Out of the three sports of triathlon, the run is by far my favorite and the easiest to train for. Putting on a pair of shoes and heading out the door is way easier than deciding where to swim or bike, what gear to bring, and how to best keep from getting hurt. The wear and tear on the body is greater, but it also tones and conditions best too.
Before moving to Hawaii the most running I had done was for soccer, track team, and for fun runs like Race for the Cure. I had never run or walked more than a 5k at once unless it was on a hike. While training for my first Lavaman in 2008 I ran on a treadmill 6.2 miles one time before the race. Since I had never tried running before I had no idea how much I would enjoy it. I decided to enter the Kona Half Marathon and have participated in that event 3 times, two when the race was on Alii Dr. on the Ironman course before having the boys, and one 2015 in Waikoloa.
I decided to go big when I turned 26 training for and running in the Portland Marathon in 2010. That year, like this one, was big. Jeff and I bought a house in January, got our dog Blue in February, were married in April, and in October I ran my first marathon (on 10-10-10).
My goal for the marathon was to run in 4 hours, 20 minutes, with my secret goal of doing it under 4 hours. My friend Bobbi gave me the book 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon, by Dave Kuehls and I stuck to the program vigilantly, training on Alii Dr. As I train for Ironman now, and run on the course, memories of my first marathon training flood in. It feels really special to go back 7 years and relive those feeling again, drawing on the excitement I felt then and funneling it into my energy for this upcoming race.
Jeff and I traveled to Portland for that first marathon, and nothing was as I expected it to be. It started raining at midnight before the race, and didn't stop until noon, after the race was over. My shoes squished with every step, though I was lucky to avoid blisters. I was over-hydrating, being used to the Kona heat and humidity. But my pace was right on, and I even was able to push harder on the second half of the race, finishing in 4:09. Ironically, that put me at 4:20 from when the first gun went off. After the race I went to the finishers area, collected my pine tree, rose, pin, medal, finisher shirt and space blanket, and proceeded to the family reunion area to find Jeff or my parents. I had registered under Graboyes, but was now a Wehren, so I had a heck of a time finding anyone, especially in the post-race daze I was in. I finally asked someone if I could use their phone and called Jeff, telling him where to find me. I highly recommend Portland Marathon for a first time race. They give the best loot, the course is fun with the most live entertainment along the way to keep you hoppin', and great spectators for almost the whole course.
I trained and raced exactly according to plan. By the time the race was over and I had done it I was a little disappointed at the lack of an epiphany-so proud I couldn't believe it-I've ran a marathon!-feeling. It felt like a training day and to be honest, it wasn't that much fun. I didn't think I would ever do it again.
After having Jason (on 4-20-12) I was struggling. It was a challenging yet uneventful pregnancy, hard first year adjusting as new parents, and I had tried to get back in shape too quickly, making myself sick in the process. I needed to do something for myself to prove I still strong. I had lost my true self to parenthood and work, and needed to get out of the rut I was in, showing myself I still had "it". I signed both myself and my mother up for Portland Marathon 2013 for Mother's Day, and she reluctantly agreed to do it with me. We "trained" together, with her in Oregon and me in Hawaii.
If my first marathon training was perfect, my second training was anything but. A lot of the time I would have Jason in the stroller, or only get in part of my runs. We did it anyway, and I ran and walked, while my mom walked the course. Taking my time, texting with my mom along the course, talking with other participants and high-fiving volunteers, drinking the beer samples along the way and not even looking at my watch was way more fun. It took over 5 hours, but the lack of pressure made the race much more enjoyable.
I also was able to jump on board and sacrifice 2 more years of my not-having-to-share-my-body-for pregnancy and nursing freedom to having a sibling for Jason. Because of this, my second pregnancy went much more smoothly, as did Evan's first year. From that race on, I have been much easier on myself, lowering expectations for perfection and focusing instead of just doing my best and having fun.
I have approached this training the same way I did for my second marathon. I am doing the best I can, preparing as much as I can, and feel excited to see what I can do. I am not afraid of all of the scenarios that can happen on race day for things going wrong. The perfect training plan, the perfect birth plan, the perfect business plan will not prepare you for all of the what-ifs that are out there and will happen. I have learned that much in the past 10 years. I've gotten to the place where I get to enjoy this wonderful event and the people supporting me in it, and get to end this race with the sport I love the most. It can't get much better than this...except maybe the next chapter. Racing with my kids.
After Ironman I look forward to tackling the next leg of my fitness journey that will be 17 years in the making. 50 races in 50 states by 50 years. I have started Trunk Trainers' Traveling Tri Club, which will involve my family and team seeking out the most fun races in the country, writing about it and enjoying fitness family style. Hope you'll join us!
