I guess I should back up a bit.
As I mentioned in the previous post, I have completed 10 half marathons. So early in the Winter I made the decision to "bump it up a notch" and commit to training for a full marathon. I figured I had "mastered" walking 13.1 miles (if there is such as thing as "mastering" the distance).
I has manned a water station last Spring and watched several women friends slosh their way through the 26.2 miles in steady, cool rainy conditions. Sounds like fun, right?
Marathon training began in January for me. I am the sole walker of the training group - although I do have a friend working her way through the training distances who will walk with me on Race day, but she is not a regular member of the group.
Since I was training for a half marathon through the first 3 months adding on the distance sessions was not too hard - at least not through 16 miles.
Then came 18! This is where the training became more about mental training than physical. I knew what foods and drink I needed to go the distance. This was about going on for two more miles. Now that in itself is not a big distance, but tacking it on - another almost 30 minutes - was a task. But where there's a will, there's a way. I knew I had the support of the runners completing the same mileage. I did not get to start as early as I had hoped and the trainer would be waiting for me - and I did not want to make her wait too long. She greeted me with a smile. I had completed another "milestone".
But there was one more to come. 20 miles. The longest distance we are asked to complete prior to the race itself. 20 miles! Again, I looked at it as a mental accomplishment. I had been bringing my legs along 2 additional miles at a time. 14,16 and 18. All done! So, why not 20?
Mainly I was looking at the time factor. Spending 5 hours on training! And alone. My walking buddy was not available to go on this walk.
So I got dropped off at the starting point shortly after 7 AM and started walking. This race will start within a 45-minute distance from home, so training has taken place on the actual race course. A major side-benefit!
I had not started from the actual Race Start before, so the 20-mile training was providing some new mileage, and scenery. Soon I was walking along road that I had already "conquered" in previous weeks. It was familiar. My legs were comfortable. My head knew where I was going. I walked. I spoke to family members on my cell phone (thank goodness for my Bluetooth) along the way. I listened to music in the "dead zones". I was doing it. Only one runner passed me (with about 1 mile to go - and she started at 9 AM!!). It felt great to be finished and have the opportunity to cheer on the runners coming in after me.
The course has hills make no mistake about it. I have now walked those hills 4 times. This weekend I will walk them again.
The training route this weekend starts 6.2 miles into the race and therefore I will walk 20 miles to the Race's actual Finish.
I know what foods and drinks I need. My legs have walked the hills before. Once again I will not have my walking buddy to chat with. I will start as close to 6:30 AM as possible as runners will start as early as 7:30 AM. I know there will be more than a dozen running women out on the road behind me.
It's only 20 miles. I have done it before. But I also know no two training sessions feels the same.
20 Miles! It's time to get reacquainted!
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