It’s official. I just got off the phone with Rock and Roll Seattle headquarters and have changed my half marathon entry to a full marathon. My body, only three weeks since it ran Boston, is not fully recovered, and I have mixed feelings about this. Do I know what I am doing? Not really, but I am willing to give it a shot to get back to Boston. Is running another marathon only 2 months after the Boston Inferno wise? I can’t answer that right now. Ask me June 24 because I am doing this.
Sunday morning, due to bad pre-run planning, I was forced to change my mileage to 14 miles. My body was just not ready to run any further…not yet. I was “supposed” to run 18 miles. That is what my training said I should run. What my training doesn’t know, however, is that just three short weeks ago, I was running 26.2 miles in near 90 degree temps. The record heat is the sole reason I am running 26.2 miles again the end of June. My only goal for this marathon is: qualify for Boston.
Self-doubt started to creep in, but then I watched Spirit of the Marathon.
This movie chronicles six runners training for the Chicago Marathon (this movie also made me want to run Chicago even more!). Two of the runners are first-time marathoners, two of them are elite runners, one of them ran his first marathon at the age of 65, and one of them is trying desperately to qualify for Boston. They all share the same dedication, struggles, fears, but above all, feelings of accomplishment. I was reminded how challenging not only running a marathon is, but also how difficult training for one is. It is a huge commitment, but the feeling of accomplishment, both from the training and from crossing the finish line, is incomparable. This movie gave me the encouragement I needed.
Whether you are running a marathon, half marathon, or running for the first time, this movie will motivate and encourage you. It also speaks to how important training is, not only for prepping your body for the final goal of race day, but also for giving you a sense of accomplishment each time you finish a training run.
Looking for some running motivation? Watch Spirit of the Marathon. It will make you want to run…far.
**I found Spirit of the Marathon on Netflix.**
What movie inspires you?
