Week one of my journey to the Boston Marathon is officially finished. It certainly was not what I expected, but I guess like life, it does not always unfold as we would have planned or hoped. However, we do what we can with what we have been given and make the most of it-even if that means facing a road block right out of the gate. I apologize that this post will likely be longer. I hope to be able to make time for shorter posts throughout the week, however, this week got away from me when a double ear infection arrived with full force. I am going to try to recap as best I can within one post.
The Magic of Morning Moonlight
My start was great! It began Monday morning when somehow I managed to wake before my alarm even went off. It was probably about 4:45am and the moonlight of a lingering night sky seemed to enter my room with the gravitational pull of an invitation accompanied with excitement for what it might hold. It reminded me of when I was beginning my data collection for my dissertation and I had to get up extremely early to visit schools for observations and I had a very similar feeling. It was the sense of “arrival” at my starting point but also recognizing that a long and arduous road was waiting for me. My response to the magical moonlight that was calling me from the comfort of my sea of blankets into a day that had yet begun, was a “let’s go! I am ready.”
It is then I begin what is an autopilot routine. I get out of bed. I grab my keys which I have strategically placed next to my bed so I can start my car. For those that know me, I really am not a fan of being cold. The warm car in the morning helps make the ride to the gym more bearable. I brush my teeth, I change into running clothes, I grab my clothes for work and a Gatorade to hydrate a bit, and then I am on my way to the gym. This all takes about 10 minutes which is just enough time for car to warm up. Most days I think I am still actually half a sleep.
As I leave the house I am reminded that winter is near. We have not yet experienced her harshness, but the cold early morning hints that she is not far away. I am now more awake with the help of a few deep breaths of the morning air which I can also see exiting as I exhale. Taking purposeful deep breaths is really a rejuvenating act-something I have learned from running so why not jump start you day with a few deliberate breaths aimed at rejuvenation. There is something magical about the early morning. There is a silent, stillness that calls to me like a blank canvas calls to a painter. It is a day that has been untouched by the hustle and bustle that I know will soon hijack the beauty that is held in this very moment. It is this very reason that I often wake early to work out. It is a time that has not already been double booked. It is a time, if I choose, that can be my own and for the next 18 weeks, it will be time dedicated to my training for the Boston Marathon with the Dana Farber Marathon Team.
As I drove to the gym, I very quickly shattered the silence and stillness of this magical morning and cranked my radio with some tunes that would help jump start my body so I would be ready to run when I arrived at the gym at about 5:20am. In my short ride, I listed to the music but was guided by the moonlight. I kept thinking that while I drove to the gym alone, I had over 500 Dana Farber Teammates who also were embarking on this journey today. In that moment, I felt like we “the team” were this collective force that were working behind the scenes of a still and untouched morning. We were taking the day on our terms and doing what we can to make this world a better place- dreaming a world without cancer and one run at a time.
I logged 5 miles on the treadmill Monday morning which was a great start for my training and also my day. For those that run, I am sure you know what I mean. I am a better person on days when I have managed to get my workout in first. As the day went on, I kept experiencing this pounding pressure in my ears. It had been bothering me for a week or so, but it was getting worse. The pressure had turned to pain. “Oh no,” I thought. “I don’t have time to deal with this. I continued through my day and actually went to a 6pm spin class at the gym. I know two workouts in one day may seem a bit much for some, but I love the Monday night class and I figured it would be a good cross training workout. It was a great workout; however I knew my ears were going to be a problem. Not only did I start to experiencing shooting pain in my ears, I also was pretty dizzy. This was ok on the bike because I just closed my eyes. The bike would not go anywhere. However, I worried what this would mean for running.
