The theme for this entry came to me at about mile number 13 of a 19 mile run this morning. We were moving along all right, but that was the point in the run when it began to feel long, like it would hopefully end soon. You know, the time when you are having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In other words, the place where you 
need to dig deep, and get through the next few miles until you can sniff the finish. Usually, once you have the end in sight, or at least within a few miles, you feel much better.
That's not the theme I was thinking about however. The thought that came to me is about how distance running is such an honest sport. You might be the most physically blessed runner in the world, but if you don't put in the miles, the training, then you aren't going to do very well come race time. Sure, some people are more predisposed physiologically than others, and they have the potential to race faster and longer than others, but they will never reach their potential without doing the work.
The thought I had at mile 13, is that despite my years of running, and stretch of training non-stop for more than a year now, I still have to do the work. If I want to run a good marathon in October, I need to put in the long miles now, and hit the track during the week. In other words, there is no resting on one's laurels in distance running.
That said, the 19 miles my running buddy Tom and I did this morning was much easier, thanks to the cooler weather! It was a little under 70 degrees with overcast skies when we took off in the morning. It just doesn't get much better than that in August in Chicago!
We ran two laps around the 9.5 mile trail at Waterfall Glen. I've said this before, but let me mention it again. I love it out there! It's really a wonderful place to run. There are several training groups out there now, and we passed several large groups on the path, but you really never get the feeling that it is crowded. Nothing against the lakefront path, one of the best big city places in the country to run, but on a Saturday morning during marathon training season, it is just plain crowded.
Anyway, it feels good to get the 19 miler over with. My plan is to do two 20 milers before the marathon, so that is still to come, but the run today is a big confidence booster. Getting back to the theme of this entry, confidence plays a big part in marathon preparation. No matter how many times I have done these before, I still have doubts before a long run. I believe that's natural. And it's good to answer those doubts affirmatively!
See you on the roads....
John,
Saw you and your buddy out there Saturday and I couldn't agree more. There is no place like Waterfall Glen when it's time for a long run.
Good luck in October. I'll be behind you somewhere around the 4 hour mark.
Posted by: MIke | August 21, 2007 at 06:46 PM