One of the beauties of running is the fact that we all share the experience of getting to the finish line over the same distance and course no matter how fast we go. Whether one runs the marathon in just over 2 hours or just over 5 hours, we start and finish at the same place. Tim Ritchie, our Chief Runner & Blogger at SEAC & HHRC, debuted at the marathon distance in Boston this year in 2:21:31. That was good enough for 25th place in one of the world’s premiere marathons. That’s fast, yes, but Tim was aiming even higher with this race which brings us to this blog… Tim is thoughtful, introspective, crazy fast, and a very good coach so, with that in mind, we asked him to share some of what he learned running his first marathon. Enjoy. – Dan Fitzgerald, co-founder/co-owner SEAC + HHRC
–
Lessons Learned
This past April I ran my first marathon. The race went well enough, but was full of many challenges and a very difficult last few miles. I was warned against having too many expectations going into the race, but it was hard not to dream big. The one goal that was consistent throughout the build-up and race itself was ‘learn something.’ Now, with a month in the rearview, here are a few things I found out as a first timer:
First the physical…
The marathon is very, very far. I had done a number of 18-22 mile long runs before and thought another handful of miles would be a piece of cake. Turns out eating that piece of cake would be one of the toughest things I have done in running. I learned the hard way how much ground one can make up or lose in the final 10k of a marathon. I would have done three things differently. 1) I sipped on some water at every stop, but sipping and drinking are radically different things when you are sweating for more than 2 hours. Next time I will at least double my water intake, and definitely added in some more salt/glucose (i.e. Gu) into the run. I was afraid of taking on too much and being full, instead I took on too little and was empty, completely. 2) I will add in some longer long runs to the next training block. I did most of my LRs at quick pace, but never ran for more than 2h10m. I’ll add in some 2h45m or 3h runs – just to get used to being on my feet for so long. 3) I was confident in my hill running and tried to push the hills to my advantage. I would be better off just running the hills relaxed and pushing the time between them. Seconds gained on hills can easily turn into minutes lost in the miles that follow.
Tim Ritchie blowing kisses to the #runwithheart cheering section at Heartbreak Hill Running Company during the running of the 117th Boston Marathon.
Now the meta-physical…
The marathon is very, very far. Confidence is an important element of racing, perhaps second to gratitude. That confidence, come to find out, needs to be tempered with patience and humility. I was fit and ready to tackle the marathon, but I was also stepping into the unknown. Perhaps I did not give that unknown enough credit. My coach was always patient and calm, knowing I would come out on the other side of the race better prepared for my next one, one way or the other. I only ever considered the one way and the other was thrust upon me in the last 5k. So, the lesson there: do not underestimate your opponent. I also found myself really involved in the pre-race hype. There were many expectations of me, either placed there by myself or those invested in my running that were motivating but maybe distracting as well. I believe it is best to always remember why you run and to let what that is for you be your motivation. If you run with a purpose and a passion, then even if you fall short of a goal time or place, you will have run so as to win and can walk away very proud.
Tim Ritchie, Chief Runner & Blogger for HHRC + SEAC and elite runner for the BAA, streaks by Heartbreak Hill Running Company during the 117th running of the Boston Marathon.
All of these are important points, but the thing I learned which I consider most valuable is that all of these lessons were worth learning! Running the Boston Marathon is a big highlight of my career and a race that will live in my memory and in my future miles. It will serve as both inspiration and information for any race I run going forward. I met so many amazing people through the race, was encouraged by the stories of others running, experienced new challenges in competing and shared in God’s grace shining down on such a beautiful event. I would not have discovered any of these without the gift of and the courage to take that first step. All marathons begin with just that: one first step.
Tim Ritchie
