What I owe to running: from backpacker to back of the pack running
I was not born to run.
Running is humbling.
I rather go on a hike than run. I rather be out in the woods than running on a road. I’d rather be hiking the Finger Lakes Trail, climbing a peak in the Adirondacks or hiking in the Grand Canyon than running on a road. I rather be cross country skiing anywhere I can find snow.
My body was not built for running. I did not run in high school or college. I struggled to run up and down the basketball court in high school. I was not considered an athlete in high school. I did not have a running body like many of my running friends.
I blame my running beginnings on my husband.
My husband was already a runner before I came into his life. An Army Reservist, he ran to stay in shape. In my early 40’s, I came to the realization that the cardiovascular benefits of running could help me get in better shape for what I really wanted to do - ski, hike, backpack, paddle.
I started to run so I could get stronger for cross country skiing. However, during the winters of low natural snow, I would run more.
We lived in a townhouse development on a quiet street. My first attempts at running was to run/walk/run to the end of our street. There was a little hill at the end that I would struggle to maintain my speed. Back then, I measured my running distance by riding my bike using its odometer. I did not wear any kind of fancy running watch. Eventually, I worked myself up to running about 3 to 4 miles in our hilly neighborhood. That was about 25 years ago.
What I learned from running - set realistic goals
To keep me motivated, I entered some 5k and 10K running races. My times were slow - I usually finished near the back of the pack. As my endurance slowly grew over the next 5 years, I would set a new but realistic goal. Eventually, I worked myself up to completing several half-marathons. I started to build more confidence in my running.
Along the way, I spent a lot of time educating myself on running by reading all the books I could find on various topics.
I absorbed training principles from Arthur Lydiard, Jack Daniels, Greg McMillan, Luke Humphrey (Hanson Method) and Jason Koop. I built up a huge library of books and continue to return to them for advice.
From running half-marathons to ultramarathons
Over the years, my endurance increased and I was able to run longer distances - not fast but longer. My long-distance hiking prepared me well for running longer. However, I needed a new goal to remain motivated.
I asked myself. How far could I go? Could I complete an ultra marathon?
I was drawn to ultra marathons for several reasons- spending more time doing what I love to do - being on the trails. In ultra events, most non-elite runners hike more and run less.
Ultra marathons are typically any distance greater than 26.2 miles. Usually, they are 50 kilometers or more but many ultra events today are time-based - 6 hours, 9 hours and more.
My first ultra - the Finger Lakes 50K
I chose a local ultramarathon event for my first attempt at running an ultra distance - this 50k was about 32 miles. The Finger Lakes 50K trail race is held in the Finger Lakes National Forest in New York along beautiful wooded trails. Usually held in early July, the race consists of two loops of about 25K each with several aid stations along the way. To help build my confidence and to get familiar with the course, I ran the 25K version the year before I ran the 50K race.
What I learned from running
Be prepared to solve problems
For most of my ultras, the goal was to just finish. Depending on the length and terrain of the ultra, I could take anywhere from 6 hours to over 15 hours to finish an ultra race. I was out there for a long time - long enough that things can go wrong. I learned to cope and solve problems as they came up.
At the Finger Lakes 50 race, it was a hot and humid day. It had rained for a few days before the race and many of the trails were muddy. Some trails were essentially small streams. Since I had no control over the environmental conditions, I decided to slow down, take it easy and use my trekking/running poles to safely navigate the trails. I focused on my fluid intake to help prevent dehydration. Despite the heat, I tried to stay on top of getting enough calories to keep my energy levels up. At one point, I started to feel some gastrointestinal distress. I made the decision to slow down even more and focus on my breathing. After a while, my stomach started to feel better.
Be prepared to cope with adversity
At the Fall Back into the Trails 50K race in LaGrangeville, New York, a rainstorm was threatening. The course was four loops of rugged terrain with a lot of climbing in the first half of the loop and then a lot of downhill in the second half. Held in late Fall, the trail was covered with a lot of leaves and I could not see the rocks or roots under the leaves. On the third loop, the rain came but I did not have my rain jacket with me - a big mistake. I had to slow down to see the trail as my visibility was poor due to the pounding rain. As I finished the third loop, I quickly grabbed my rain jacket and put it on. The rain subsided on the last loop and I was able to pick up my pace and finish strong.
One of the most rugged trail races I completed was the Grayson Highlands 50k at the Grayson Highlands State Park in southwestern Virginia. With over 5,000 feet of climbing, I would be challenged by rugged terrain, poor trail markings and insufficient aid stations. The race had a cut-off time of 11 hours which sounded generous at first but I needed all of that time to finish due to several factors. Because of the poor trail markings, I got off course several times and had to back-track. I tried to run with others but we got spread out due to the remote terrain. The aid stations were few and far between and I probably did not drink enough fluid to stay on top of my hydration. I experienced gastrointestinal distress and had to slow down to cope with it. Finally, I felt stressed about finishing under the cut-off time. I had to push myself in the last 5 miles. This was one of the hardest 50k races I completed.
Be prepared to take care of your feet
Over the years, I learned a lot about foot care and usually carry a small footcare kit with me on longer runs/hikes. Jon Vonhof’s Fixing Your Feet is my go-to resource on foot issues. Being able to deal with blisters on the trail can help prevent problems later.
