Thursday, May 26, 2011

Running is easy... Sorta... Maybe... Not Really


Running is easy... Sorta... Maybe... Not Really

A wise man once said, "Step one to running a marathon: You run. There is no step two."  

In the simplest terms, Barney Stinson was right.  You run.  When you are finished, you stop running.  However, if running were truly that easy, everyone would do it.  Instead, running is challenging.  It requires dedication, smarts, and a little bit of toughness.  Running doesn't always feel good, yet we still get up with the sun and chase the horizon.  We log mile after mile, knowing it is getting us ready for that next race.  We climb those stairs and hit those hills, slowly but surely shaving minutes off our time.  While a basketball player practices hundreds of free throws, runners strip away seconds.

The physical training is only half of the preparation.  Runners must prepare mentally too.  They need to visualize themselves on the course.  They should see themselves finishing the race.  They can mentally break the race down into three parts:  The first part, plan to run with your head, the second part run with your personality, and the third part run with your heart.  It's all about being ready for that big day.

Juma Ikangaa, New York City Marathon winner said, "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."  So, while Barney was technically right about running, there is a lot more to it.  When that summer day in August finally arrives, you have got to be ready.

*Shared by Mini Marathon runner John Tillotson

**To share your stories or ideas email Kat@MadisonMiniMarathon.com

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Summer at the Terrace

How lucky are we to head out for a run on our own early in the morning on a weekend only to find ourselves among friends.  Our run may start out solo.  Birds chirping, waves lapping the shoreline of Lake Mendota and the rhythm of our feet.  Soon a fellow runner passes, then another and another...

It's a pretty cool secret club we're all part of.  We don't have to say anything other than "hi" and smile.  Instinctively we know that in a few miles or a few hours later, we'll see those same pairs of running shoes- feet up on a chair enjoying summer at the Terrace!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

93 days and counting

Is the Mini really only 93 days away?  From a runners standpoint that seems like a fair amount of time to start training.  Seems like plenty of time to get in those long runs and tempo runs and everything in between.  From a race production standpoint... well those 93 days are going to fly by!  We never really take a break from working on the Mini.  There are just seasons of busy, busier and really, really busy!  I'd say we're fast approaching season three.  This year we're going to let you in on some fun (and not so fun) behind the scenes stuff so you know what it's like to "run the Mini" on the other end.  Happy Training!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Tales of a Runner - Running Without Expectation


Tales of a Runner
Running Without Expectation
Racing season is officially upon us.  For many, The Crazylegs Classic is the start to what turns into a summer of training and racing. There is just something about lining up with 20,000 of your closet friends at the Capital then celebrating with them 8K later at Camp Randall that makes you want to do it again and again! 

While waiting for my wave to move up, I was less than eager to start running. I have to admit I was having one of those mornings where I thought, “maybe I should have just stayed in bed”.  I started noticing little aches that weren’t there earlier.  I thought, “It’s too windy, shouldn’t have worn a visor- not fitting right, maybe I should line up for the porta-potty again…” The excuses started piling up in my head until I finally looked around me. 

People were laughing and smiling.  I started talking to the woman next to me. She had gotten her friend to join her for the first time. They were both so excited to run together, not caring about where they finished.  The whole point of the day for them was to just run and enjoy being a part of a yearly tradition in Madison. 

As our wave continued to inch it’s way up to the start line, my negative thoughts began to fade.  Spectators and volunteers were cheering and giving high five’s. As the announcer gave us the official countdown I thought, “where else would I possibly want to be?”

For the 20,000 participants the finish line was the same that day. It didn’t really matter if we crossed in 24 minutes or 2 hours.  We all had one common goal – to finish. That day I decided to just run without expectation. I decided to enjoy the course, the people and the celebration of running. Needless to say, I PR’d that day

Tales of a Runner - The Journey

Tales of a Runner….

The Journey
As I lace up my shoes and head out the door; I take a deep breath of fresh air and think ahh…life is good.  I can’t help but smile as I hear birds chirping, they’ve made their way back to Madison after the long hiatus of winter.
Yes, it’s really happening.  Spring has officially arrived here in Wisconsin.

 I take a few minutes to warm up then fall into an easy rhythm.  I begin to imagine what it will feel like to shed one more layer of clothing in the upcoming weeks, begin to imagine what it will feel like to run through the April rains and splash through puddles. Spring brings a sense of renewal and awakening. It’s like a switch is flipped and we are free to dream, explore and discover.

As I continue on my morning run I plan out my race calendar in my head.  I look forward to the nervous buzz as I take my place pinning on my bib number, the gracious volunteers I’ll encounter who offer support, the amazing new friends I will meet along the way, but more than anything, I look forward to the journey of getting to the start line. 

As a runner you know it’s a process.  It takes hard work, perseverance and dedication to put in your weekly miles.  You get out of it what you put into it. And while you train in order to go the distance on race day, you soon realize running becomes more than, well… just running.  It’s what you will discover about yourself along the way.  You will uncover things you never even knew were there. You open yourself up to new possibilities. And You’ll discover running strong on the pavement can equate to running strong in life.

People run for all sorts of reasons.  To loose weight, to set a new PR, to win the competition…. And while I love all of these things - I’ve discovered it’s the journey of self-discovery and my uplifted spirit that I love most.


For comments, story ideas or to submit a story of your own email Kat@MadisonMiniMarathon.com

Don’t miss your chance to write your own tale- Register now for Madison Mini-Marathon and begin your journey today!