Why I Haven’t Run A Marathon (Yet)
I'm a coward. But at least I'm an honest one.
I always correct people whenever they say that I run marathons.
I do not run marathons.
I have never run a marathon in my life.
And this post is about sharing all the reasons I have never ran a marathon.
Allow me to quickly add that I have nothing but the greatest of respect for anyone who has run a marathon. You have endured a grueling race of 26.2 miles, accomplishing a feat I can scarcely comprehend.
Why is that? What is it about marathons that I find so daunting that I've never even attempted one? Keep reading.
Reasons I've Never Run a Marathon
A Marathon is 26.2 Miles! This may seem laughable to a lot of you, but over several decades of running, the longest consecutive distance I've ever ran is a mere 14 miles. In my defense, I often run between 10-13 on Saturday mornings, savoring the early morning quiet amid whatever 70's or 80's music buzzes in my earbuds. But when I hit those double digits, I'm hardly chomping at the bit to add a few more miles. At that point, I'm ready for my caffeine fix and some breakfast. And that's running less than half the distance.
I Wish to Stay Employed and Married. Between morning runs, speed work with my coach and strength workouts six mornings a week, I already devote a considerable amount of time to my training. Being gainfully employed with a job that can have long hours and not wanting to risk the ire of a wife who endures my many running quirks, I'm hesitant to add the hours that I know I would need in order to properly train for a marathon. And I don't want to do one without properly training for it.
Half Marathons Beat Me Up. Another key reason for my reluctance to run marathons is that I have a tough enough time running half marathons. I consider the physical demands of that distance to be my "ultimate" running challenge. I've yet to ever run a half marathon where the grind of the final three miles does not test my determination and endurance. Nor have I ever stepped across the finish line of a half marathon without experiencing a fatigue that I'll feel for the rest of that day. When I consider all of that, I cannot begin to imagine what that would be like for double that distance.
I'd Need to Re-Wire My Head. My body has always approached races differently than it has training. Paces that can be a struggle with Coach Ives on mile repeats or other intervals seem easier when my mind is locked into "race mode." It's a focus that has always allowed me to push myself during a race in ways that I cannot at other times. But this mindset has a limit. Half marathons sorely tax that mindset simply because of the time involved in the race. If racing just over 90 minutes is that difficult, then how would I mentally prepare to maintain that "race mode" for what would likely be well over twice that time? I'm not saying it's impossible, but for me to truly race in a marathon, my training would need not only a strong physical component but a tough mental one as well.
I Gotta Be Me. I've had some people suggest that I just run a marathon. Keep it low-key. Keep it relaxed. Walk if I need to. In other words, enjoy the experience. That advice makes a great deal of sense. Unfortunately, I'm not wired that way. If I’m to feel any satisfaction from a race, I need to know that I’ve given my best effort for that particular day under those specific conditions. Running a marathon would be no different. I would want to come away from that experience knowing I'd essentially put forth everything I had. All of which circles back to the training and time commitment previously mentioned.
What About the Future?
I will admit that when I read the social media accounts of various friends who run the Chicago or Boston Marathons, there is that competitive part of me that wonders how I would do in either of those same races. That same part of me also considers the total experience of traveling and being a part of such distinguished events. Putting it another way, I suppose I should “never say never.”
As for ultrarunners, while I know that kind of running is an entirely different beast, I have to say that I'm a bit torn between offering that same measure of respect I have for marathon runners or should I simply question your sanity.
Those are my thoughts. I’d like to know what everyone thinks. Particularly those of you who have experience with marathons (and longer distances!). Let me know in the comments below or on Facebook.
Rick, I have a few years on you and came to running marathons late. I did 1/2 marathons through my forties and began marathon training a couple of years. I found that I just didn't have the discipline to stay with the training. That being said, there are a lot of other demands on life in your forties. I volunteered as a marathon volunteer a couple of years and finally mid-fifties actually followed through on the training and ran my first marathon at age 56. Twenty years later, I've completed a number of destination marathons and several Bostons as well. How many more? Who knows. I've just at this late date decided to explore track.
I've ran 23 of them and each one I say this is my last. I've done Boston twice so sometimes the riff raff do sneak in. I'm not that fast, just trained really hard for 6 mos. and ran a really fast course. Which of course people looked down on to my face and behind my back. But I did it which was my ultimate goal. I'm your age, so recovery is a lot longer to get back to where you were before the marathon, unless your Paul and you can run them every other day and fast. But if I had your speed at the halfs and less. I would stay with that. Not only do you win your…
I agree with what you are saying here and can subscribe to all of it quite easily. I've run a marathon each of the last 3 years (3 lifetime total marathons and I am 56). The first reason I wanted to do one is to just see if I could indeed make it that far without dying (this may sounds like a joke and it is in a way, but not completely:). And, then, of course, maybe like you, if I were to do a marathon I might as well try to do something grand like qualify for Boston the first time too right? Everyone said that well, "you ain't gunna' do that right away and especially not on…