Terrrell, you have provided us with great quotes by authors who are basically telling us to re-claim our own sovereignty and take responsibility for our own training by listening to our own body as no one training program will or can work for everyone. “Bio-individuality” rules and maturity says experiment, experiment and experiment until you can create your own training program. There are many “gurus” out there but if you break the word down I think it really means... “Gee , You Are You”. That realization can go a long way in allowing us all to grow up and claim total responsibility for our actions, on the running trails as well as off them.
The Rich Rolls of the world typically interview the “elite” runners or performers in their area of expertise. I am wondering if you have ever considered a podcast interviewing “Everyman” or “Everywoman” , runners who had the “courage to begin” and have surprised and transformed themselves in the process. It seems that might be more instructive to a wider audience of runners who find the Olympians a bit harder to relate to…
You could focus on those who have completed half marathons. Their stories might be very compelling and instructive for all of us and underscore the “Half Marathon” event here and around the world. I bet advertisers would be interested in this audience and you might enjoy it as much as the recent interview you did with Neal Bascomb. Just a thought but I think it’s a void in the marketplace you could nicely fill.
Clark, it's so funny you should say that, as I was just having a discussion about this with my wife this morning. I was telling her about the newsletter and how, sometimes, I feel a bit of impostor syndrome -- that, sometimes, what the readers really need is someone with an exercise physiology degree who's also an expert in nutrition, and who's run 50+ marathons and can tell you everything you need to know about how to train.
Well, to put it mildly, that's not me 😃 I'm a suburban dad who sometimes can keep up with training/running and sometimes can't. I shy away from even mentioning this because I don't want to sound ungrateful -- and I'm so, so appreciative and blown away by the success this newsletter has had. I mean, it's just so amazing. And I'd never want any reader to think I'm not 100% grateful that even one person reads it, you know?
I think you're completely on target with what you say about elite runners -- they get all the focus in nearly all of the other running media/publications/podcasts/etc., and this would be a great space to highlight everyday people who are making running part of their lives.
I'm beginning to think that this should really be the kind of place that helps people do that, encourages and inspires them, and provides a supportive community for that -- which it is for me as well. And, I have other things that I want to write about, that I think of often but just don't feel right for this space, that I will probably spin off into a separate newsletter.
I realize how silly it might sound that, even though I've been writing this newsletter for nearly 8 years, I still haven't figured out what it really *is* yet. But I heard a saying once about life, that it's like giving a violin concert, on stage and in public, while learning how to play the violin at the same time. I can relate to that! 😃
Never doubt that you have the leadership qualities to move the needle in the direction your heart takes you Terrell. Your patience, perseverance, deep listening and inclusivity is what the majority of humans are craving. You model all of that. There are many so called “experts” out there but there are few leaders with excellent character. You can always find the “experts” but you must take the lead. I hope I am not crossing any boundaries by giving you this unsolicited advice…!
This is so interesting. It took me several injuries in my thirties and early forties to realize that rest is one of the training intensities. It's so hard at first to realize that simply "doing nothing" on a rest day is actually training, and is actually something that will make you stronger and faster. But to respond to your very interesting quotations about pain, it's interesting to me that in certain sports, like rowing, or any similar endeavor where the duration is fairly short, athletes are taught to ignore those pain signals. In rowing sprints, the people who go fastest tend to be those who push themselves that extra little bit past the point where the body's safety mechanism says slow down. It's an interesting dilemma--balancing (perhaps?) the pain-signal response in training against the pain-signal response in competition of a certain kind.
And lastly--because your piece is really thought-provoking!--the idea of each step being taken for itself rings very true. I was just backcountry skiing in Chile and our little group of nine skiers talked about how you don't do this for the downhill only. You have to love the uphill for itself, taken one stride at a time.
Thanks for reading, Henriette! And for your thoughtful comment. And yes, you're very right -- athletes are taught to ignore pain signals, even when they're clearly a sign that something serious is going on. (Witness the Tua Tagovailoa saga in the NFL from a couple weeks ago). But the caveat is, this mostly happens with really young athletes -- as we get older (of course), we can't ignore the pain like we could when we were younger,
Also, I'm thinking specifically of running, or any kind of activity where we put repetitive stress on joints or muscles -- if we want to keep doing it for a long time, we have to let our bodies recover. It's such an essential part of the process -- though it can be really trying on our patience, I admit!
