Thursday, May 24, 2012

marathon photos

I don't usually like the photos that get taken of me.  Especially during a marathon.  These ones however are not too bad.  I still don't know if they're $62.00 good, but still...  I look happy.  And I really was.  I could feel myself smiling almost the whole way.  Yes, I hurt towards the end, but I was so glad to be there and so grateful just to be running that it made everything else o.k.  Us runners are a weird lot.  We look for pain.  We like to be uncomfortable.  But only because we've seen the results.  We have felt the accomplishment before and we know what's in store for us after the pain.  
Here's my frustration: this marathon was not my worst time.  It wasn't my best, but it was pretty normal for me.  And I didn't train.  The only consolation I have is that I enjoy the training.  I like the long miles.  But I wonder if I really need them.  Maybe it's because I've done a few marathons but I really wonder if all the training beforehand does more damage to me than just one day of stressing my body.  Just wondering out loud.  Feel free to chime in if you have a strong opinion on the subject
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17 comments:

Yo Momma Runs said...

Great pics! I've wondered the same thing. What if I just keep a half marathon base of training and occasionally throw in a marathon.

Unknown said...

Great photos!

Mallory said...

Great race photos!! I hate that they're always so expensive!

Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem: A Runner's Blog said...

i think these are great photos! I have not done a marathon yet..soon, but I like the thought of maintaining half marathon base too. Seems so much more doable in the long run.

Katie said...

I think the pictures are great!

I do not think we need tons of miles to run a marathon, depending on how you plan on running the marathon. I do minimal mileage, I think, for marathon training and ran both more to have fun and less for time and I felt great, esp. after my second one. Training for a marathon is hard on my body and I do not think I could up my mileage passed 40 miles a week.

Nelly said...

Great race photos and I'm glad you were able to run a marathon despite battling injuries recently!

Julie said...

You are adorable! Great pictures and you do look VERY happy to be out there running again. Congratulations on the marathon!

abbi said...

Great photos! I've kind of wondered the same thing before. Then, I think back to my first marathon and know I couldn't have completed it without building up but if there's a level of base, it's a good question!

susette said...

I've thought so much about that for half marathons too! I've been so bad about following the training plan for Utah Valley Half because I keep doing other races that I feel like are keeping me hopefully up to par. I guess if I ever want to get faster than I should probably train harder.

Just heard the news about Saturday!! Wahoo:) I feel like between you and Julia I will be running with superstars!

Jerilee E. said...

Awesome race and those are great pictures! My favorite race pics of mine were from Ogden, too.
I have really wondered about whether some of the training plans actually over-train us for a marathon. I just signed up for a marathon in July, so I guess I will find out :).

Life After Swimming said...

Love the pics :)

Julia said...

amazing pics!! i have been wondering the same thing since provo...i ran more 20 milers than i ever have and i crashed harder than i ever have...i think i felt best at Vegas and never even did a 20 miler...granted it was just 2 months after St. George...but i have still been thinking about the fact that i ran less distance then and felt stronger. gotta be saying something. and now all day i have been beating myself up because this weekend was supposed to be my first "back to back" LR weekend. but my body, mind, legs are all exhausted. and i really want to have a good experience at the trail race...but am terrified of the 50 so i keep telling myself that i MUST do the 10 i had planned for tomorrow. but im thinking reading your post and thinking about my own past experiences is making me reconsider and figure fresh legs is better than running on beat up legs. guess i will see how i feel in the morning.

anyway...sorry for rambling all over your comment page;) cant wait to see you this weekend!

CONGRATS again on the incredible marathon! and the super fun and HAPPY pictures:)

Anonymous said...

These pictures are great!

Tasha Malcolm said...

I like your race photos- you look great. I usually look like death or at least close to it. I still don't understand why they have to charge so much for them? Especially if you do the digital download. It is ridiculous!

I ran my marathon PR in December at CIM (3:21). I used the philosophy of run less, run faster. My peak mileage was 37 miles. I got greedy and signed up for Eugene because I wasn't satisfied with my time at CIM. I hired a coach and my peak mileage was 56. I felt much more prepared then I had for CIM. Unfortunately, I had some MASSIVE GI problems at Eugene so I didn't PR, but still finished in 3:25.

Coy Martinez said...

First, I have to say that I think it's awesome that you're back to running and being injury free.

Second, you and I run really similar times in marathons and I've had the same thoughts as you about finish times. If I don't train, I run close to 5 hours and sometimes I wonder if I just shouldn't show up and just go out with no pressure and enjoy my 5 hour day!? :) I put in a ton more hours during training but only to shave that time by 30 minutes or so. hmmmm. Maybe we're onto something? :)

Laura Boll said...

Great pictures! Mine never turn out that well! I think when you're not going for some crazy pr, less is definitely more. Some of those long runs can be really taxing. I'm still experimenting with it all, and not training for a full, but I feel best on long runs of 10-13 most of the year. Maybe if I did marathons regularly, I'd feel the same way on 15-20 mile training runs!

Unknown said...

Way to go Jen. Another slow dance, another mary. It must feel good.