My goal to do a crash course in training for this half-marathon was to simply get one 9-miler under my belt. I knew if I could do that, I could get the 13.1 in a decent time. So on Saturday, I hopped on the treadmill and 72 minutes and 11 seconds later I got my 9 miles done. Even with an industrial fan blowing in my face from a foot away, Moat Rauschenberg had formed around my treadmill. Par for the course for being the Sweat-a-Tron 3000. But I stepped off the mill with the big goal completed.
I will readily admit that before getting on the treadmill, I was nervous. it has been 500 days since I had run that far. I have had multiple surgeries since then (even ones not on my knee.) I am rapidly approaching 50 years of age. There was a lot of trepidation about this run. So much so that even when I started, the normal 7.5 mph I would normally start at made me feel winded. For some reason, after a mile setting the treadmill to seven point FOUR felt more doable and I kept it there for most of my run.
Now I have the half-marathon on the horizon. As I write this there was a 7.3 earthquake off the coast of Alaska in the general vicinity of Anchorage, where I am heading tomorrow. First ad foremost, as a tsunami warning has been issued, I hope for the health and safety of all in the area. About 40th and not as pressing, but mattering to me, is I sure do hope I get to run my race.
If I don't, it will only drive home the point I have often tried to point out about why, more than almost anything else about my 52 marathons in 52 weekends, not having a race canceled or missing it for any number of reasons was a huge accomplishment. I set out to run a race every single weekend, when there were far less actual races then there are today, and races weren't put together solely for the purpose for people to keep streaks alive. Weather happens. Injuries happen. Pandemics happen. That is why veracity matters.
When I finished the 52nd marathon I let out a huge sigh of relief. Nothing could possibly go wrong to take way the achievement. Fortunately, while I am trying to get a marathon and a half in all 50 states before I turn 50, even if this race gets canceled, I still have some leeway. Not as much as I would like (thank you pandemic, Trump in general, knee surgeries) but still time.
Regardless, I have, as safely as I could in the time allowed, got myself ready for this half marathon in Alaska. If it happens, that just leaves me with 11 more states to conquer in the next 315 days. Let the countdown begin!
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