I love your story about backcountry skiing in Chile! I'd love to hear more about it, as just the idea sounds like it must have been an amazing adventure. Great hearing from you!
I totally agree. That's one of the things I'm proud to have learned in my later and wiser years--how to listen to pain and not be stupid and push through what will then become a real injury. Still, there is this counterintuitive piece in specifically rowing (which I can speak to from my own experience) where, at any age, you're told that towards the end of a sprint, if you feel like you're going to throw up/pass out, you can actually keep pushing past that point for just a tiny bit longer. And the rower who can do that will have an edge over the rower who backs off. I used to back off, and then became comfortable with the discomfort of that -temporary- pain, and indeed I went faster.
That's such a great observation! And as I read it, I think to myself, pain is a part of running, too -- depending on the kind of running you do. If you're running a marathon, you're going to experience *some* pain, particularly around miles 18-22. (Once you make it past twenty, you know you can do it -- though I saw someone give up once after passing mile 23!) You do just have to power through at that point, if you want to finish.
Context is everything, though -- it's really about avoiding the kinds of injuries that take you out of running for the long haul, that's why listening to pain is so important (especially after age 40 or 45). This is why blanket statements aren't always right 😃
Oh my word!!!! I think that's great.... I'll be cheering you on every step of the way.... What's the date of the marathon?? I think the way it all turned out, it was just meant for you to run that marathon!!!!
A Scary thing happened to me in '16... I'd run a really good h/m in Nov '15. I signed up to run a 15k, Hot Chocolate Run, in Nashville Feb 13.... It was Super cold,, they told us at expo to really layer up.. Morning of the run it was 17 degrees with wind chill at 7... I made up my mind to change mine to a 5k.. My husband was walking it.... I remember getting very close to finish line, earlier when we first started we crossed railroad tracks. So I could see the RR tracks, and remember being so glad it was almost over... I was Freezing, feet were numb. The very next thing was me in an ambulance, being laid down!!!!! They'd already taken my jacket off,,, I had no recollection of getting there, jacket off, nothing!!! One guy started IV, other one kept telling me to look at him. He told me to hand him my towel,,, a little race towel... When I saw it I about died,, it was bloody. He ask me did I remember tripping, going to close to the curb, anything that could have made me fall. I said no, he said we think you Passed Out, and fell, bc my hands were so clean,,, like I didn't try to Break my fall. My face and head were a mess. They wanted to know if anyone was with me, waiting or racing, I could remember Phil being with me but couldn't remember if he was waiting or racing!!! Which really scared me.
I was taken to Vanderbilt,, at first thought it was heart attack,,, wasn't, thank God. Scans of my head were normal. Spent from Sat morning till late Monday afternoon,,, had every test known of man,, everything was clear... Dr said it was like conditions were right to make the perfect Storm. Too cold, I was not fueling at all bc of the cold, and had been under Alot of stress!!!!!!
I almost quit Running,,, wore a heart monitor for a month.. I couldn't go out to run for a long time. Wouldn't even do treadmill if my husband wasn't home...
But, in couple months I ran the Nashville half, no problems since...So, I kinda know how you feel.... Wish you all the best.
Hi Terrell, Thank you for the lengthy response. I think I'd like to do some half marathons. I may do a 10K inJanuary with NYCRuns, with an out of town friend. I haven't done many shorter races, so maybe that would be something to try as well. Thanks for your column, I love reading it!
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." John " the Penguin" Bingham
Hi, Terrell! Re-evaluating where I belong on the Internet. You are right. Writing is hard! So are comments, though I love to comment. Doing too much for awhile so I need a short break. I do love the Half-Marathoner community. . . so, I'll upgrade to my paid membership this weekend. That's going to be IT for newsletters! The others all go on the "delete pile."
Right now I'm not following any training plan. Looking for a place to move to and getting rid of old papers and books to start over. I think I have carried some of this "stuff" around for the last 30 or so years and don't use any of it anymore. Getting rid of it is like a breath of fresh air!
