Marathon Buddies

Since starting my training for the marathon, I've realized that I am now in an elite group of people who are known as "marathon trainers".

Now, truth be told, I used to hate these people. When my friends would decide to train for marathons, they went from being awesome to being completely boring and a little pretentious:

"Oh I can't eat that, I'm training for a marathon"
"Oh I can't go out tonight, I'm training for a marathon"
"Oh I can't get drunk tonight, I'm training for a marathon"
"Oh I'm going to be a completely boring b*stard, because I'm training for a marathon"

Gag me. With a shovel.

But now, I kinda get it. When I go out with friends, and they are all ordering burgers and beer, I go with the salad and tap water. When they peer pressure me, I say, "Oh I can't eat that, I'm training for a marathon". What. Have. I. Become?!

But it makes sense. The same way if you're travelling abroad and you meet someone from your home country, or home state, or home city! You talk about what you know and have in common, while those around you grow bored and agitated from being left out of the conversation. Now I understand, it's not being rude, it's a way to share with and learn from others about training techniques, and, in my case, to gauge just how far behind you are on your training.

Case in point, I went out for dinner with some fellow volunteers from Room to Read the other night. When I learned another woman at the table was also running the Jungfrau, I asked her how her training was coming along. Keep in mind I had only just done a 75 minute run, and nearly shriveled up and died during a 20k. She calmly replied, "it's going great, I'm already up to 21k's three times a week"... WHAT!? That took the wind out of my sails.

A happier story to end on - I was recently at work at an Irish Pub in the city center, when I went to go take an order from one of my tables. There sat a very strong, fit man in a suit - he asked me, "have anything healthy to eat?". I thought he was kidding. Healthy? We're an Irish Pub! So I casually said, "hmmm... it's a tough one, the food here is really good, but I wouldn't consider many of the options 'healthy', but I'm training for a marathon so maybe I'm just pickier than most". What. Have. I. Become!?! But his eyes lit up and he said, "I'm training for a marathon, too! Which one are you doing?" so we started chatting. He was running the Berlin Marathon in September and, like me, it was his first marathon. We discussed techniques, nutrition and upcoming races in Zurich where he may get some good practice. After that, he ordered a Guinness and a steak pie. I can only assume he took one look at me and said, "hell, if this girl can run a marathon, why am I bothering with all this training and stress"....

We did make a pact that in a few weeks he'd return and we'd share training stories. Marathon buddies!!