QCM Marathon

Well - again I start my journey to running the Queen City Marathon (QCM). I'm going to be utilizing Hal Higdon's training plan this time. I was able to complete a half marathon on Good Friday in 1:49:51, which was a personal best.

I have concerns, mainly my right leg. The TFL muscle has proven problematic at times and after the Gopher Attack Half Marathon, my inner right groin area was very sore as well.

To accomplish this marathon will be a huge testament - not only to my desire to succeed, but also a testament to my family and friends, who will have to put up with me talking about running lingo (fartleks, long runs, etc) and the obsession that will consume me.

I ran 10K yesterday (May 22) and during that run, I thought about the question I get asked when I say I'm going to run a marathon: Why do such a thing?

I thought about it while running and had to go back in time to answer this question. I have to go back to when I was my oldest son's age (7/8) and when I would have a hard time even playing outside because of my asthma. We would have the Terry Fox Run around town, and to even complete that was only with the assistance of ventolin and somebody carrying me.

I had to back and remember during some fitness testing before Grade 7, that during a run (I think it was 1600M) that I couldn't finish 800M without being stricken with an asthma attack.

I remembered about when Grade 7 came along. Track and Field starts up. Long jump? Not a chance. I'm short. Shot put? Not a chance. Way to weak. High Jump? LOL. 50M running? Too slow. 400M, 800M & 1600M running? Now we're talking. But why is that we can talk about that? The medication I was on combined with growing up was starting to diminish the problems asthma posed.

I remembered that running those events allowed me to feel like I belonged and to feel like i was doing something I WASN'T supposed to be doing. I had severe astham and was running! Two things that I was always under the belief didn't belong in the same sentence.

I also remember when Grade 11 comes. I've been doing the track and field running for a bit. Then someone (I don't remember who) suggests cross country running. I'll be honest - I did that because really - not many people would do it, which makes reaching provincials pretty easy.

I look back though, and think of running it and how awesome it was. The courses, the scenery, the experience of it all. I think at that time it was 6KM and if I remember correctly, my times for those events would be 45 minutes.

Unfortunately, I also remember that after high school, running became a non-factor. Post secondary and defining a path in life was first and foremost. Fast forward approximately 6-7 years. Instead of a lean, non-muscular 130lb frame, I'm just shy of 200lbs and still non-muscular. Asthma still poses issues, but I won't lie - smoking was not helping.

I eventually quit smoking and in May 2009, I keep hearing ads for Queen City Marathon and I've also started doing HIIT at the gym to shed fat. I've heard of the QCM somewhat - that it's a Boston Marathon qualifying course and people of all shapes/sizes run it.

I remember that as I've been doing my HIIT, I've noticed my cardio improving. Lung capacity is improving and I just feel BETTER. I start training for the QCM half marathon and finish in 1:56:51. I run a 5K in December as the running bug is more than that now. I am starting to LIVE for running.

I decided in 2010 to train for the QCM Full Marathon. Unfortunately, due to injuries I'm relegated to watching friends start and finish along with watching oldest son run his mini marathon. I ran the last 100M with him, but all in all, I remember how soul crushing that day was. It was depressing watching all these people take off and all I could do was watch.

I laid off running for a while and during the winter started doing some strength training on my knees/legs and started doing 5KM HIIT sessions. In March 2011, I decided, to run the Gopher Attack Half Marathon and finished it with a personal best.

I remember during my run, that I run to not only stay fit, but because it't something I grew up with the impression that I shouldn't be doing it. I wasn't supposed to be able to run long distances. I run because during those times, I feel free and I feel great.

So why do I want to run a full marathon? Because when I was smaller, I couldn't run and now I can. I want to not only prove to my children that if you work at something, it can happen, but I want to complete my ultimate test - going from not being able to run 400 metres to finishing 42194.89 metres.

There will be people running the QCM to be the fastest or to win a bet. They may be trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon or looking to say they did it. I won't be running for any of those reason. I'll be running for me. I'll be running for my younger self that couldn't even play at recess.