I Did It

The Confessions of A Former Runner Turned Non-Runner Who Was Dragged Into Running the Marine Corps 10K by His High School Friends

By Darren

About 14 months ago, I met up with some friends of mine from Mt. Vernon High School. Yes, we are all aging extremely well (if I may say so myself), and I noticed the common thread was that we all were still active and exercising. If you underestimate the importance of doing both - staying active and exercising - we've all seen where that leads. I digress, and will step off the soap box now...

In the late 1970s, I was a Mount Vernon track stud, along with Ed Montgomery and Bob Nourse, the founders of this illustrious blog. Unlike Ed's lifelong love affair with distance running, my path ran more like Bob's...middle distance runner who used to wish evil things upon MVHS track coach, Ken Gaudreault, when it was suggested we run over 1 mile. We'd complain the whole time, and act like we were the Greek messenger sent to Marathon, Greece (and subsequently died upon running the 26 miles). To put it mildly, we didn't run much distance, and, I must confess, really didn't know how.

So, when my dear friends (who I wished evil things upon when they tried to talk me into running the MCM10K) suggested I run with them, I initially said "No", and probably looked like a toddler throwing a tantrum at the same time. I left the restaurant that evening wishing them well, but not wanting any part of their proposal.

Well, I am a lifelong recreational (some competitive leagues "back in the day") softball and basketball player. I also like a challenge. I also hate to be challenged, and fail. I'm also about 10-15 pounds overweight...or was at the time. Put them together, and you have me messaging them shortly after that I wanted to run with them in this year's MCM10K. Great! Except, I have no endurance, and really never have. Damn!

However, I had a year in my favor, a challenge in my head, and friends that I would not let down. So, first things first...buy some running shoes, and dip into the pool slowly. I have trained for things before, and know that going out and running a few miles the first day, or pushing too hard leads to injury, dejection, and quitting.

My wife and kids laughed at me when I ran around the block a couple of times a week for a month. The wife runs all the time, one daughter lettered every running season possible in high school, and the other daughter is a competitive soccer player...so, all run, and all have endurance - and the will to tease. All of their good-willed teasing just provided motivation...so on to running an entire mile in one day!

Well, you know the story, as all of you reading this are probably runners. The really discouraging moments, though, came during basketball and softball seasons, when little injuries popped up, or when the work/family schedules consumed my time. It may not be a problem for someone training to run regularly, but the "work stoppages" made it really difficult to get going again.

This is where I will recommend to anyone getting started in running that, to do this right, you need a support structure of runners. They're infectious, energetic, motivated, and generally wonderful people, who have had a lot of "alone time" to think about things. It was wonderful to receive the advice, motivation, and positive thoughts from my runner friends, and it pushed me through beautifully.

 

Let's make a long, boring story a bit shorter, and jump to a month before the MCM10K. I still hadn't really progressed past 3-3.5 miles. Finally, Tina sent me a training schedule for one month out, and Shelli, Teri, Carol, Jon, Bob, and Ed were wonderful in asking me how things were going. Exactly, 3 weeks out, I had an epiphany, and it boiled down to me not wanting to disappoint them - and myself. So, I gutted out a 5.5 mile run, which in the grand scheme of things was more mental than physical, and knew I was ready.

The big MCM10K weekend: First, let me just say that red wine and gourmet appetizers are not good "carb loading", but that's another post...

 

After riding the train with Shelli, Teri, Carol, and my new BFF, Karl, it was time to do this thing. Miles 1-3 were a little sketchy, but the crowd sort of sweeps you up in it all, and keeps you going. It was at this point that I realized that to train for a city run across bridges, highway ramps, etc., that you MUST put some hill work into your training. Sadly, I did not.

By the way, why do they go out of the way to call it a 10K, if they're going to put mile markers all along the course (not one marker with a "K" on it)? Anyway, miles 4-5 were a "bitch". They were lonely and they were hard, but having about 1000 Marines, and other "motivators" is a total winner. It's what made this race possible to finish, because it certainly wasn't my magnificent training.

MCM10K isn't all roses, however. Miles 5-6.2...designed by a Marine, I am sure. They happen on Route 110, at the Pentagon, by Arlington Cemetery, and into the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial...all uphill, progressing into this, what I thought to be about a 30% uphill grade. Three thoughts popped into my head: 1. Hey, there's Carol...catch up to Carol! 2. If all these amazing people in Arlington Cemetery gave the ultimate sacrifice, the least I can do is shut up and finish the race. 3. The cheering of the race supporters was drowned out by the internal voices of the friends that talked me into this in the first place. Finish and you'll be one of them...for a day, at least.