For several years now, “Run a Marathon” has been languishing on my life list. Last fall I decided that 2013 would be the year I finally made it happen. I didn’t have anything else going on this year other than going to Italy in March and running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May with D (his first one!) so I figured this was the year. I set my sights on Chicago in October and told everyone I knew about this goal so that fear of public humiliation would hold me to it.
And then I went and got engaged. The wedding is on November 2, three weeks after the Chicago marathon. Now, I’ve never gotten married OR run a marathon, but I don’t think it’s wise that I do both of these things within weeks of each other (right? I mean step in if I’m blowing these out of proportion here but I really don’t want to end up injured or sick at my own wedding. Snot-faced is not a good look for me and I catch colds as often as some people wash their sheets). So I started looking around for an earlier marathon that wasn’t too far from Pittsburgh...and I came up totally empty handed. I wanted something within driving distance (I’m on a budget here, what with the trip to Italy and getting married and all) in the late summer/early fall (for training/timing purposes). I cannot find anything that isn’t either too far away or really lame-sounding. I mean, I love the idea of a leisurely run down a country road, but not for my first marathon. For that I want a little excitement, a little bit of hoopla.
So, I guess I will not run a marathon this year. Perhaps I will run a marathon in 2014. As weird as it sounds, I’m really sad that I won’t be running my first marathon in Chicago this October. I kind of had my heart set on returning to one of my favorite cities in the world to run one of the most popular marathons in the world. My parents were going to come up, I have a ton of friends still living in the city, and it’s so gloriously flat that it makes 26.2 miles not sound all that bad. This was going to be my year.
I know I can always run a marathon (ha!) and I’m only getting married once, but I’m still not completely okay with the fact that this won’t be the year. I wanted to do it before I turned 30, and I don’t think that’s going to happen (unless I train for and run one before May 1, 2014). Unless there’s a fantastic marathon that fits all my specific parameters that I somehow haven’t heard about yet? If so, leave your suggestion in the comments!
8 comments:
Oh bummer. That is tough. I think you are wise to not take on training for a marathon so close to your wedding. Like you said, you will only get married once and marathon training is pretty exhausting! I wish I had a great race suggestion in your neck of the woods but I don't... I know it sucks to change plans, I had to do the same thing last year as I had hoped to do the marine corp marathon in October but couldn't justify spending the money on top of the expense of a surgery and 2 weddings that required travel. So I did a small race which ended up working fine. I was really sad to miss MCM but there are other years, I guess!
Having three weeks between the marathon and your wedding isn't that bad, in my mind. Whether you should run Chicago depends mostly on how much wedding prep will be going on three weeks beforehand. For me, the last-minute prep happened mostly in the final week before the wedding. By then, you would be fully recovered from the race (and you wouldn't have to think about doing any exercise since you can coast on the marathon for a long time!). If running is a stress reliever for you, it could help keep you even-keeled rather than getting caught up in wedding hype, too.
I can definitely see the arguments against doing it, but I also don't think you should rule out Chicago if you've got your heart set on it and really want to do it this year.
That said, if you're open to finding one in Sept instead of doing Chicago, it looks like there's one in Rochester, NY, one in the Adirondacks, and one in the Hamptons, any of which could be fun, and by Sept you wouldn't have to worry as much about crushing heat and humidity.
You still have time to train for and run the Minneapolis Marathon with me! It's June 2nd. While 3 weeks is plenty of recovery time between a marathon, you'll be in the thick of wedding planning and I do not blame you one bit for not wanting to add marathon training on top of it. Both are major time commitments and you're right, you only get married once!!
Having run multiple marathons and having gotten married (thankfully, only once), I'm in agreement with Lawyerish (and had drafted almost the exact same sentiment before seeing that comment). If your heart is set on it and you really want to do it, you can totally make it happen, but only if it's going to make this year enjoyable for you and not one filled with a different kind of regret.
Excellent call. I got laid off a week and a half before I got married and the added stress affected my immune system (and my memory of the existence of doctors) and I came down with something that turned into laryngitis the day of. I whispered my vows into the pastor's mike and spent my wedding reception communicating with everyone via notes.
One big thing at a time.
I ran a marathon 8 weeks before my wedding (a lot more time I know) and I'm kind of glad it wasn't any closer. Marathon training REALLY exhausted me and it takes up a lot of focus. However, like Nilsa and Lawyerish said, if your heart is set on it you could make it work, just make sure it's something you really want and will enjoy and not something that will make the year un-enjoyable.
Kent Ohio has a marathon in April? That's coming up fast...ahahaha
https://www.facebook.com/events/448282171891713/
Come to San Francisco! There are tons of races here and it is never cold...so you could even do it in December!
Or what about the Pittsburgh Marathon in May!?
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