If I weren't training for a marathon

I would probably be sleeping. I uttered this phrase “If I weren’t training for a marathon…” for the first time (of what I am guessing will be hundreds of times) on my third day of training. Yes, you read that right, the third day. Not month, not even week, the third day. I don’t know, but it seems that day three of five months is a bit on the early side for a person to start a run with these sentiments.

In my own defense, I had returned home from my second late night of work in a row at one a.m. Admittedly I went out for fried mushrooms for an hour after work but that’s neither here nor there. I had to be at work by 9 a.m. the next day (actually the same day, eight hours later!) and the only time to get my run in was 6 a.m. before work. The weather was predicted to be a balmy 20 degrees at that hour. Fabulous. Freezing cold, early, dark, no sleep. Great running conditions! So, after 5 hours of sleep and fried food, I woke up with the thought “If I weren’t training for a marathon, I would have skipped this workout.”

Yet, I still donned my winter running gear, grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down for a quick check of the weather one last time before heading out the door. I retyped in the zip code when I saw the forecast. In five hours it changed from 20 degrees to 50! 50! In December in Ohio?! I took off my fleece and hat and went out the door. Sure enough, there was a gentle breeze, warm air and a blaze orange sun just starting to peek through the purple of night. I grabbed my ipod and headed out the door wondering if I was still dreaming, or actually awake.

I trotted up the hill and turned onto my usual course. My calves were tight, my footstrike heavy and my body was tired. But my mind was so bewildered at this freak great weather that I couldn’t help but just be thankful that the Marathon Calendar got me out the door that day to enjoy it (or at least experience it. I still don’t know if “enjoy” is the right word.) I had the same thought I woke up with: “If I weren’t training for a marathon…” but the conclusion changed to “I would have missed this gorgeous morning.” Sure enough, by the time I showered and left for work the temperature was already plummeting to the 30 degrees more characteristic for this time of year. I really would have missed the spring hour we had if I weren’t training for a marathon.

I suspect I will say “If I weren’t…” many more times throughout this. There will be many sacrifices and many lost hours of sleep. I also suspect that there will be many surprises, many lessons and many rewards—the kinds of rewards that can only come from choosing the uknown running adventure, over the known comfort of my bed. The kind of rewards that only come from making a commitment, sticking to it, and embracing the places it leads you.