Why I am training to “just finish” my first marathon?

I’m well aware there are two camps of people on either side of the marathon fence. Some believe that slower runners who are not competitive with BQ folks should pick another sport. They don’t want us mucking up and slowing down the “real” runners. Fair enough. Real runners should get to the front of the starting line. There is another group of people who roll out the welcome mat to anybody and everybody who wants to run, walk, crawl to the finish line. And I see their point. They should get in the back of the line. Let the fast ones get on out of the way and the rest of us will settle into our slow paces.

Some people think John Bingham needs to hush it about the Penguin runners because he gives them unrealistic expectations and before you know it, a 200lb man with a definite “waddle” is lining up with the Kenyans kissing the starting tape.

Some people think the elite wannabes should get more fiber in their diet because they are an ornery angry bunch who go around smacking kittens and yanking ice cream from babies.

And it’s a good thing I don’t mind either group. I quickly went from good training for a decent first timer marathon pace to barely able to finish 18 miles with a walk-run pace. I’m going to see the street sweepers, I’m afraid. I may not finish at all. And I’ve accepted how I got to this point. Rhabdo is nothing to play around with and I don’t want a relapse. Unfortunately, rhabdo is more common in runners after a hard fought marathon finish. And getting it again is just not worth it.

Do I want to wear a shirt explaining why I’m starting a marathon walking? YES!! I’m embarrassed. But I’m determined to finish more than I’m embarrassed.

So, with 3 weeks left, I have a 22 miler to finish, then on to the real thing. Training to just finish.

But I’ll be at the back talking to the street sweeper.