I Made It!

After a grueling effort through miles 13 to 18, I realize I’m crying. Not because the last 5 miles have been tough, but because the reality is setting in: I’ve made it. I’ve made it through the hardest, most exhausting training runs for the Marine Corps Marathon.?

On October 27th, I will stand at the start line to run 26.2 miles through the vibrant city of Washington, DC, and I couldn’t be more excited. If you had told me this last October, I would’ve thought you were crazy. A year ago I couldn’t even run a mile and today I ran 19.2. An oddly specific number, thanks to my training plan, which always throws weird mileage at me. But today was the very last run around the 20-mile mark.?

I have now completed three of these very long runs: 20 miles, 21.1 miles, and today’s 19.2. Marathon training isn’t just about the big efforts though. Over the past 17 weeks, I have run four times a week logging a total of 403 miles – and I still have 3 weeks and about 100 miles to go before race day. But knowing the longest runs are behind me brings a huge sense of accomplishment and relief. Next week, I will tackle 13.1 miles, the half-marathon distance, and then I’ll begin tapering. Of course, 13.1 miles is no joke, but it feels less daunting than the 19 or 20-mile stretches.?

I had hoped today's run would feel amazing, that I would breeze right through it. That wasn’t the case at all. But as I reflect on the hard work and miles behind me, I know that the toughest part is over, and that every step was worth it. Next stop: DC!