Here I am, 9 1/2 weeks away from running my fifth marathon in the beautiful Bahamian sun in honour of one of my closest friends and I'm suffering from a major lack of motivation. Though I have done solo marathon training before and I am running this one for a cause close to my heart, I am struggling to get out there and get the kilometers under me that I so desperately need. As any marathon runner will tell you - you can't fake a marathon.
I recently had the pleasure of having Katherine, Andrea and Heather for a weekend visit in my new digs. It was a visit that I needed more than I was willing to admit. I find that when I'm struggling the most with motivation, a visit from these ladies usually gives me the kick in the butt that I need! It was so great to have them here and to hear their struggles and have them be honest with me about how each of them are currently handling their arthritis. It may sound terrible but having them be honest about their issues gives me a motivational boost to get out there and pound the pavement because I can and they can't. Now if only they would visit weekly, the remaining 9 1/2 weeks of training will go by in a flash!
So, in an effort to gather up all of the motivation I can find, I will share a couple of other memorable moments where I drew on something or someone to keep me motivated and get me through. The first one that sticks out was the half marathon I ran in the driving rain two weeks after my Gramma passed away. I was drenched to the bone and only finished one lap of the two lap course and had nothing left in my legs or in my heart. So I turned my thoughts to the one thing that had consumed me for the three previous weeks - my Gramma and what she meant to me in my life. If anyone was watching me during that last lap, they would have seen me laughing at moments we'd shared, talking to myself and reminding myself that Gramma wouldn't have given up. She taught me many things but most importantly, she taught me strength and I pulled on that strength that day to get me across the finish line. Thank you Gramma for your strength.
When I ran my first marathon with the Joints in Motion program in the Caymans I suffered the worst leg cramps I have ever had. Ironically, this was also a two lap course and my hamstrings started to tighten on me at about the 23km mark. By the time I hit kilometer 32 my hamstrings were as hard as rocks and gave me little ease of movement. The motivation to get me across the finish line that day came at first from Katherine, an easy motivator as she was the person I was running the marathon in honour of. Thinking of everything that she had been through since her diagnosis and before, including double foot surgery, kept me moving and seeking the finish line. About 2 kms before the finish was a Joints in Motion cheering section with Andrea cheering her heart out. Her spirit and smile gave me the boost that I needed to finish those last 2 kms. Thank you Katherine and Andrea for your amazing spirit.
Through the marathon in the Caymans I met Heather. Heather was so similar athletically to me prior to her Rheumatiod Arthritis diagnosis that I frequently think of her when I'm struggling with a run. I finish more runs that I care to admit because I don't know what I would do if I was in Heather's shoes. I know how much I need running and skiing and physical activity and I don't know how I would fare if I was faced with my doctor telling me that I could no longer do those things. So I finish the hard training runs for Heather whose determination to run gives me the motivation that I need. Thank you Heather for never giving up.
Now this is where you come in. I know there aren't many of you who are willing to run with me in Armstrong to get me through the next 2 months of 25 - 36km runs. Instead, I would love it if you would share something that you've used for motivation in the past or still use for motivation today. I have some tough training ahead and would love any and all support you can muster to get me through the long cold runs. With your support, I can do this!
