Adrienne finishing the 2010 Kiawah Half Marathon in December.
Palmetto Runner’s Note: This is the first contribution on this blog from someone other than myself, and I am very happy to have Adrienne Levy join the project. I want to turn this from a personal training log into a resource for athletes across South Carolina. So, here is our first shot, and I appreciate Adrienne agreeing to be the guinea pig. Happy reading!
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“I always start these events with very lofty goals, like I’m going to do something special. And after a point of body deterioration, the goals get evaluated down to basically where I am now- where the best I can hope for is to avoid throwing up on my shoes.” – Ephraim Romesburg, sixty-five miles into the Badwater Ultramarathon
If you’ve read “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall, you probably recognize the quote.
If you’ve done any sort of race, and you’ve had that feeling in the pit of your stomach because you’ve pushed yourself to the limit – you know what Ephraim Romesburg means.
I’m currently wondering at what mile on June 5, 2011 I’ll be re-arranging my own goals and just trying to keep my Mizunos sanitary.
Since it’s the beginning of the year, I recently gave myself the task to decide which race to train for first. I reached the decision to run the Rock N’ Roll Marathon in San Diego (June 5th) after many annoying self-inflicted questions and comments like….
- “What does my body feel like doing? Running? Swimming? Biking? All three?”
- “What kind of distance can I manage to train for right now?”
- “Geez my legs are feeling tight. Maybe swimming and yoga would best.”
- “um… it’s HOW much to sign up for that race?”
- “Can I get my friends to train for any of these? Am I the only crazy one?”
- “Work is really busy right now, a 5k is definitely the way to go.”
- “If I do that race, what’s my goal? I really should be faster than last year.”
- “Can I train for two races at once?”
…and so on and so forth.
I also made a list of a variety of races in 2011 that sparked my interest on a post-it note and taped it to my computer at work.
Because I often “get by with a little help from my friends”, two of my new running buddies referred me to the local Team in Training program, which is gearing up for their summer season.
One of the races the group here in Charleston is training for is the San Diego marathon. After the first group meeting, and some more careful thought, it just made sense for this to be my first big races of the year. Now granted, its not until June- but along the way I’ll be able to do the Cooper River Bridge Run and swim the Lowcounty Splash as part of the marathon cross training. I will also receive coaching support and travel out to California, all the while, fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a part of my commitment to the Team in Training program.
(NOTE: If you would like to help contribute to Adrienne’s marathon, please visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/rnr11/alevycokgh)
So, I think that when it comes down to it, after much careful thinking, annoying questions, research on dates/locations, and advice from buddies, you’ll be able to pick a race that’s a good fit if you are still shaking a magic 8 ball trying to come up with the answer.
Over the next few months, I am really excited to have the opportunity to share the many adventures I’m sure to have training and the tips I learn along the way. I’m no expert runner or anything, but I do know what its like to push yourself. I love a good challenge and love being active. After all, “suffering is humbling. It pays to know how to get your butt kicked.”
Stay tuned and happy exercising,
Adrienne
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Adrienne and her boyfriend David after the 2010 Ecothon Adventure Race.
About Adrienne:
Adrienne currently resides in Charleston, SC and is the Director of Communications for the Coastal Conservation League. She is 25 years old, and would consider herself just a normal girl, trying to have fun and stay in shape. She began her adventures in exercise by starting competitive swimming at the ripe old age of 5 and by later joining a U.S. Masters swim team in 2008. Her interest in running and triathlons didn’t begin until 2008 when some swimming buddies convinced her over bagels after a morning practice that it would be fun. And so it was. She has since completed (3) 2.4 mile open water races, (2) sprint triathlons, (1) endurance adventure race (tri + kayak), (4) 10ks, (3) 5ks, and (2) half marathons. Other interests include music, Taco Boy margaritas, the beach and her boyfriend.
