Marathon #4, Here I Come!

In case you haven't heard the news yet {I haven't been too vocal about it}, I am running the Philadelphia Marathon this Sunday! Yes, the marathon that is FOUR days away! I know, I know. You're probably thinking I am nuts since there has been no talk of marathon training and that is because there really hasn't been any real marathon training going on... Okay, I really need to explain myself!

WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!

Back in the spring, I acknowledged the fact that running a fall marathon was pretty much off the table with everything going on this summer. Between wedding planning, the actual wedding, and my honeymoon, I knew getting in my runs would be impossible. After some thinking, though, I came up with the idea that maybe, just maybe, I could attempt to train for Philly and if I felt like it was possible come October, I'd sign up. I pushed myself to run a lot leading up to the wedding and continued on that streak after my 2 week hiatus while I was busy getting hitched and honeymoonin'. 

Fun fact: my sister had to really convince me to run my first marathon. I told her that I’d get “26.2 tattooed across my but when I crossed the finished” which never happened. She still talks about that and even included it in her maid of honor speech at my wedding haha. 

The idea of marathon got put on the backburner when my sister convinced me to train with her for the Hershey Half at the end of October. I was okay with that because I really focused on the training, hit all my long runs, and even incorporated strength in more than ever before. Sometime throughout the month of October I entered a contest through Michelob Ultra to win a Philadelphia Marathon Weekend entry. Something in me felt like I'd win, so after Hershey, I kept up with my running schedule.

I trained for and ran my second marathon solo and it was actually really awesome!

On November 1st, I got the email that I had won an entry into any of the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend races {8k, 13.1, or 26.2}. All day at work I went back and forth between two thoughts. 1. I run the half marathon in hopes of possibly getting a PR and 2. I go all the way for the full! In order to make this decision, I decided I'd run a long run that weekend and if I could do more than 15 miles, then I'd choose the full. Up until this moment, the longest run I had done in the past few months was 13.1 miles but I knew my body and what it was capable of.

That weekend I laced up, filled up my hydration pack, and hit the road. Surprisingly enough, I was able to crank out 17 pain-free miles! I probably could've went even farther but John had gotten home from work and I wanted to spend some time with him. I gave myself one more day to see how my body felt and sure enough, I felt great the next day so the decision was made. I'd be running the full marathon just like I had wanted! And the best part? It was all free of charge thanks to Michelob Ultra!

I ran marathon #3 with my best friend when she was running her first marathon! It was such a great experience!

Since that 17 mile run, I have jumped head first into maintaining a marathon training schedule complete with another long run last weekend and an 8 mile run this past Sunday. For such little training, I actually feel prepared! Most people are probably reading this think "man, you are CRAZY!" and to be honest, I know! For some reason I just feel like I've got this and am excited to see what I can do! I am fully expecting to run this very slowly with a little bit of walking. There is a small part of me that feels like I might actually pull off a good pace but that will be a huge surprise if it happens! Now yes, I am aware that running a marathon on a minimal training schedule is risky but I am aware of those risks and am fully prepared to drop out if I feel it is necessary. Let's just hope it doesn't come to that ;) I mean, I ran my first marathon with tendonitis in my ankle and I survived!