5K to a Marathon!

Sunday, May 27, 2012 · Mike Davis

Saturday, May 26th

Tomorrow two of my students will stand at the start line for the Vermont City marathon ready to complete their first marathon. They are both excited and I must say I’m excited for them. Despite my disappointment of not being able to run the marathon, I am thrilled for both Rick and Nancy. By the time they read this, they will be finished and recovering from their accomplishment. Thursday night the both of them along with their spouses joined me for spaghetti dinner and prerace dinner. I am pleased with how each of them progressed through the training. No matter their finish time, being able to run 26.2 miles is something very special.

I have trained people to run 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and marathons; all of them have their own different challenges. With 5K training and 10K training, I deal with mostly novice runners that are trying to start down the road of running. With half marathon and marathon training, I’m working with people that don’t want to be limited in their goals and have no fear of what most people think is crazy!

5K training a novice is really something special, as I get to witness someone that fears running and have little faith that they can run 3.1 miles. As I start them out walk running I can see the doubt that they will be able to complete the 5K training. As they begin to walk less and run more, their minds begin to change and a spirit becomes evident. 10K training is different than 5K as most participants have run a 5K, but now want to challenge themselves to double that previous distance they conquered. Watching one of my runners come across the finish line in total exhaustion but euphoric is very special. Running 6.1 miles further than 95 percent of the USA has ever run! Helping to train someone to overcome their fears, to get stronger, to believe in themselves is why I train runners.

Then I also work with those that want to run a distance that only 2 percent or so have ever run, 13.1 miles, a half marathon. I have worked with large groups and smaller groups, and half marathon training has to be one of the great challenges that a runner may ever take on in life. The time, distance and discipline that it takes to train for a half marathon makes it something special. You cannot cheat, you have to log the miles, you have to be out there on bad days and you have to maintain faith. In the beginning I always here the same thing; “I just can’t believe I will get to 10 mile, or 11 miles or for sure 13.1 miles!”. I remind them to think about the distance at hand and then one day they are finishing a 10 mile run and they believe! Life changing for sure.

Tomorrow two of my trainees will be running their first marathons and I have no doubt they are ready. They both have run multiple half marathons, they have done almost exactly as I laid out and they have been disciplined. Running a marathon is a wonderful experience and both Rick and Nancy are prepared to have a wonderful experience. Yes I fear that they won’t be patient early, that they will feel strong and go out to fast, but they know what to do and I believe it will be a great day for them. Training for a marathon takes time, discipline and desire. You cannot train successfully without all three or you will fall short. I look forward to talking with both of them when they get back to hear about their experiences and how everything came together. I had a good training plan for them, one that was easy enough to follow, yet tough enough to prepare them. They are prepared and ready!

Depending on the individual needs, I make training plans to help people attain their goals. Some just want to get to the finish line healthy, some want to increase their distance and some want to improve on their time. Training plans can’t be cookie cutter if you want to accomplish what most people can only dream of. Rick and Nancy are going to do just that tomorrow. Good luck and God bless to both of you!

One last shout out: Happy birthday Jennifer! A dad could not ask for a more wonderful child! I love you!