Marathon Runner

While talking to relatives last summer and talking to running friends I remember saying “running a marathon isn’t one of my goals…” But then I was informed that those “running goals” will keep changing, but I didn’t believe it! My husband, who at that time wasn’t a runner asked me to please “never run a marathon” because he had talked to people who had been hurt training or running marathons.

I trained hard through the whole winter in order to become a “Half Marathon Runner”. Wow that felt good and I had a respectable time….. Hmmm what will I do next…..

A fellow runner (I’ll call him “Coach Chuck…”) said he was going to run the Akron Marathon with us (my husband and I like it was our idea….) and with that we all started training! I was now on my way to being a “Marathon Runner”. I would be among a small percentage of the world that has ever finished a marathon.

My goal as a “marathon runner” was to finish standing, I was hoping to finish before 4:30, but was told not to set a time goal by many other “marathon runners”.

Training was fun, I really enjoyed the long runs, the very early mornings, the intestinal problems every long run and the blisters…. No, but really, the friends we made while in training are wonderful! Friends we met through the group and at races and through the forum, what a great way to get to know someone, go out and run a long run with them. Oh, let me explain I am a talker, if you don’t like to talk and run, you might not want to run with me! My mouth runs nonstop, as my husband would say “if you can talk that much you aren’t running fast enough….”

So I am on my way to being a “marathon runner” and very worried only about one thing, can I make it with the stomach problems I have been having?

The week before the marathon seemed to drag on, I couldn’t concentrate on anything and I was very nervous! Is this what it feels like when you are about to become a “marathon runner” or was I just on my way to a nervous breakdown? One last 3 mile run the week before the marathon, I thought “this will feel good, work out some of my stress, but it didn’t, everything hurt. I hurt in places I have never hurt before, but was told by other “marathon runners” that these “pains” are normal under the circumstances, more mental than physical (that’s good because they sure felt real to me…).


September 27, 2008 - MARATHON DAY

Feeling good, amazingly good, scary good! Toeing the line (well not really because I am with the 4:15 group) the announcer says “this is what we have all trained so hard for” and I start crying… The gun sound and off we go… Oh wait, 2 minutes to get to the start line, then we go. I was very lucky to have a great friend to run the first 6 miles with me (thank you Lisa) this made the first 6 miles fly by. I really enjoyed the fans along the route, cheering us on and sometimes calling my name! I made a few new friends along the route (imagine that, me and my mouth….) My new friend Donnie was very worried about the hills and the wall, when I informed him that there are no hills in the Akron Marathon and he was NOT going to hit the wall today, he looked at me a little oddly as he had ran this marathon before and knew the terrain. We ran together for about 5 miles until I needed a port-a-pot break I told him I would see him at the end. Running on the trails was great, many new friends and lots of music just loved it when “SHOUT” came on and I was dancing and running. At Stan Hewitt hall I found Donnie again he thanked me and said that the whole way up “Heart Rate Hill” he was thinking “Marsha said there are no hills, this is NOT a hill….” To this point I have had no problems and am really enjoying the entire experience. At 24 miles I told Donnie that he was past “the wall” and to go on without me as I felt like I was holding him back and was really enjoying thanking all the policemen and volunteers and giving high fives to any kid that would “share” his/her energy with me. At mile 25 I had this wonderful thought that I was going to finish with no real problems and I again started crying. Pulling it together and really enjoying the last mile to Canal Park I see the finish line and again I start crying (imagine that) pull it together, there are going to be pictures at the finish line, I want to look happy not sad! I finish smiling with my arms raised in accomplishment. I shook the hand of Jim Barnett, and got a medal and there was my husband standing there and guess what… I started crying. I saw Donnie and he gave me a big hug, thanked me for all my positive thoughts and said that any time he runs a marathon he will think of Marsha and how hills are imaginary. I got some food, and then almost passed out, Ladd held me up for a few minutes; I sat down for a few minutes then visited and shared with friends.

The experience was one I will never forget, I suggest everyone run one! Even if you feel you can’t, do a leg of a relay and get the feeling of the marathon and cheer on your friends that are doing the whole. It was wonderful! I will be doing marathon #2 in Nashville, TN in April and #3 will be Akron again next year (can’t beat the free shoes).

Written by: Marsha Clifford a “MARATHON RUNNER”

Credits to (my great training friends): Chuck and Lillian Damman, Lisa Grafton, Abra Wiese, Dan Horvath, Rebecca Bridenthal and mostly my wonderful husband Ladd!