The first film, The Runner, was about a 55–year old runner, David Horton, who ran the 2,700-mile Pacific Crest trail from Mexico to Canada in 67 days attempting to set a speed record, which he did. A few people ran with him on parts of the trail and a crew of people helped him by bringing food and water along the way. It seemed like the hardest part of the journey for Horton was crossing the snow in the high Sierras. He had to carry a backpack and walk across sun-pocked snow when he’s used to running light. He also had a frightening river crossing.
The second film was about another runner, Dean Karnazes: UltraMarathon Man: 50 Marathons - 50 States - 50 Days. Dean also had a support team with him, including his wife and kids for part of the 50 days. The most surprising thing to me was that in the film, Karnazes said that he is a very introverted person. Running can be the perfect activity for introverts; you can spend a lot of time with your own thoughts when you run. But Karnazes is a running celebrity whose picture is all over running magazines. He has a muscular body, unlike many endurance runners. With all the attention he gets, he doesn’t seem introverted.
Endurance athletes amaze me. Most people won’t ever run a marathon or ultra-marathon; sadly many Americans can hardly run around the block. Watching the documentaries didn’t inspire me to run further; it just reaffirmed my desire to keep up my running and keep setting fitness goals as I approach 50.
I first ran when I was in college, not very far, just a couple of miles at a time. I started entering 5K’s when I was in my late 30’s, I think. I remember having to walk towards the end because I was so tired. Eventually, I got to where I could run a 10K. I then started trail running in the summer and found I could go 7 or 8 miles. My husband also runs, though he runs faster and more effortlessly than me. He entered a half marathon and then did a couple of marathons. He wanted to try a marathon at sea level, so I decided to train for a half marathon myself. Running at sea level reduced our finish times quite a bit since we train at altitude. I went on to run another half marathon and a few 10-mile races.
I am not a fast runner but I can complete shorter distances like 5 and 10K’s at a respectable pace when compared to other race participants, around a 10-minute mile. It was tough on my ego to run my first 10-mile event and see how slow I was compared to the other runners. I have learned that interval training really works if you can fit it in. I’m faster than I used to be. But I've also learned there is no shame in finishing at the bottom of a group of 10-mile runners.
There aren’t many activities that provide better cardiovascular benefits than running. The downside of running is injuries. Last year, I trained for my second 10 mile running event wanting to beat my prior year time. By the time I was done with training, my left hamstring was strained and I had a pain in my rear on the right side. After months of taking it easier, neither of my injuries has completely healed. I’m still trying out different exercises to strengthen my hamstrings and supporting muscles and to stretch my piriformis muscle. For a while, I tried to work on my running form but it was just too much to think about.
I don’t get the runner’s high. What I get is fitness and the pride that comes from accomplishing something that I didn’t think I was capable of before I started training. Running really is 90% mental. Finishing a race inspires you to want to do it again, to prove that you still have what it takes.
This summer, my husband really wanted to try a mud run - a run that includes obstacles, including crawling through the mud. I was nervous about doing it. I thought, if there are monkey bars, I'm not going to be strong enough to do that. There were and I wasn't! But I overcame my fear of heights and climbed up and over a wall. You learn what you are capable of by taking one step at a time, setting your sights on a goal that isn’t too far out of reach.
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