I'll go out again for a short run--2/3 miles until I start training for the BSIM. Mind boggling how many miles one puts in for a Marathon. Lucked out and have a Chi Running Instructor in the race, too, so I'm a little more at ease than I was.
Really love my Xero HFS. One does not realize how confining most shoes are until you try out Xeros-- I've only been tempted for years, and I'm glad I finally put the money out!
Nice weekend coming up. . .80 degrees. a first ever in Seattle in October! Take Care! :)
Thank you, Nilima! And thanks for always being so understanding -- it really does mean a lot. It really is mind-boggling, when you think about it, how many miles you have to run to get ready for a marathon. Enjoy your weekend!!
Thank you for this post! I am looking for a community of runners to help me get back into it. I have no trained for a year--some small runs in the interum. Did the NYC marathon twice in 2019 and 2021, and thought I needed a break. I stopped this year part do to injury, but part was unsure if I should continue running because of my increased age. But I have missed it! Now am trying to get back, and finiding it hard. Maybe I need a goal of a half marathon (not sure I will ever run a marathon again). But thanks Terrell!
So great to hear from you, Liza! I remember your cartoons about running the NYC Marathon -- I loved them! I get needing a break too -- a marathon (and especially training for 26.2) is a big commitment. It's nice to run shorter distances without the pressure that a marathon involves.
I always miss running when I'm away from it too long; I've been pretty consistent for the past few weeks, but this week my schedule has meant I couldn't get any running in. And I can tell in my mood, it's definitely affected -- so I'm just like you, I need that support of a community of runners to keep me going too.
As far as goals, do you know what you like to run? Personally, I love 5Ks and 10Ks, and there are loads of races in NYC you can run. That's such an amazing running city. I hear you on the marathon too, that's like pitching a complete game or playing all 48 minutes of a full-court basketball game. Sometimes you just want to pitch an inning or two, or at least switch it up from time to time. There are so many halfs to choose from too 😃
I'd like to know your age,,, if you don't mind... I'm 70 yrs old, and ran 5 h/m last year.. I love that reading all the comments posted here, quite a few are older athletes. Like the lady fixing to start her training for a marathon at age 75!!!!!! Please don't let a number dictate what you are capable of running.....
Thanks to you Terrell for the John Bingham post... It's his book,, "No Need for Speed", that got me back to running... I met him in 2007, he's an incredibly nice man.. so down to earth... Saw him many times , and heard him speak at big races,,,, at expo's....
Keep going, Betty! I'll be closer to 76 when my Marathon starts in Big Sur. Fortunate to have this community behind me as well as the Chi Running/Walking Community. It really helps one keep going for so many weeks and s many miles! :)
It IS my first Marathon! Never would have tried if the promoters hadn't' challenged me with a "Random Drawing." and a reduced price. :) I thought they wouldn't choose me 1. because of my age and 2. because I never win at drawings. Shows how much I know! I got an email the day after I hurt my head saying that said I had won an entry. Before, this, I stayed with Half Marathons and 10Ks. . .
If my husband hadn't implied that I was too old for a marathon and "that I didn't have to go!" I'll make a point of finishing!
A few years back, he said the same thing about learning handstands and back bends when I was 70. . . Ha, ha, I can do them just fine in spite of the grey hair, wrinkles . ;)
My head seems to have gone back to it's normal old crazy self. Thanks for asking! It's still scary to run cuz I never did find out what happened! Prepping now for 24 weeks training. Geez, it is going to take some effort. I've never run 20 some miles in my life!
I'm 67, so you are very inspiring! 5 half marathons, that's so wonderful! My doc diagnosed mild arthritis in my hips last year....but I think everyone our age gets some arthritis, right? Starting a marathon at 75, that's wonderful!! I say I won't do another marathon, but something in me wants to do it again. Good to know you, Betty, and I am very encouraged by you!
My one big goal is the marathon,,, even if having to walk alot of it... I've had 3 back surgeries,,,,, in the 90's,,,, and 3 foot surgeries,,, not related to running... I'm really not sure if my foot would hold up,,, so I'll just keep on keeping on with half's,,,, good Lord willing....
