Being a goth marathon runner is A-OK

When I was a teenager, I used to secretly make fun of marathon runners (and always felt guilty about it afterwards). It should go without saying to never make fun of an entire group of people because first, it’s not nice; and second, you never know if you might become one. And here I am, just having completed my fourth marathon.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series always puts on fun races, and this was my third race with them. It usually starts and ends at the Seattle Center. The course changes every year, and there are bands playing every few miles or so. There are aid stations every couple of miles and tons of support from spectators along the way.

What’s it like running a marathon?

Folks have asked what is it like to do one of these marathons. While each race is different, it always feels the same from Mile 16 through the finish line. Usually I’m feeling great until then, but this year’s course was a tough one. (If this was your first marathon, I am sorry!) As we can see at Mile 11, that was quite a challenge.

• Starting line: Everyone is gathered at the starting line, happy to take on a 26.2 miler! (Or if they’re running a half-marathon, a 13.1-mile race.)
• Miles 1–10: This first part of the race is smooth sailing. If you’re not feeling fresh by the 10th mile, then you are in trouble. Mile 10 is also where the course goes up Queen Anne via 3rd Ave W, a hill that lasts for nearly 2 miles.
• Mile 11: The long, slow climb up the hill that never ends. It slows my pace down considerably, and I wonder if a new PR is even possible. My hamstrings feel slightly knotted as I huff up the hill without stopping, questioning my own sanity of why I do these races.
• Mile 12: The big reward for running up that long hill was the breathtaking (literally and figuratively!) panoramic city view at Kerry Park, where many iconic Seattle skyline photos are taken.
• Mile 13: This is where the course splits. Half-marathoners veer to the right towards the finish line. The marathoners go to the left to finish the rest of the course.
• Miles 14–15: The hill from Mile 11 is slowly starting to become a distant memory as I continue to focus on the rest of the course. The sun is out, and I’m soaring.
• Miles 16–19: This is where my mood descends, one mile at a time. We run around Green Lake, which is a beautiful area, but it’s at these miles where many folks lose steam.
• Mile 20: The second wave of hills begin, and while they are shorter, they’re steeper. My friends have come out to cheer me on, and it means a lot. I descend too fast down a steep hill, and my quads (the front thigh muscles) seize up with painful charlie horses that halt me dead in my tracks. I stop at a medical station, begging for ibuprofen. They don’t have it, because it’s bad for the kidneys. They give Bengay instead.
• Mile 21: There’s something about running past 20 miles that makes you retreat to the darkest corners of your psyche. Never mind the pain you’re pushing through. At this point, it’s hard to focus on much else outside the body. Everything hurts. My legs are very angry. They keep painfully spasming, and I actually have to stop for a couple of minutes to massage and stretch them out. I have never stopped during a race before. All of these hills must have slowed down my time by at least 10 minutes.
• Miles 22-25: Physically, I’m on auto-pilot. Emotionally, I feel very raw. I begin hallucinating shifting pastel colors while feeling every emotion there is. Every time at this point, I wonder why these races seemed like a good idea.
• Mile 26: My quads seize up again when I’m so close to the finish line. I resolve to be kind to myself and calmly massage my legs until they feel better. I sprint like a race horse and finish strong.
• Finish line: My mind sputters as the endorphin highs soar like a kite. A kind volunteer puts a finisher’s medal over my head.
• Post-race: Pictures are taken, and people enjoy a Pearl Jam tribute band called “Washed in Black” playing on the main stage. I slowly walk the mile back to my best friend’s house. I take a shower to clean up, and then we go to lunch to celebrate. He drops me off at home, where I soak in a bath with a Lush bath bomb dunked in, and then take an epic 5-hour nap. Later on, another friend treats me to a victory banana split from Cookie Counter. I’ve never had a banana split before, and it’s such a decadent treat to have after today’s race.

My finishing time is 4:18:54, my best time yet! This was a difficult course, so I’m surprised that I beat my old personal record even with all of those steep hills. I’m so, so happy with the result.

Euphoria is the biggest prize

This is also the first race where I did all of the workouts in the training program, and the first where I never got a single injury.

Running a marathon isn’t just a physical endeavor. It’s also a psychological one. You can be afraid all you want. You might encounter both internal and external resistance. Do it anyway. Something wonderful and interesting is waiting for you on the other side.

