This past Sunday I completed theL.A.
Upon arriving, though, I immediately wished we had gotten there earlier.
On top of that, we were pressed for time getting ready for the race.
The first few miles of a marathon are an overcrowded mess where its almost impossible to pass other runners.
Its like swimming in a sardine school, but instead youre running with humans that merely smell like sardines.
Dont get overexcited during this phase.
Even if you’re free to pass, dont waste your energy bobbing side-to-side looking for openings.
Use the first few miles as a chance to warm up and get in the right headspace.
Funny enough, I did end up catching a glimpse of hellits mile marker 24.
Remember,distracted running is dangerous running, especially in a race.
The last thing you want to do is make that harder on yourself by getting drawn into the festivities.
One slip-up could end your race, and maybe someone elses.
So, when pain shot up my leg so early on in the race, it surprised me.
I thought I was screwed.
Fortunately, I had packed my knee compression sleeve in my belt just in case.
The sleeve helped some, but I still had to run stiff-legged to avoid the pain.
I tweaked my left knee.
There was a point where I seriously considered quitting because the pain and discomfort was so bad.
In truth, I probably should have stopped.
Or at least, thats what any medical professional would have told me.
Youre not supposed to push through that kind of pain.
But I wasnt going to back down, even if it meant hurting myselfwhich again, you shouldnt do.
Then, a bicycle medic saved the day when he sprayed my knee with some topical pain reliever.
Training Is Incredibly Important
Do not even consider running a marathon without doing some serious training first.
I trained an entire year for this race, and that still wasnt enough.
By the end of the marathon I was a worn out, broken mess with legs made of fire.
Building muscle in your legs is critical.
On a cardio level, Im in pretty decent shape.
But my conditioning wasnt what was tested during the race.
In fact, I hardly ever felt winded.
It was all a test of endurance.
It was all about how long my legs could function before pain and exhaustion made them completely useless.
The stronger your legs are, the longer they can resist.
Take training seriously, and do not skimp on those strength training exercises.
Money Loss Is Actually a Great Motivator
Running in organized races can be pretty expensive.
And that doesnt include all the gear you should probably train and run with.
It kind of makes sense once in youre in the thick of it.
And its not the kind of soreness you get after a long workout.
So why put myself through such agony?
Because I also feel like Im on top of the world.
I wanted a challenge so difficult I knew it would require mind over matter.
I wanted to do something that wasjust as much a test of mental toughnessas it was physically demanding.
When I crossed the finish line and received my medal, I was overcome with emotion.
I even cried a little bit.
Mostly out of pain, but also because I was proud.
I said I was going to do something, I worked hard at it, and I did it.
Accomplishment had never felt so good.
I can do this too.
Bonus tip: carry your ID with you while you run.
Dont make the same mistake.