I have high arches and bony feet, I was amazed my feet let me run so much, and 2 marathons! I swear by the shoes made by HOKA, particuarly the Bondi they make.
Okay we have our high arches in common!!!!🤗🤗. When the surgeon first saw my foot he said my arches were so high that you could drive a truck under them. However, we won't let bad feet stop us, will we!!!!🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️
Thanks for this Terrell. It resonates and helps me with my thoughts while running long distance. I also used to have a push through approach and I would say unhealthy obsessive mindset about feeling the need to keep running whereas now I embrace the days off.
Thank you, Jon! I can totally understand that, but yes -- our bodies need that rest, ESPECIALLY once we pass age 40 or thereabouts. (When you're 16, 17, 18, etc., you have more leeway 😃)
Thanks a lot Terrell for sharing these words from Bingham. Could not be timelier. Now fully resting my foot from PF - already 5 weeks off running but probably a few more weeks to go (pain much lesser but still there) Will definitely use one of these training plans as soon as I am back on the road... run some extra miles for me!
I love the training program! This is the most consistent training program I’ve done since I got credit for my marathon training in college! Thanks for encouragement, it’s been so much fun!
Honestly, waking up early and running by myself before the rush of getting two kids out the door is the most centering thing I have ever done.
It’s also helped that the training program seems so manageable? Like I don’t know, there is something about this community where I haven’t felt any shame for some of my runs being walks, or some of my planned runs turning into time spent sleeping in. It’s all welcome, or at least that’s how I’ve felt here!
That is so true, of learning to listen to our bodies. I let my body lead the way with its pace, and I find the most joy out of exercising and running that way. Enjoy your words as always Terrell
Terrrell, you have provided us with great quotes by authors who are basically telling us to re-claim our own sovereignty and take responsibility for our own training by listening to our own body as no one training program will or can work for everyone. “Bio-individuality” rules and maturity says experiment, experiment and experiment until you can create your own training program. There are many “gurus” out there but if you break the word down I think it really means... “Gee , You Are You”. That realization can go a long way in allowing us all to grow up and claim total responsibility for our actions, on the running trails as well as off them.
Very well said, Clark -- much better than I did, in fact! :)
The Rich Rolls of the world typically interview the “elite” runners or performers in their area of expertise. I am wondering if you have ever considered a podcast interviewing “Everyman” or “Everywoman” , runners who had the “courage to begin” and have surprised and transformed themselves in the process. It seems that might be more instructive to a wider audience of runners who find the Olympians a bit harder to relate to…
You could focus on those who have completed half marathons. Their stories might be very compelling and instructive for all of us and underscore the “Half Marathon” event here and around the world. I bet advertisers would be interested in this audience and you might enjoy it as much as the recent interview you did with Neal Bascomb. Just a thought but I think it’s a void in the marketplace you could nicely fill.
Clark, it's so funny you should say that, as I was just having a discussion about this with my wife this morning. I was telling her about the newsletter and how, sometimes, I feel a bit of impostor syndrome -- that, sometimes, what the readers really need is someone with an exercise physiology degree who's also an expert in nutrition, and who's run 50+ marathons and can tell you everything you need to know about how to train.
Well, to put it mildly, that's not me 😃 I'm a suburban dad who sometimes can keep up with training/running and sometimes can't. I shy away from even mentioning this because I don't want to sound ungrateful -- and I'm so, so appreciative and blown away by the success this newsletter has had. I mean, it's just so amazing. And I'd never want any reader to think I'm not 100% grateful that even one person reads it, you know?
I think you're completely on target with what you say about elite runners -- they get all the focus in nearly all of the other running media/publications/podcasts/etc., and this would be a great space to highlight everyday people who are making running part of their lives.
I'm beginning to think that this should really be the kind of place that helps people do that, encourages and inspires them, and provides a supportive community for that -- which it is for me as well. And, I have other things that I want to write about, that I think of often but just don't feel right for this space, that I will probably spin off into a separate newsletter.