Before moving to Hawaii the most running I had done was for soccer, track team, and for fun runs like Race for the Cure. I had never run or walked more than a 5k at once unless it was on a hike. While training for my first Lavaman in 2008 I ran on a treadmill 6.2 miles one time before the race. Since I had never tried running before I had no idea how much I would enjoy it. I decided to enter the Kona Half Marathon and have participated in that event 3 times, two when the race was on Alii Dr. on the Ironman course before having the boys, and one 2015 in Waikoloa.
I decided to go big when I turned 26 training for and running in the Portland Marathon in 2010. That year, like this one, was big. Jeff and I bought a house in January, got our dog Blue in February, were married in April, and in October I ran my first marathon (on 10-10-10).
My goal for the marathon was to run in 4 hours, 20 minutes, with my secret goal of doing it under 4 hours. My friend Bobbi gave me the book 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon, by Dave Kuehls and I stuck to the program vigilantly, training on Alii Dr. As I train for Ironman now, and run on the course, memories of my first marathon training flood in. It feels really special to go back 7 years and relive those feeling again, drawing on the excitement I felt then and funneling it into my energy for this upcoming race.
Jeff and I traveled to Portland for that first marathon, and nothing was as I expected it to be. It started raining at midnight before the race, and didn't stop until noon, after the race was over. My shoes squished with every step, though I was lucky to avoid blisters. I was over-hydrating, being used to the Kona heat and humidity. But my pace was right on, and I even was able to push harder on the second half of the race, finishing in 4:09. Ironically, that put me at 4:20 from when the first gun went off. After the race I went to the finishers area, collected my pine tree, rose, pin, medal, finisher shirt and space blanket, and proceeded to the family reunion area to find Jeff or my parents. I had registered under Graboyes, but was now a Wehren, so I had a heck of a time finding anyone, especially in the post-race daze I was in. I finally asked someone if I could use their phone and called Jeff, telling him where to find me. I highly recommend Portland Marathon for a first time race. They give the best loot, the course is fun with the most live entertainment along the way to keep you hoppin', and great spectators for almost the whole course.
I trained and raced exactly according to plan. By the time the race was over and I had done it I was a little disappointed at the lack of an epiphany-so proud I couldn't believe it-I've ran a marathon!-feeling. It felt like a training day and to be honest, it wasn't that much fun. I didn't think I would ever do it again.
After having Jason (on 4-20-12) I was struggling. It was a challenging yet uneventful pregnancy, hard first year adjusting as new parents, and I had tried to get back in shape too quickly, making myself sick in the process. I needed to do something for myself to prove I still strong. I had lost my true self to parenthood and work, and needed to get out of the rut I was in, showing myself I still had "it". I signed both myself and my mother up for Portland Marathon 2013 for Mother's Day, and she reluctantly agreed to do it with me. We "trained" together, with her in Oregon and me in Hawaii.
If my first marathon training was perfect, my second training was anything but. A lot of the time I would have Jason in the stroller, or only get in part of my runs. We did it anyway, and I ran and walked, while my mom walked the course. Taking my time, texting with my mom along the course, talking with other participants and high-fiving volunteers, drinking the beer samples along the way and not even looking at my watch was way more fun. It took over 5 hours, but the lack of pressure made the race much more enjoyable.
I also was able to jump on board and sacrifice 2 more years of my not-having-to-share-my-body-for pregnancy and nursing freedom to having a sibling for Jason. Because of this, my second pregnancy went much more smoothly, as did Evan's first year. From that race on, I have been much easier on myself, lowering expectations for perfection and focusing instead of just doing my best and having fun.
I have approached this training the same way I did for my second marathon. I am doing the best I can, preparing as much as I can, and feel excited to see what I can do. I am not afraid of all of the scenarios that can happen on race day for things going wrong. The perfect training plan, the perfect birth plan, the perfect business plan will not prepare you for all of the what-ifs that are out there and will happen. I have learned that much in the past 10 years. I've gotten to the place where I get to enjoy this wonderful event and the people supporting me in it, and get to end this race with the sport I love the most. It can't get much better than this...except maybe the next chapter. Racing with my kids.
After Ironman I look forward to tackling the next leg of my fitness journey that will be 17 years in the making. 50 races in 50 states by 50 years. I have started Trunk Trainers' Traveling Tri Club, which will involve my family and team seeking out the most fun races in the country, writing about it and enjoying fitness family style. Hope you'll join us!
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