The Passion is in the Process

As my goal marathon draws near, I've become increasingly aware of how I've changed since I set the goal of running an Olympic Trials Qualifying time.  When I started tapering, I was quite sad to think about my training cycle winding down.  I have always loved training, but I also loved it leading to goal races and performances.  In 2019, I've really loved training simply for itself.  I love the every day process, the easy miles, the early mornings, the challenging workouts, the doubles, the routines, the outdoors, the lifestyle, and the amazing people running has brought into my life.  These things are primary; races are now a distant second.

During race week, several people have said renditions of:  "the work is done, the marathon is the celebration", "racing is the best part", "racing is the reward for all your hard training."  I may not be able to fully explain it, but I think to myself, "No, the training was the best part!"  The marathon is a single day, a few hours.  The training has enhanced my life for years.  No matter what I run or don't run in Indy, I am so blessed because the joy is in the journey!  While I've always felt that way to some degree, for this marathon it's much bigger.  I am going to give my race day goals everything I have on November 9, but nothing can compare to what I've already gained.

I put together some training stats to reflect back on during my taper.  After taking 2 recovery weeks following Grandma's Marathon, I ran 8 weeks of mileage between 70-85, and 8 weeks between 88-96.  My weekly (Monday through Sunday) mileage totals starting July 8 were:

1. 70.9 (Sweatfest)
2. 81.1
3. 70.9
4. 84.5
5. 87.2
6. 96
7. 88.1
8. 70.2 (Brookhaven 5K)
9. 75.2 (Plaza 10K)
10. 92.5
11. 92.6
12. 75.5 (Indy Women's Half)
13. 88 (Panther Run 5K)
14. 91.7
15. 92.1
16. 80.4
17. 60.2
18. race week

For long runs, I had 7 runs of 20+, 3 "double" long runs (counting 12+ as long Saturday/Sunday), and 8.25 workout or race combination long runs.  My long runs, starting on July 13:

1. 16.5 (with Sweatfest)
2. 15.2
3. 15.2
4. 17.1
5. 18.1
6. 20.3
7. 20.3 (4-3-2-1 mile workout)
8. 12.4 Saturday (with Brookhaven 5K) and 15.2 Sunday
9. 17.1 (with Plaza 10K)
10. 22.4 (2 x 6 mile at 6:10 workout)
11. 20.1 (4-3-2-1 mile workout) Saturday and 12.3 Sunday
12. 20.7 Saturday (with Indy Women's half) and 14.1 Sunday
13. 16
14. 24.5 (10 x 1:00 pick ups, which I counted as 0.25 of a workout, hah)
15. 22.4
16. 16.8 (10 miles at 6:02)
17. 12
18. marathon

My most confidence-boosting workouts were on October 5, 8, 15 (this one was my season-best, I think), and 26; September 3, 14, 24; and August 15, 20, and 24. 

• October workouts in this post
• September workouts in this post
• August workouts in this post
• July workouts in this post

I haven't compared this directly to what I've done in the past, but I know it's more volume than I've done before and I've done many new workouts along the way.  I have felt stronger along the way, vs. several past cycles where I felt like I was just maintaining.  I ran very few easy runs alone; I nearly always had awesome company.  I have so many great memories from this training cycle that I really don't want it to end!  What you do every day matters more than what you do once in awhile.  :-)

I recently read this quote from Oprah, and it really exemplifies how I feel about my running right now.  "Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."

I may never have more, but I certainly have more than enough.  While this is true even if I never run another step, it's even more true after this healthy marathon build God has given me.  I'm ready to do my best and let Him do the rest on Saturday, but I am so thankful for the process and for how running has improved my life.