(I actually already have it set up, at https://terrelljohnson.substack.com/)
I realize how silly it might sound that, even though I've been writing this newsletter for nearly 8 years, I still haven't figured out what it really *is* yet. But I heard a saying once about life, that it's like giving a violin concert, on stage and in public, while learning how to play the violin at the same time. I can relate to that! 😃
Never doubt that you have the leadership qualities to move the needle in the direction your heart takes you Terrell. Your patience, perseverance, deep listening and inclusivity is what the majority of humans are craving. You model all of that. There are many so called “experts” out there but there are few leaders with excellent character. You can always find the “experts” but you must take the lead. I hope I am not crossing any boundaries by giving you this unsolicited advice…!
Not at all! Thank you for the extremely kind words -- much appreciated! They ring true, they really do.
Good! Now go hug your family and empower your “tribe” to discover their better/best selves. “Great alone, better together” is my mantra Terrell.
This is so interesting. It took me several injuries in my thirties and early forties to realize that rest is one of the training intensities. It's so hard at first to realize that simply "doing nothing" on a rest day is actually training, and is actually something that will make you stronger and faster. But to respond to your very interesting quotations about pain, it's interesting to me that in certain sports, like rowing, or any similar endeavor where the duration is fairly short, athletes are taught to ignore those pain signals. In rowing sprints, the people who go fastest tend to be those who push themselves that extra little bit past the point where the body's safety mechanism says slow down. It's an interesting dilemma--balancing (perhaps?) the pain-signal response in training against the pain-signal response in competition of a certain kind.
And lastly--because your piece is really thought-provoking!--the idea of each step being taken for itself rings very true. I was just backcountry skiing in Chile and our little group of nine skiers talked about how you don't do this for the downhill only. You have to love the uphill for itself, taken one stride at a time.
Thank you for writing!
Thanks for reading, Henriette! And for your thoughtful comment. And yes, you're very right -- athletes are taught to ignore pain signals, even when they're clearly a sign that something serious is going on. (Witness the Tua Tagovailoa saga in the NFL from a couple weeks ago). But the caveat is, this mostly happens with really young athletes -- as we get older (of course), we can't ignore the pain like we could when we were younger,
Also, I'm thinking specifically of running, or any kind of activity where we put repetitive stress on joints or muscles -- if we want to keep doing it for a long time, we have to let our bodies recover. It's such an essential part of the process -- though it can be really trying on our patience, I admit!
I love your story about backcountry skiing in Chile! I'd love to hear more about it, as just the idea sounds like it must have been an amazing adventure. Great hearing from you!
I totally agree. That's one of the things I'm proud to have learned in my later and wiser years--how to listen to pain and not be stupid and push through what will then become a real injury. Still, there is this counterintuitive piece in specifically rowing (which I can speak to from my own experience) where, at any age, you're told that towards the end of a sprint, if you feel like you're going to throw up/pass out, you can actually keep pushing past that point for just a tiny bit longer. And the rower who can do that will have an edge over the rower who backs off. I used to back off, and then became comfortable with the discomfort of that -temporary- pain, and indeed I went faster.
That's such a great observation! And as I read it, I think to myself, pain is a part of running, too -- depending on the kind of running you do. If you're running a marathon, you're going to experience *some* pain, particularly around miles 18-22. (Once you make it past twenty, you know you can do it -- though I saw someone give up once after passing mile 23!) You do just have to power through at that point, if you want to finish.
Context is everything, though -- it's really about avoiding the kinds of injuries that take you out of running for the long haul, that's why listening to pain is so important (especially after age 40 or 45). This is why blanket statements aren't always right 😃
Oh my word!!!! I think that's great.... I'll be cheering you on every step of the way.... What's the date of the marathon?? I think the way it all turned out, it was just meant for you to run that marathon!!!!
A Scary thing happened to me in '16... I'd run a really good h/m in Nov '15. I signed up to run a 15k, Hot Chocolate Run, in Nashville Feb 13.... It was Super cold,, they told us at expo to really layer up.. Morning of the run it was 17 degrees with wind chill at 7... I made up my mind to change mine to a 5k.. My husband was walking it.... I remember getting very close to finish line, earlier when we first started we crossed railroad tracks. So I could see the RR tracks, and remember being so glad it was almost over... I was Freezing, feet were numb. The very next thing was me in an ambulance, being laid down!!!!! They'd already taken my jacket off,,, I had no recollection of getting there, jacket off, nothing!!! One guy started IV, other one kept telling me to look at him. He told me to hand him my towel,,, a little race towel... When I saw it I about died,, it was bloody. He ask me did I remember tripping, going to close to the curb, anything that could have made me fall. I said no, he said we think you Passed Out, and fell, bc my hands were so clean,,, like I didn't try to Break my fall. My face and head were a mess. They wanted to know if anyone was with me, waiting or racing, I could remember Phil being with me but couldn't remember if he was waiting or racing!!! Which really scared me.
