The five stages of Marathon training
Some people might say I've brought these challenges on myself. Some people might even go as far as to say that I'm the one who issued said challenges. To those people I say; Do you have a blog? Well then my story is the only one in print, isn't it?
Regardless, there is one thing I've learned from these marathon-ing challenges. There are five distinct stages that one goes through, and one in the theoretical stage. They are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and, the last one is a working theory- acceptance. It's no coincidence that these line up with the five stages of death; I believe it was Socrates who once said "Each marathon run is like a small death."
Stage 1: Denial
Sure, sure, you'll still have plenty of time to do all the things you want to do! Like playing video games? Spending time with friends and your significant other? Reading books or going to the movies? Sleeping? OF course you'll still have time for all those things! In fact, running 200 miles a month won't even make you tired. Aside from getting in great shape marathon training will have absolutely no other impact on your life.
Once you start your marathon training and realize that all you've basically told yourself about your running career up to this point is a lie, you'll move quickly into stage two...
Stage 2: Anger
Somewhere around the 3rd or 4th week, you'll begin to realize that you hate running. Oh, you may have a good day here or there, but you'll quickly learn to despise...everything. The weather that was so perfect before for a nice run taunts you; whatever season your training schedule takes place in will instantly become your least favorite. The shoes that helped your running form and cushioned your feet so well before are now responsible for your new blisters, backaches, and that promotion you didn't get at work. Even the food you supposedly get to eat more of because you are marathon training will begin to either a) feel like force feeding, or b) your ability to count every incoming calorie and how it will add to your waistline and weight gain will become remarkably refined. Your running schedule will become akin to an abusive relationship. You might try to get out the door without making eye contact with it, reasoning that if you don't see how many miles or speed you must run, maybe you don't have to do it that day. Eventually though, telling people those bruises on your feet or the fact that your walking funny is from "falling down the stairs again," isn't going to fly.
Some of us don't make it out of this stage and become bitter husks of the good people we once were. They continue to run the streets and greenways of their cities, unable to stop running, like a phantom clinging to earth, unable to move on from the life it once knew.
However, if you are able to pull yourself together and stick with the plan, you'll eventually move out of the anger stage and into stage number three.
Stage 3: Bargaining
This is the most dangerous stage for those who will make it to the marathon in the end. In this stage you will try to compromise with your running plan. You'll make statements like: I ran yesterday...do I really need to run today? and: There's really no benefit from running 22 miles, I can just stop at 17, its all the same. Do I really need to hit the exact tempo? Close will be fine, right? I've fallen into this trap a few times during my marathon training, and the pitfalls, much like an Indian Jones movie, are not obvious until its almost too late.
Step 4: Depression
Once you've tried to push and get out there after bargaining, you'll realize that you've made a mistake by not hitting your numbers. For some of us it will come during a race, for others it will come during a training run, maybe with friends, maybe by yourself. Just as the times that the depression will hit will vary, so too will how long it lasts. For some it will reignite their fire and push them to smash barriers they didn't know could be broken. Still for others, they will sink into the "I'm just going to finish" mentality. (Not that there's anything wrong with that if it was your original goal.)
The important thing to remember is that you can push through this stage and with the help of friends make it back on track to your original marathon goal.
The theoretical: Acceptance
Here's where I'm not sure if the fifth stage holds true, and if it does, under what circumstances? Do you accept the fact that you are, in fact going to go through with this excruciatingly painful ritual with a bunch of other crazies when you get to the race start? Do you accept it when you're running it? Or is it after it is said and done? Or is it based on whether you won or lost, achieved what you wanted?
For me, personally, I would like to believe that my own personal acceptance of the marathon will come when, win or lose the moment not only when I, but my friends cross the finish line. Because for me; I honestly wouldn't be taking this much pride or having this much "fun," without them right there beside me. (Or hopefully just a few seconds behind.)
So, for those of you who actually enjoy enjoy marathon training, run them for fun, compete at Boston and wonder how the rest of us mere mortals live life at speeds so slow, I have only one thing left to say:
 |
| Just because he can |
Stage 1: Denial
Sure, sure, you'll still have plenty of time to do all the things you want to do! Like playing video games? Spending time with friends and your significant other? Reading books or going to the movies? Sleeping? OF course you'll still have time for all those things! In fact, running 200 miles a month won't even make you tired. Aside from getting in great shape marathon training will have absolutely no other impact on your life.
Once you start your marathon training and realize that all you've basically told yourself about your running career up to this point is a lie, you'll move quickly into stage two...
Stage 2: Anger
 |
| The 1974 Olympic marathon gold medalist |
Some of us don't make it out of this stage and become bitter husks of the good people we once were. They continue to run the streets and greenways of their cities, unable to stop running, like a phantom clinging to earth, unable to move on from the life it once knew.
However, if you are able to pull yourself together and stick with the plan, you'll eventually move out of the anger stage and into stage number three.
Stage 3: Bargaining
This is the most dangerous stage for those who will make it to the marathon in the end. In this stage you will try to compromise with your running plan. You'll make statements like: I ran yesterday...do I really need to run today? and: There's really no benefit from running 22 miles, I can just stop at 17, its all the same. Do I really need to hit the exact tempo? Close will be fine, right? I've fallen into this trap a few times during my marathon training, and the pitfalls, much like an Indian Jones movie, are not obvious until its almost too late.
 |
| I can reach the PR...I just need...to hold on ....a littttttle....lonnngerrr... Son, let it go...Just let it go. |
Step 4: Depression
 |
| *Sniff* It's only a finisher's medal... |
The important thing to remember is that you can push through this stage and with the help of friends make it back on track to your original marathon goal.
The theoretical: Acceptance
Here's where I'm not sure if the fifth stage holds true, and if it does, under what circumstances? Do you accept the fact that you are, in fact going to go through with this excruciatingly painful ritual with a bunch of other crazies when you get to the race start? Do you accept it when you're running it? Or is it after it is said and done? Or is it based on whether you won or lost, achieved what you wanted?
For me, personally, I would like to believe that my own personal acceptance of the marathon will come when, win or lose the moment not only when I, but my friends cross the finish line. Because for me; I honestly wouldn't be taking this much pride or having this much "fun," without them right there beside me. (Or hopefully just a few seconds behind.)
So, for those of you who actually enjoy enjoy marathon training, run them for fun, compete at Boston and wonder how the rest of us mere mortals live life at speeds so slow, I have only one thing left to say:
Good stuff! Beast on Bro!
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