Going for the Long-Haul!
Early in 2022, at the age of 62, I decided I wanted to run my first half-marathon that coming fall. I began looking for a three month training plan that would take me from running my usual milage (normally up to six miles) to the 13.1 miles I was seeking to run—and to do so at a respectable pace. I began my training in the early summer, running three times per week: one short and easy run, one interval run, and a long run that got longer most weeks, until I was up to eleven miles. During those three months I learned so much about myself and what it takes to, not only train for a race, but to live life going for, what we might call, the “Long-Haul.” Through the training, I found four elements that became extremely necessary to me if I was going to complete the race. 1. Discipline. It took a lot of discipline to get up early in the morning and go out for that run. After all, there were plenty of days I didn’t feel like lacing up. All kind...