Another marathon is less than two months away. Right now, I’m appreciating a race well done.

The marathon is only five weeks away, and I’ve finished the first week of peak training, which entailed running 40 miles this week. Yesterday I did the first of the two 20-mile long runs.

Normally, I stay in Seattle, but I’ve never explored the East Side much on foot. Starting in the Central District, I ran through the I-90 bike tunnel and onto the bridge into Mercer Island. I ran along the I-90 trail into Bellevue. I continued up Bellevue until coming across the 520 bridge; it was my first time on that bridge as a pedestrian. That took me back to Seattle into the Montlake neighborhood. Then I ran up the never-ending hill on 23rd Ave. That challenging hill isn’t so steep as it is long. I finally reached the crest of the hill in Capitol Hill, and ran the home stretch back to the Central District.

There was a bath bomb waiting for me when I finished. It’s like a big alka seltzer for the bath. I soaked in the tub, rubbing off the salt left behind from evaporated sweat. When running that much, the body does weird things like losing a lot of salt and electrolytes, and it must be replaced.

Speaking of electrolytes, I’ve been carrying those Clif shots that taste a lot like strawberry pudding. It’s a good rule of thumb to take one before a long run. Then have another one at Mile 10; the last one is consumed at Mile 14. It’s a good fix when your body has burned through its glycogen stores.

Peak training can feel exhausting, so remember to be extra kind to yourself during this time, especially if it’s your first marathon. You will also be eating a lot extra. Seriously, I’m always thinking about food now. The average person consumes 2,000 calories a day for normal functioning. Running 20 miles burns another 2,000 calories, give or take. On those long run days, your calorie consumption might be around 4,000 calories. I don’t count calories; I just eat until my body feels fulfilled and happy.

Folks ask about weight loss, and marathon training is about gaining endurance, not losing weight. Weight loss might happen as a byproduct of training, but the primary focus should be replacing the calories that have been lost. On the contrary, it’s also possible to gain weight, since you’re eating more and consuming a little more salt, which retains water.

At this point, it might be a challenge to pay attention to other things outside the body. I try not to overcommit outside of work, since rest is so important, especially now. I’m also usually exhausted anyway to do much outside work, art, and marathon commitments. Everything else could wait for just another couple of weeks.

The first week of peak training was a total of 40 miles. This week is a “fall back” week, where the mileage is a little less, so that the body has a chance to rest. The week after is another 40 miles. Then the mileage tapers down to a trickle before the actual race. Until then, the peak is that one last hump to go over. Everything else is down hill from there.

In it for the long runs

Marathon training has now reached the double digits. Today’s long run was 11 miles. A good rule of thumb is to increase total weekly mileage by no more than 10%. The long runs are about half the total weekly mileage. For example, I ran 22 miles this week. Eleven of those miles were this week’s long run.

The long runs are the most important part of training, because they help build endurance. It’s okay to skip a workout every once in a blue moon, but always do the long runs. If you don’t do those workouts, it’s hard to catch up the following week. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but the risk of injury increases the more you try to catch up.

For example, next weekend calls for a 12-mile long run. Skipping that would mean a big jump the next time the mileage increases after that, which is 14 miles. Going from 11 to 14 miles is quite a stretch, and pushing that much would probably result in an injury.

More mileage means better sustenance

With marathon training, carbs are the key to fuel endurance sports. Today I had vegan yogurt topped with chocolate chunks (85% cocao content), pumpkin seeds, and shredded coconut. It’s enough to get me through. Even toast with peanut butter is another easy go-to.

Upon returning, a veggie stir-fry with tofu on a bed of brown rice is the perfect food to replenish those tired muscles. A long nap can follow if you need it. Today I didn’t take a nap after the long run.

I also usually consume an energy gel during the run, but I didn’t feel the need for one this time. Those are good to have once the long runs exceed 10 miles. Today, I was fine without having one. I did bring water with me, since the City hasn’t turned the fountains back on yet.

Today I ran to Bellevue from the Central District and back. The sky is so clear and blue, and I’m still high from the combination of endorphins and sunshine. A feeling like that is the best high in the world, and it makes me so happy when others tap into theirs. Whoever said that running is a drug wasn’t far from the truth.

Twelve miles next week. I got this.