Half Marathon Distance Day - otherwise known as "I'm Running HOW Far!?"

The other day I spoke to the guy organizing our Jungfrau training camp - he's also running for Room to Read and provided me with some useful advice.

1. The course is technically a half marathon flat, and then the second half of the marathon is more "ultra hiking" because it's all uphill hiking. Goooood.

2. I have 6.5 hours to finish the whole marathon or they will take me off the course.

WHAAAT!? I thought that, worst came to worst, I could walk it and suffer through and still finish... but now it turns out that is not the case. His advice for me:

"Make sure you can do a half marathon in around 2.5 hours".

Good. Ok. What does that even mean? Is it hard to run 21k (13 miles) in 2.5 hours? I have no basis for comparison here. He said it so flippantly, like, "yeah, 21k in 2.5 hours - no big".

I did the math: if it takes me 35 minutes to run 5k, then surely I will be able to run 20k in just under 2.5 hours. BRILLIANT!!! Piece of cake...

I mapped out the run, strapped on a camel back and began. After about 40 minutes I began to get a bit tired... after an hour, I was walking... "ok", I thought, "the plan wasn't to run the whole distance, but just to get an idea and see what it was like. How far have I gone?".  6 kilometers.... 6... not 10, not 12 as I had hoped. 6. That means I still had 15 kilometers to go! What have I gotten myself into.

My 10.1 k route, according to Google Maps 

The rest of the journey was tough, mostly because Google Maps likes to lie to you and get your hopes up thinking a path exists, only to destroy those hopes and dreams when you arrive and realize there IS no path. So between getting lost, numerous hills and have to "take the long route", I eventually made my destination, 10.1 kilometers from home. The plan was then to run the whole thing back. Unfortunately, I had finished the 10.1k at the bottom of a massive hill, which means I would begin the second leg of my journey going up a massive hill.

View from the top of one of those massive hills, Regensberg

I again was walking up this hill, but as it flattened out I decided to just go for it and run... and you know that wall they say that you hit and need to get past in order to keep going? I think I got past it! I just wouldn't stop running. I had been going for nearly 3 hours at this point, with sporadic points of walking scattered throughout, mostly when it came to hills, and now I was unstoppable. I ran past the farms I walked through, down the forest paths I struggled up and just generally enjoyed myself. It was so strange that I managed to finally get into a groove 3 hours and half way through a run.

Looking back on the path I had just run through Mötschen

So now I know what to do... I need to get to this point a LOT earlier in my run. But this moment showed me that it is possible and I can do it! Now I just need to do it faster and longer.

10ks are A-OK

Ok, so today I did my first 10k - just as it started raining (typical)... I ran to Zurich Airport and back, which was pretty awesome, except for the heavy vehicles screaming past me.

Managed to finish my first 10k (6.2 miles) in just over an hour, which is what was expected as my 5k is just over 30 minutes. Not impossible but still room for improvement!

5k's a Go-Go

Today my training starts. I read online that for amateur marathoners (that's me), a good way to start is a 5k run (3.1 miles). So I've mapped out my distance on google maps and am ready to go! I've had my oats, my running shoes are laced on and I'm all stretched.... here we go! Wait here, I'll be right back.

Ok, I'm back. PHEW!! I stopped about 4 times on the way - when I had to stop I did a quick scan to figure out why my body was not having any of it. Each time it was tightness in my shins or calves so that's something I'll have to work on. My first 5k in a long time took me 35 minutes in total. I'm actually not all that disappointed considering only a week ago the only exercise I got was running for a train (which I usually missed) and taking the stairs when forced (ie. no ramp or escalator).

It can only get better, right?

ERMAHGERD!

I knew if I didn't do it right away, without relentlessly analyzing it, I would eventually talk myself out of it. So I just went for it. Without thinking into it too much, without researching thoroughly, I just went ahead and registered myself to run the Jungfrau Marathon this September to raise money for Room to Read.

Now, time to familiarize myself with the course....

ER.MAH.GERD.

"The Jungfrau Marathon is a demanding test of strength and stamina. The event is therefore open only to well-trained athletes in top physical condition. Each competitor must assume full responsibility for his/her personal state of health. Competitors recently suffering from infectious illneeses (such as angina or influenza) are reminded that they risk endangering their lives by taking part".

10 km on flat service, then steadily rising until the 40 km mark where you're over 2,000 meters above sea level (that's over 6,500 feet).

What have I done!?

Deep breath... deep breath... it's ok... you can do this... 5 months to train. No big.

For a better idea of the "WTF" I am experiencing, visit the Jungfrau Marathon website [here!] for a sped up video of the course.

The Catalyst

I attended a book launch hosted by Room to Read's Zurich Chapter. Room to Read founder, John Wood, was here in Zurich promoting the launch of his new book Creating Room to Read: A Story of Hope in the Battle for Global Literacy. The stories he shared about the children, and particularly young girls, whose lives were changed by access to education made me realize that, by spreading access to education worldwide, we really could make a difference.

Room to Read founder, John Wood, at his book launch in Zurich

But, what could I do? I hadn't worked in 6 months, so money was too tight to donate financially to the cause. So what would I be able to do to be a part of the solution? Then I overheard some ladies talking about running a marathon - Jung-something...brilliant! I may not have lots of money, but my legs work! I'll run a marathon to raise money!