Early Morning Miles

When the weather prediction calls for high heat and humidity, the training plan calls for a 5:45am wake up. We were met with a blast of warm, moist air when we opened the door; a sharp contrast to the air conditioning that blasted through our home. We know to not complain about the heat and humidity because all too soon, the vibrant verdant leaves will change and fall and we will need to layer up. What a joy to put on a singlet and shorts and head out the door to greet the new day!

Despite doing a dynamic warm up before our run, I felt sore and stiff. I reminded myself of all that I have read in Deena Kastor's "Let Your Mind Run" and all that I have learned about the mind/body connection during these past 16 years of my healing journey. I spoke lovingly to my body expressing gratitude for all it has given me since I started running in 2008. I reminded myself to stay loose and focus on feeling loose. I knew that if I could create the reality and experience that I wanted for my early morning miles. I knew that I didn't need to push the pace and could relax and enjoy the beauty of the morning.

Tom and Ruth Anne went on to finish their miles while I did a turnaround to finish my miles. As I started going up the hill to our house, I could feel myself quicken my pace. I felt that inner push of needing to make sure I made it to the finish line before it closed; I realized a part of me didn't want to be what they call dfl or dead f***last. I remembered that the last time I pushed my pace that came from worrying about the time limit on race day, I was close to an injury.

I slowed down and reminded myself of the time I ran my first 5 mile road race on a hot July evening at the Marathon Sports 5 Miler.

From "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance":

After my first road race, The Corrib Pub Run 5K, we signed up for the Marathon Sports 5 Miler in July of 2008. It was hot. It was an evening race. I had just begun my running career.

 

Our first 5 mile race was the Marathon Sports 5 miler. It was a hot, steamy evening in July. We got lost on the way to the race. Tempers were running as hot as the thermometer because I was so anxious about running my first five mile race. My energy tended to wane by the evening as I was continuing to deal with the late effects of polio. We finally arrived and walked around trying to enjoy the pre-race festivities. As everyone took their place at the start, I could see that this was a serious, competitive running crowd; quite a contrast to my first race ever, the Corrib Pub Run 5K in June.

 

Runners went out fast and Tom and I were in the back of the pack with a few other people. Even they took off. I experienced my first (of many) marathon training meltdowns. I cried as I shared with Tom all the memories of having kids take off and leave me behind that were bubbling to the surface. I was sweating and tired and hot. I couldn’t tell where my tears ended and sweat began. I told Tom I had no business training for the Boston Marathon. He was amazing and he told me that I couldn’t quit. We would make it through this race and we would make it through every training run. He believed in me when I did not believe in myself. I did know, however, that if I didn’t finish that race, I would never make it to the starting line of the Boston Marathon. Alison, Brookline Marathon Sports store manager who was named our mother hen during Boston Marathon training, gave me water and a high five out on the course. She was worried about me in the heat and wanted to make sure I was okay.

 

Despite finishing dead last, members of the Marathon Sports family who knew the story of Team McManus, had air horns and a truck on the field honking and blowing and cheering us on to the finish. I knew training for Boston was not going to be easy, but I knew I had what it was going to take to make it happen.

 

As I opened the door to our beautiful home, I stretched and said thank you to my body for all it gives me. I loved feeling the sweat continuing to pour down my back while I got breakfast ready. Cold orange juice, toast and oatmeal with a banana tastes like a gourmet meal after a run. Our morning miles set the tone for a wonderful day. I felt energized and accomplished having more miles deposited in the Bank of Bermuda on the road to the Bermuda 10K. When the pipe burst outside of our house in the late afternoon, and we were told that the water would be shut off, I was able to mobilize to fill pots and water bottles and do the dishes that were in our dishwasher. We debated about what to do about dinner knowing that we are in training and grabbing a pizza on paper plates would not give us the fueling we need. We chose to go to Golden Temple, a restaurant that serves healthy Chinese food with a calm ambiance. The manager warmly greeted us and we explained that a pipe burst outside our house so we just had to come to Golden Temple to have dinner. The waiters treat us like family.

 

We fell into a deep sleep despite the sounds of jack hammering on the street outside our windows. Running is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the day when we start the day with early morning miles.

 

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

 

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