Learning to Listen
My first challenge on this journey to the Boston Marathon was to learn to listen to my body. This is something that many of us do not do to well. As athletes, whatever our sport may be, we train ourselves to push through, “no pain, no gain” as they say. We know in our minds that sometimes rest is the best antidote and the fastest way back, but yet we still find ourselves pushing through in hopes that our injury or issue will just take care of itself. Well, this week I felt like it was too early in training to force myself to push through. I have been working really hard leading up to this week so my base was strong. After a trip to the doctors, I was not going to keep running with the ear infections and balance issues which I knew could potentially prolong my recovery. I was not happy taking a few days of in week one, but re-framed it for myself that I was learning early in training to “listen.” It was not a critical run and a few days would not set me back. This journey is both physical as well as mental and I need to listen to both my mind and body. While rest is welcomed when we choose it, when our body tells us we need it, we do not always want to listen. This week, I had lesson # 1: you must listen to your body even when it is not part of the plan.
Saturday: My First Team Run
Getting to Saturday and being strong enough to run 10 miles was what motivated me and helped justify the extra rest days during the week. I found myself bargaining all week, “please let me feel strong enough for our first team run.” Saturday morning arrived and I was ready for the challenge. We were meeting in Lexington at 8am which is about 40 minutes from Haverhill. I set my alarm early because I wanted to eat something and get there with plenty of time. Again, I woke before my alarm, tired but filled with excitement.
When I arrived, I was greeted by so many friendly Dana Farber Team members and volunteers. It was so nice to feel part of a team and see others who would also be training. I have always been a solo runner or at most running with one other person. Going out for a run on a Saturday morning with a large group is such a wonderful experience. Before the run, a member of the Dana Farber Team talked about the critical research that is being done. This is a great reminder of why we are doing what we are doing.
Then they highlighted some of our teammates who have already raised $8,000 and $10,000. Ok, I must be honest. At this point my competitive nature kicked in. I found myself thinking, I really need to step it up a notch. Although, I also reminded myself that I have raised just about $5k which is amazing!!! The generosity of my family, friends, and coworkers has been so inspiring to me. It reminds me of the collective power we have when we all give what we can. It does not matter how big or small, but the collective contribution becomes a force of its own- a statement about what matters. So “thank you” to those who have so generously contributed already! It is because of you, I am half way to my goal of raising $10,000-to honor Josh and the many others impacted by cancer while supporting Dana Farber ultimate goal-a world without cancer. Thank you for helping me make a strong statement about what collectively matters to us.
The run itself was beautiful. We had the choice to run 8 or 10 miles. It was an out and back run so those doing 8 miles could turn back at mile 4. “Great,” I thought, if I was feeling bad, I would have the choice to run less. Of course, I also knew that when I arrived at mile 4, I would likely push on. If I had not been running the distances that I had, 8 miles would be fine. However, my mileage was higher so I knew turning around would only be taking the easier road, which is not my choice of roads to travel. When the run began, we ran for a while on the roads but for the most part the course was on trails in Lexington. I started the run in my own world. I was with the group, but really just trying to settle into my own pace. This is always my challenge when running with others. After being sick, I wanted to find a comfortable pace and just stick with it. I wanted to be sure that I did not tucker out too quickly. I had given in to rest earlier in the week, however today, I was running 10 miles. I knew it may be a negotiation with my body which was weakened from having been sick, but I could rest later in the day. My compromise was slow and steady pace. I needed to get lost in the cadence of my own breathing.
It was so nice to be outdoors. It was brisk, but the sun provided enough warmth that it was a very comfortable day to run. In fact, it was one of those runs that when you took a breath that it felt as if you breathing in life itself-which is I guess what we do when we breathe. However, I mean it in a Henry David Thoreau kind of way by experiencing the very essence of life in the context of nature. Perhaps the trails and Lexington landscape influenced this. The volunteers even commented on how great the day was and warned with a wisdom that suggested this was not their first year with the Dana Farber Team, of less enjoyable training days that would come. Today, I would embrace with gratitude all that this day had to offer.
Speaking of volunteers, they are absolutely amazing. It is so great to have water and Gatorade stops along a longer run. However, it was not only the water and Gatorade that helped to fuel me. It was the exchanges that took place. As runners we thanked the volunteers for being out there for us and they thanked us for being out there running. It was really feeling part of a community. I met a number of teammates with whom I am sure I will be getting to know over the next few months. However, for this week I simply enjoyed meeting them and their company on the run. I did the 10 Miles and felt great! One week of training down, 17 weeks to go! Bring it on.
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