way or the other. but it all has a stupid way of coming full circle and you finish. no matter what. figure out how to overcome yourself, finish what you started, and most importantly..be freakin jazzed about it. and if you can do that, you'll be good.the answer is probably someting like..you'll feel great about yourself. which is one of the reasons you do it in the first place. right?

DATE: 6:08 AM
Girl, your training this time is SO much better! You can totally do it, as long as YOU believe you can do it. Keep doing those ass kicking workouts and the M will be a breeze.

DATE: 1:15 PM
A! It's just the mid-season slump! If only we had an All Star game, you know?How about Boston? Read about the Boston marathon and just get inspired by everyone out there who rules. And remember how FEW people run marathons. And how YOU are one of THEM.9 weeks!!!! It's going to be awesome. A band at every mile! So much easier than that effing Lake Merced in SF!!!!

DATE: 1:45 PM
I think it's good to be scared--to an extent. I loved reading your post because it summed up feelings that I've had, and I'm sure others have too, while training.If anything, I think taking a couple of days away from training might not be a bad idea. It's a little longer than a moment, but sometimes you have to let the body recover so that it misses running, then you can attack your program with greater intensity.As for breaking five hours, I have no doubt you can do it. Think pretty thoughts.

DATE: 1:57 PM
I've already told you this, but I'm in awe of the fact that you can run as far as you do. (We sprinters never change.) And we all have those moments of self-doubt. But you're mentally tough, and I know that you're gonna kick your training regimen in the ass.

DATE: 4:26 PM
Thank you for verbalizing exactly what I'm experiencing right now as well. Love your blog!

DATE: 5:01 PM
I think being scared is a good thing cause maybe it keeps you honest. My hubby and I would always say oh yeah let's run a marathon some day, but as Jason says, "It's not until you have the fear that you are forced to actually get out there and run". Once you are signed up you pretty much have to go through with it. That was what got us on this running train. We signed up for a 1/2 marathon like 9 months ahead of time...so it was always there, taunting us. Good Luck with the rest of your training! You'll make it and do great.

DATE: 12:47 PM
You're going to be great, I predict you take 30 minutes off your time! Second time around, oh yeah, you're there.

DATE: 1:08 PM
Oh my - this hit so close to home and is remarkably and unforunately close to what I was going to write today so now I have to change topics. But I digress.One thing you left out of there is this - if you are tired take a couple days off. Really - I think it is not only okay but a good idea to just let your muscles rest when they get worn out. That was also part of what I was going to write about so I will now, yes I will.

DATE: 12:34 PM
You'll do great - my goal is breaking 4:45 . . . and I'm scared too - too many injuries this time around.

DATE: 12:25 PM
Hiccups? I prefer to call them “refocusing sessions” where you ask yourself “Why this?” or “What if that?”. We have all been there. And you might not have all the answers. No one does. But you will learn. You discover things about yourself that you never knew. You reflect on your achievement, you curse your current state and you refocus on your goal. You exit the “session” re-energized and stronger, both mentally and physically. Your training IS going great. You are running faster and harder than you ever have. Your body is both mentally and physically working its butt off (literally, by the sound of it) to get you to that next level. And you are all but there. Come race day, you will be amazed with the results!!!!

DATE: 11:32 AM
thanks guys.. but just to clarify, i'm no where NEAR even THINKING about quitting. i'm just in the middle of a hiccup, thats all.(did i make it sound like i want to quit? if so.. that wasn't my intention. i thought about quitting the 8 mile training run, but not the training altogether!! umm. thats what i get for not editing very well. whoops!)

DATE: 11:25 AM
If you want musical motivation...this is by Jimmy Eat World, Just Watch The Fireworks..."Here, you can be anything. And I think that scares you. I think that scares you."It's not a particularly sporty song...but I dig it.

DATE: 10:25 AM
i am just training for my first half marathon so i'm looking up at you like "wow....she's awesome. she's completed a marathon and she thinks 8 miles is an easy run! (and she fits into those aforementioned dark gap jeans) :) anyway, i can identify with wanting to quit training, at my level. there was a moment i had while training for an 8 mile run (my longest yet) where I almost DID quit, but somehow kept myself goin, thanks largely to the inspiration from bloggers such as yourself. But mostly it was because I've had a baby recently, and this brings the preciousness of life into focus for me. I only have one shot at this here thang, and I've got to feel good about my life and accomplish my goals. Anyway, keep goin if this is truly what your heart desires. People like me are looking to you for inspiration, and are out there chugging along on our shorter runs trying to get where you are. :)

DATE: 10:33 AM
We all hit mental and physical lows in a marathon training program, where we ask ourselves "Why? Why? Why?" Why do I feel like crap. Why do I push so hard. Why do I even want to do this anymore. Be glad yours is happening at the midpoint and not closer to the end of training. And the weather here has stunk the past two months, so maybe it'll hold out and we'll be blessed with clouds and cool temps. That should help perk you up!

DATE: 11:13 AM
a.maria I love your posts, this one however left me wondering a bit. You can do what ever you want, goals are improtant, I can't do anything without them......but they are just notions nothing more.The outcome is unknown, thus it is somewhat irrelevent. However cherish the journey, remember being brought to your knees, or at least to sitting in a stairwell. It's so many things, so so many things. From reading your posts, current and past I know you have already achieved so much. No one would ever judge you for injury of bonking or whatever. Remember that!Couple of quotes for you.It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In this life we get nothing save by effort. — Theodore RooseveltThe only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. — Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933Now get off that step.

DATE: 9:14 AM
fantastic post. I'm not training for a marathon, and I totally get it. TOTALLY. you have hit it, grrl. you have named the fear exactly. That's half the battle. What does it mean if--no not IF, but WHEN--we succeed? I dunno, either. But I feel the fear. And you know what they say: Feel the fear, and do it anyway.

DATE: 10:05 AM
Part of this whole situation might also have something to do with the fact that this is not your first marathon. I think M-2 is a very different experience. You've done it before, but everything is shifted. You're thinking about time, not just about finishing. You're doing workouts like hills when before you just ran. Your goals are different, you motivation is different. It's all hard to describe and hard to get a handle on and it just plain feels weird. Remember this. You're a runner. You're going to be doing this little "hobby" for years, not weeks. If you run well, remember there will be other races. If you run poorly, remember there will be other races. For me, putting things into a longer term context helps put things in perspective and the stuff that seems to difficult, or hard or scary right now don't seem quite so daunting. You're in this for the long haul. When you turn forty in years and years and years from now, what will you remember about M-2. One thing I hope you remember is that you didn't stop. You just kept moving forward because, well, it's what you do.