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2 Posts tagged with the prepare tag

Who says you have to run to do a marathon?

Posted by Jen McDevitt Jun 24, 2009

As I write this, I am trying to plan out how I am going to chase Glen around not only Chicago this year but New York City. It has been a huge debate. And the reason is because I am going to be carting around my little buddy, Jack , who may or may not be all that cooperative with both situations. I am fearing that if he gets a feel for how Chicago goes he may catch on to the program come November 1st in New York City. The 4am wake up call and the random running to various spots across both cities may not be that exciting for a kid who only joy in life is to be the center of attention.

This will be the first year in 6 years that I am not participating in either marathons. And it will be a bit of a transition in that I am usually the person people are cheering for not me being the cheerleader. (see where Jack gets the center of attention thing. I know....it is not his fault) So I have my work cut out for me....

I have to learn to be a spectator not a runner. This is a highly stressful situation and I am diving right in to training. I have to motivate, encourage, replenish, endure, sacrafice, agonize, prepare, support, dedicate, recover and succeed. Did I mention that I am not running in the marathon because I all of a sudden feel like I am running. So THIS is what it is like to be on the "other side"! I do believe that I see the light!!!!!

In this role that I am participating in I have made several promises to myself. One most importantly, I will have a greater understanding and respect for the specators and volunteers who keep the runners moving. Without you, there would not be a race!! Second, I have to train myself to mentally not feel like even though I am not running I am still participating! And finally, I have to put together a pretty kick butt route so I can scream my head off and push Team McGraw on! If I am not out there running, I better be out there screaming, right?

So, in conclusion, YES I am running my own marathon. It is just not on a closed course with water stations and timing mats.And the people are not yelling at me but with me for the fabulous Team McGraw and the Tug McGraw Foundation!!

104 Views 0 Comments Permalink Tags: training, running, endurance, run, new-york-city-marathon, chicago-marathon, prepare, team-mcgraw, spectator, tug-mcgraw-foundation, ya-gotta-believe

ARE YOU WEIRD????

Posted by Jen McDevitt Jun 17, 2008

So I am preparing for a long run in the morning and I started thinking about what I want to do to mentally and physically get ready or it. I usually do my carb load the night before chased down with Gatorade. And I do all of the things that I am supposed to do but I started thinking...what quirky things does anyone else do? For example, I always lay out what I am going to wear. I get my iPod charged and ready to go. I make sure my contact lenses are going to go into the right eye at whatever ghastly hour. Finally, I shave my legs (you got it easy boys!!). I crawl into bed and tell myself good thoughts about my run. I fall asleep thinking about how awesome I am going to run. When I wake up in the morning I eat my pancakes with peanut butter chased down with Gatorade. I get dressed and I walk out to my driveway. Now, my driveway is not large by any stretch of the imagination but it serves as a visual focal point that allows me to realize that I am starting here and guess what...I am finishing here and whatever happens in the middle well, that is between me and the road.

But back to the quirky things. I have spoken to many a runner and they all have a different way of "getting their groove on" It's kind of funny in a way. Here we are all doing the SAME thing yet totally different and unique. I have spoken to runners who sleep in their clothes they are going to run in. Some have to eat at exactly the same time or else their stomachs will explode (or whatever they think will happen). For me, I know that I have a set of "magic socks." I only pull them out in extreme and dire situations. These socks will almost always guarantee me a successful run so I do not abuse them and use them only when I got a case of the "kerplutters" (um...that is when my running performance is not up to par...kinda like a golfer gets the "shanks".).

And what about what about after the run? Any ritualistic things going on there? All I can say is...HOT FUDGE SUNDAE!!!

CARRY ON.....

464 Views 4 Comments Permalink Tags: mental, rituals, long-run, prepare, team-mcgraw

Mentally preparing, training and completing a marathon is tough. Try doing it while undergoing treatment for brain cancer. I have done it 5 times before and I'm doing it again. As I train for New York...I might even throw in Chicago for fun!!

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