The Second Time Around

Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found  

There are those who'll bet love comes but once and yet
I'm oh so glad we met the second time around.

These lyrics from the Frank Sinatra song, "The Second Time Around" popped into my head this morning as I was thinking about this coming weekend.  For, in just a few days, I'll be running my second marathon.

So hard to believe that I will be running a second marathon.  After all, I'm the one who said I'd never run. After I started on the Couch 2 5K program, I'm the one who said I'd never run a half marathon.  A full?  No way, no how!

Then, after a few half marathons, I decided to run a full.  What did I say the moment I finished?  Never. Again.

That was on a Sunday.  By Tuesday, I was considering it and about a year and a half later, I was sold on doing it again.

I know I'm not alone out there!  Who else among you has uttered the same words and retracted them later? It's a sickness.  A healthy sickness, but a sickness nonetheless.

I remember the exact moment I decided to run a full marathon.  It was on mile 12 on a picture perfect day in Richmond, VA.   As I rounded a corner, a group of kayakers on moving dollies were "racing" me for a short time.  I laughed and was enjoying myself so much that I realized if I was enjoying it this much at mile 12, I could go from 13.1 to 26.2 quite easily. And, ironically, a photo of somewhere around this moment was captured on camera and highlighted on the marathon's website. (Group shot and only I could recognize myself from the back...but nonetheless, I think it was a perfect moment in the universe!)

What I found was marathon training wasn't doubly challenging--it was exponentially challenging.  I struggled through those first (really) long runs, got injured along the way and actually posted a status on Facebook announcing my retirement from training.  Yes, I fully planned to skip the race.  That was about three weeks out, right before my last run. I never did get that last long run in.

Then, I realized I'd been training for six long months and an experienced marathoner told me I'd done enough

Me--on the far right

to finish. And, I did finish.  Actually, the first 17 were terrific.  I stayed right at pace and felt great.  Then, at mile 17 (again, one of those moments seared into my brain), I got a cramp. I stretched about every 500 yards from miles 17 to 20 and at 20 decided just to walk it in.  Granted, at around a 13:30 pace or so, but I walked.  The photos from the finish are pretty pitiful looking.   Me with my arms semi-raised in semi-victory; it was the best I could manage.

So, here I am ready to tackle another one.  And, what a difference.  Even though I'm still a novice marathoner, I've learned so much from my first one.  Looking back, there were so many things I did incorrectly.

This time--the second time around--I've pretty much (dare I say it?) enjoyed the training.  I've done it (more) correctly and probably more importantly, had running partners who have kept me moving forward one stride at a time.  It hasn't been easy--breathing issues and plantar fasciitis have both tried to keep me down, but I have won the training battle.

Now, onto the 26.2.  As a former president once said, I'm "tanned, rested and ready" for the second time around.   Can't wait to see what happens when the start gun goes off or what the finish picture looks like this time!

Catch you again at the back of the pack!