The Inside Track: Training for a Half Marathon [Part 3] at Her Active Life

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The Inside Track: Training for a Half Marathon [Part 3]

Posted October 19, 2007 at 10:00 AM by Alexandra Haller

Section: Her Fitness, Athletics, Training Programs, Her Health, Her Motivation, Special Features

Her Active Life writer Alexandra Haller is currently training for her first half marathon. Here, she shares the ups and downs of her training routine as she readies herself for the physical challenge of a lifetime.

The countdown is officially on. After months of training, hours in physical therapy and many road, treadmill and trail miles, I will finally stare down my goal this weekend. I’ll participate in the half marathon, 13.1 miles. This Sunday, before 7:00am, I’ll be lining up with over 10,000 runners for the 2007 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon. It’s probably an understatement to say the energy from the crowd will be sizzling. Bring it on!

I am proud of myself for making it to this point. I never thought I had much determination or persistence, but occasionally it’s nice to prove yourself wrong. However, I’d be quite selfish if I thought I did it all on my own. My family has believed in me to an unfailing degree. In fact, there’d be times when they’d shrug their shoulders, take on a supercilious tone and say, “Of course you can run 7 miles. Call me when you’re done.” In my head, I’d challenge that know-it-all smugness. I’d be wondering why they weren’t feeling sorry for me and sharing my grief for the growing, grueling distances. That’s my family though. They think our ability to succeed is as natural a thing as a giraffe with a long neck. Sure, the pressure’s tough but the love from which it springs is boundless.

To be fair, my family doesn’t live near me. We all know it might be easier to be a cheerleader on the phone and email; dealing with the everyday stuff is more challenging. So far I’ve been lucky to date someone who’s more encouraging than dismissive. It’s not the most normal thing to say Friday nights are off because runs take place Saturday mornings. But that’s how many weekends were for us. It’s an incredible joy to have someone give that kind of respect to your ambitions.

Finally, I am grateful for my body. Too often we notice our flaws; we deride our shape as too soft or too big. We complain instead of cherish. However, in this moment, I am genuinely thankful for a body that can run, that can stumble and recover, that can lift more weight, that can breathe deeply. I treasure my body because it’s the only one I’ll ever have, and I plan to have it for a very long time. People say running long distances is a mental game. Well, for the rest of it, I can thank my body for being powerful, energetic and resilient.

I may stand without my friends or family at the starting line this Sunday, but in spirit I’ll be part of an intricate, indefatigable network. At times I doubted if I’d ever really get to this point, but the people who believed in me always believed it was possible. My gratitude is deep. My excitement swells. Bring it on!