I was taken to Vanderbilt,, at first thought it was heart attack,,, wasn't, thank God. Scans of my head were normal. Spent from Sat morning till late Monday afternoon,,, had every test known of man,, everything was clear... Dr said it was like conditions were right to make the perfect Storm. Too cold, I was not fueling at all bc of the cold, and had been under Alot of stress!!!!!!
I almost quit Running,,, wore a heart monitor for a month.. I couldn't go out to run for a long time. Wouldn't even do treadmill if my husband wasn't home...
But, in couple months I ran the Nashville half, no problems since...So, I kinda know how you feel.... Wish you all the best.
Hi Terrell, Thank you for the lengthy response. I think I'd like to do some half marathons. I may do a 10K inJanuary with NYCRuns, with an out of town friend. I haven't done many shorter races, so maybe that would be something to try as well. Thanks for your column, I love reading it!
Thank you so much, Liza!!
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." John " the Penguin" Bingham
Hi, Terrell! Re-evaluating where I belong on the Internet. You are right. Writing is hard! So are comments, though I love to comment. Doing too much for awhile so I need a short break. I do love the Half-Marathoner community. . . so, I'll upgrade to my paid membership this weekend. That's going to be IT for newsletters! The others all go on the "delete pile."
Right now I'm not following any training plan. Looking for a place to move to and getting rid of old papers and books to start over. I think I have carried some of this "stuff" around for the last 30 or so years and don't use any of it anymore. Getting rid of it is like a breath of fresh air!
I'll go out again for a short run--2/3 miles until I start training for the BSIM. Mind boggling how many miles one puts in for a Marathon. Lucked out and have a Chi Running Instructor in the race, too, so I'm a little more at ease than I was.
Really love my Xero HFS. One does not realize how confining most shoes are until you try out Xeros-- I've only been tempted for years, and I'm glad I finally put the money out!
Nice weekend coming up. . .80 degrees. a first ever in Seattle in October! Take Care! :)
Thank you, Nilima! And thanks for always being so understanding -- it really does mean a lot. It really is mind-boggling, when you think about it, how many miles you have to run to get ready for a marathon. Enjoy your weekend!!
I just signed up for three half marathons. First one is 11/8 in Louisville. I am getting excited and will ramp up my training. Best to all, John
That's awesome, John! Is it the Urban Bourbon Half?
Thank you for this post! I am looking for a community of runners to help me get back into it. I have no trained for a year--some small runs in the interum. Did the NYC marathon twice in 2019 and 2021, and thought I needed a break. I stopped this year part do to injury, but part was unsure if I should continue running because of my increased age. But I have missed it! Now am trying to get back, and finiding it hard. Maybe I need a goal of a half marathon (not sure I will ever run a marathon again). But thanks Terrell!
So great to hear from you, Liza! I remember your cartoons about running the NYC Marathon -- I loved them! I get needing a break too -- a marathon (and especially training for 26.2) is a big commitment. It's nice to run shorter distances without the pressure that a marathon involves.
I always miss running when I'm away from it too long; I've been pretty consistent for the past few weeks, but this week my schedule has meant I couldn't get any running in. And I can tell in my mood, it's definitely affected -- so I'm just like you, I need that support of a community of runners to keep me going too.
As far as goals, do you know what you like to run? Personally, I love 5Ks and 10Ks, and there are loads of races in NYC you can run. That's such an amazing running city. I hear you on the marathon too, that's like pitching a complete game or playing all 48 minutes of a full-court basketball game. Sometimes you just want to pitch an inning or two, or at least switch it up from time to time. There are so many halfs to choose from too 😃
I'd like to know your age,,, if you don't mind... I'm 70 yrs old, and ran 5 h/m last year.. I love that reading all the comments posted here, quite a few are older athletes. Like the lady fixing to start her training for a marathon at age 75!!!!!! Please don't let a number dictate what you are capable of running.....