I’m not the strongest. I’m not the fastest. But I’m really good at suffering. - Amelia Boone
What I learned from running - trust my training
With some confidence in my running endurance, I anxiously decided to enter my first road marathon. For my first road marathon, my goal was to finish strong. I felt stressed about the urge to run faster than I typically do in ultra marathons. I chose the Wineglass Marathon in Corning, New York as my first marathon - this race is close to home. I had no expectations other than I wanted to finish strong. I was nervous about maintaining a faster pace for 26.2 miles.
I was pleasantly surprised at my finishing time at the Wineglass Marathon - I ran about 5 minutes slower than what I would need to qualify to enter the Boston Marathon. Wow. I was stunned. I expected to finish much slower.
I set a new challenge for myself - try to run a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. I felt my new goal was realistic - I would need to finish about 5 to 10 minutes faster than my time at Wineglass. Over the next four years, I concentrated on getting faster. With each marathon I finished, I became more confident in my pacing strategy, my speed and my race-day nutrition. My typical training block for each marathon lasted 16 weeks - training 5 to 6 days a week. The training was hard but I felt that if I put in the training, I had a shot at hitting my goal time.
The process of becoming is better than being. Set big goals and learn to love the work that gets you to them. Even if you fall short, you’ll still be winning. - Des Linden
To earn a spot in the Boston Marathon, I would need to meet the official Boston Marathon qualifying time AND also run a little faster to ensure a spot in the famed race. The Boston Marathon receives so many entries but only accepts a smaller field due to local regulations.
Qualifying for the Boston Marathon: learning to persevere
My goal race for qualifying for the Boston Marathon was the Erie Marathon - a flat and fast course on the Presque Island peninsula adjacent to Lake Erie in Pennsylvania. Although it was a September race, the weather could still be hot and humid. At my first Erie Marathon, I ran a smart race and was able to achieve the Boston qualifying time but missed the acceptance cutoff by about 2 minutes. I was disappointed but I trusted my training and was confident that I could return the following year and shave off another 5 minutes. I knew what I had to do with my training and my pacing. The following year I put in another training block of 16 weeks and returned to run the Erie Marathon. The weather cooperated and I ran another Boston qualifying time with about a 5 minute cushion. With my faster time, I finally received my official Boston Marathon acceptance. My hard work and determination had paid off.
True growth and progress occur when we push beyond our comfort zones and challenge ourselves to do hard things. - Steve Magness, Do Hard Things
What I learned from running - run the mile you are in.
Standing on the starting line of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, I reflected on my running journey that enabled me to be there. It was a long and winding road that brought me to that line. On that morning, I decided to reward myself by celebrating during the entire race. As I ran each mile along the course from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston, I soaked in all the sights and sounds of the entire Boston Marathon experience. I enjoyed the revelry of the amazing Boston fans along the way. I paid attention to the iconic landmarks along the course.
This was my time to celebrate - I did not want to rush it - I purposely ran a slower race because I wanted to be on the course as long as possible. I kept thinking in the back of my mind - this may be my only Boston Marathon.
As I approached Heartbreak Hill, I looked for my nephew and his family. They planned to be there to cheer me on. When I found them, I stopped to hug them. I met my new great-nephew for the first time; Robin was only 2 months old at the time. They brought Robin and my great-niece, Pippa to see me run the Boston Marathon.
When I made the final turn down Boylston Street (slowly of course), I was crushed by the roar of the fans lining the street on both sides. As I got closer to the finish line, I heard the speaker announce my name and hometown. Wow! I was not expecting that. What an adrenaline rush. I just ran the Boston Marathon - the most iconic marathon in the world.
Moving forward - seeking new adventures.
Running has prepared me well for seeking new adventures that challenge my comfort zone. Besides the amazing cardiovascular benefits it provides, my experiences in running have bolstered my personal confidence, handling stressful situations and being adaptable. As I get older, I plan to continue to rely on running to keep me in shape as I pursue new adventures.
Do you have an activity that you do to help you maintain or build your fitness? What kind of benefits does it provide? I am always interested in learning what others do to keep in shape as we get older. Let me hear your thoughts.
Resources on Running
Running the Lydiard Way by Arthur Lydiard with Garth Gilmour
Daniels’ Running Formula, 3rd Edition. By Jack Daniels, PhD.
You (Only Faster): Training plans to help you train smarter and run faster by Greg McMillan M.S.
Hansons Marathon Method: Run Your Fastest Marathon by Luke Humphrey with Keith and Kevin Hanson
Training Essentials for Ultrarunning, 2nd Edition. By Jason Koop with Jim Rutberg and Corrine Malcolm
The Trail Runner’s Companion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trail Running and Racing, from 5ks to Ultra’s by Sarah Lavender Smith
Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters with the UltraMarathon by Neal Jamison
Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons by Byron Powell
Hal Koerner’s Field Guide to Ultrarunning by Hal Koerner with Adam Chase.
Running Injuries by Tim Noakes and Stephen Granger
Fixing Your Feet by Jon Vonhof
Build Your Running Body by Pete Magill, Thomas Schwartz and Melissa Breyer
Mental Training for Ultrarunning by Addie Bracy
Thank you for your kind words. A positive mindset helps. You will never know until you try.
Awesome reading about your running journey, Jenn! Something that made a huge difference in my running training was taking up masters swimming at Julie's urging. I found that it substantially increased my lung capacity even though I only did it on Mondays and Friday's. In my 50s I ran with a group of guys that averaged 20+ years younger than me who really pushed me. Before taking up the swimming, conversation while doing long training runs was not an easy thing with these guys. Not only did swimming make training conversation much easier, but I was able to knock over twelve minutes off my half-marathon time and reach a goal to run a sub-1:30 time.