Well, I finally got around to running my second full marathon  and I’m glad I did, as I’ve heard that the general consensus among marathon runners is that those new to the game will either run one, and ONLY one marathon, or they will run their first marathon, catch the bug, and keep on running. I hope I can now say that I officially belong to the club and that I will continue to spend my days running and entering events, even though my second marathon was just as gruelling and gut-wrenching as the first.

So why do I/we do it? I guess I can’t really speak for all, but there is something about running that frees both the mind and body in a way that nothing else does. When I run outdoors in the open air and feel the surges of strength that inevitably come with each gust of wind, or with each hill climb or increase in pace, I feel invigorated and satisfied as I overcome each wave of discomfort. Every run is challenging in some way, but at the same time so very rewarding. It’s difficult to explain but there’s a sense of accomplishment at the completion of every run, and the confidence that results somehow manifests itself in other areas of my life, so much so that my love of running is continuously reaffirmed.

But getting back to the marathon, I didn’t do nearly as well as I had hoped to; I finished in 4 hours and 20-something minutes and crossed the line in a less than desirable state. The last 3 to 5 miles were horrendous; my left hamstring was torn up, I could no longer feel my feet, and I was so nauseous that I’m quite certain I would have quit had it not been for two of my closest friends who finished out the race with me. Had I done a little research prior to the race, I would have realized that the first half of the course is a steady climb, unlike the Arizona course I completed a few years ago which was nice and flat from start to finish. Still, I didn’t feel that great when I finished the Arizona marathon either.

Maybe 26.2 miles is just a ridiculouly long distance, and no matter how hard I train I will always have a major fight on my hands. But that’s just my point really; as difficult and painful as it is, running a marathon will always prove to be a gigantic feat to accomplish. As long as I am always willing to do something that seems incredibly hard however, I think I will always be capable of picking myself up when the odds seem stacked against me.  Looking at it from that perspective, I see running as a sport which not only builds my physical strength, but also character traits such as courage and perseverance, both of which influence my inner strength and make me a better person. I think I’ll keep on running……