Thanks to you Terrell for the John Bingham post... It's his book,, "No Need for Speed", that got me back to running... I met him in 2007, he's an incredibly nice man.. so down to earth... Saw him many times , and heard him speak at big races,,,, at expo's....
Keep going, Betty! I'll be closer to 76 when my Marathon starts in Big Sur. Fortunate to have this community behind me as well as the Chi Running/Walking Community. It really helps one keep going for so many weeks and s many miles! :)
The way you talk, I don't believe this will be your first marathon????? Very impressed, hope you're doing well with your head injury.....
It IS my first Marathon! Never would have tried if the promoters hadn't' challenged me with a "Random Drawing." and a reduced price. :) I thought they wouldn't choose me 1. because of my age and 2. because I never win at drawings. Shows how much I know! I got an email the day after I hurt my head saying that said I had won an entry. Before, this, I stayed with Half Marathons and 10Ks. . .
If my husband hadn't implied that I was too old for a marathon and "that I didn't have to go!" I'll make a point of finishing!
A few years back, he said the same thing about learning handstands and back bends when I was 70. . . Ha, ha, I can do them just fine in spite of the grey hair, wrinkles . ;)
My head seems to have gone back to it's normal old crazy self. Thanks for asking! It's still scary to run cuz I never did find out what happened! Prepping now for 24 weeks training. Geez, it is going to take some effort. I've never run 20 some miles in my life!
You are an inspiration!
I'm 67, so you are very inspiring! 5 half marathons, that's so wonderful! My doc diagnosed mild arthritis in my hips last year....but I think everyone our age gets some arthritis, right? Starting a marathon at 75, that's wonderful!! I say I won't do another marathon, but something in me wants to do it again. Good to know you, Betty, and I am very encouraged by you!
My one big goal is the marathon,,, even if having to walk alot of it... I've had 3 back surgeries,,,,, in the 90's,,,, and 3 foot surgeries,,, not related to running... I'm really not sure if my foot would hold up,,, so I'll just keep on keeping on with half's,,,, good Lord willing....
I have high arches and bony feet, I was amazed my feet let me run so much, and 2 marathons! I swear by the shoes made by HOKA, particuarly the Bondi they make.
Okay we have our high arches in common!!!!🤗🤗. When the surgeon first saw my foot he said my arches were so high that you could drive a truck under them. However, we won't let bad feet stop us, will we!!!!🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️
Thanks for this Terrell. It resonates and helps me with my thoughts while running long distance. I also used to have a push through approach and I would say unhealthy obsessive mindset about feeling the need to keep running whereas now I embrace the days off.
Thank you, Jon! I can totally understand that, but yes -- our bodies need that rest, ESPECIALLY once we pass age 40 or thereabouts. (When you're 16, 17, 18, etc., you have more leeway 😃)
Thanks a lot Terrell for sharing these words from Bingham. Could not be timelier. Now fully resting my foot from PF - already 5 weeks off running but probably a few more weeks to go (pain much lesser but still there) Will definitely use one of these training plans as soon as I am back on the road... run some extra miles for me!
Good to know, Rupa! Glad to hear you're on the mend -- rest that foot!
I love the training program! This is the most consistent training program I’ve done since I got credit for my marathon training in college! Thanks for encouragement, it’s been so much fun!
Got 6 miles done before 6 am this morning :)
Really glad to hear that, Shawna -- you are a die-hard for sure, getting six miles in before 6 AM! Wow!!!
Honestly, waking up early and running by myself before the rush of getting two kids out the door is the most centering thing I have ever done.
It’s also helped that the training program seems so manageable? Like I don’t know, there is something about this community where I haven’t felt any shame for some of my runs being walks, or some of my planned runs turning into time spent sleeping in. It’s all welcome, or at least that’s how I’ve felt here!
That is so true, of learning to listen to our bodies. I let my body lead the way with its pace, and I find the most joy out of exercising and running that way. Enjoy your words as always Terrell