{"id":1767,"date":"2015-08-11T12:12:39","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T16:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/?p=1767"},"modified":"2015-08-11T12:12:39","modified_gmt":"2015-08-11T16:12:39","slug":"what-im-learning-as-i-train-for-the-marathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/?p=1767","title":{"rendered":"What I’m Learning as I train for the Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IMG_4427<\/a><\/p>\n

I am running slower.<\/p>\n

But my legs feel stronger.<\/p>\n

My mileage is getting higher.<\/p>\n

But I don’t feeel exhausted.<\/p>\n

I have not hit the big distances yet.<\/p>\n

But I am feeling positive.<\/p>\n

The biggest lesson I have learned this training session is to run in the now<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0I am the type of person who is always obsessing about the past (\u00a0I used to be faster; my last marathon was a disaster), <\/em>or\u00a0worrying about the future\u00a0(I have to run how far in three weeks???; how will I ever maintain this pace for 42.2 km???).<\/em><\/p>\n

Somehow I have let all that go. \u00a0When I run it is only about that run, no other. \u00a0It doesn’t matter what happened the previous day and it doesn’t matter what tomorrow’s run will bring. \u00a0The instant I feel myself slipping away from the moment I pull myself back to the present. \u00a0It is an incredibly liberating feeling knowing that there is nothing I need to think about other than putting one foot in front of the other. \u00a0It is, in fact, a privilege. \u00a0So while I have a time goal for the marathon, nothing lofty by any means, I have pushed it to the back of my mind. \u00a0My ultimate goal is to run the race in the moment and to cross the finish line in awe of what my body can do.<\/p>\n

When I finished my second marathon I was so disappointed. \u00a0I felt like my body let me down. \u00a0I was nauseous and dizzy within the first third of the race. \u00a0I made myself finish, I refused to quit. \u00a0That of course was a victory in itself. \u00a0But there was no joy crossing that finish line. \u00a0I distinctly remember watching a woman ahead of me, running with her arms in the air as she finished. \u00a0Even without seeing her face, her body language exuded joy and I was so jealous. \u00a0Let’s face it, the race isn’t about the medals, or the cheers of the crowd. \u00a0It is about THAT moment. \u00a0I want that moment, and I feel that the way I am approaching my training right now – in the now<\/em> – will lead me to that feeling again, regardless of my finish time.<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at last week’s schedule:<\/p>\n

Monday:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n