This weekend, I successfully completed my first half marathon. Not only did I survive the act of carrying myself 13.1 miles, but I completely crushed even my most ambitious personal goal of beating two hours, finishing in 1:55:00. Looking back at my nearly four-month training calendar, I don't regret one workout or rest day. Building up my mileage was definitely a challenge, but I now trust that I am capable of sticking to a schedule and building strength for the marathon. I am shocked to see that I somehow overlooked the fact that I ran nearly 100 miles in July, and again in August, despite my knee injury.
Though the last four miles were pretty rough (especially since I didn't see the mile markers for 11 or 12), there was no doubt in my mind throughout the race that I could maintain a constant effort until the end. Though I'd never done a long run at that pace, my speed workouts (along with the knowledge that I would have some time off after I finished) kept me going. I remember glancing at my watch just after mile 10 and being amazed that I could run 10-minute miles to the finish and still break 2 hours. Even better, we really did get Twizzlers, and I didn't experience even one second of knee pain.
Today, I turn in my official application to run for the Bottom Line marathon team, "Team Go Far." Thank you all for your support so far, and I apologize in advance for the fundraising blast that's about to start. Hopefully what you've read so far has helped convey the importance of helping more of our students in Massachusetts get in, graduate, and go far.
September is not even half over, and the busyness of fall is already upon us at Bottom Line. As I began my third go-round of this craziness, I've already found myself struggling to find the energy and optimism to get through another batch of incessant questions, painful essay drafts, and disappointing setbacks. Similarly, it's harder to bound out of bed in the morning and hit the pavement now that there is a distinct chill in the air, urging me back to the comfort of bed. I, like my students, am trying to stay focused on my short-term goals.
One of my main duties as a counselor is to break a seemingly unconquerable goal--getting into and affording the right college--into very realistic pieces for my students. In fact, sometimes I'm so good at focusing them on the immediate and the attainable that when the time comes to schedule an appointment to send their applications, they can only gape at me with wide eyes. "But-" they stammer, "I'm not ready! There must be more for me to do!" Many of them, whether they say it out loud or not, wonder if all the work they have done will be good enough to get them to the finish line they so deserve to see.
With just over a week to go until my first half marathon, I also feel a bit like this deadline snuck up on me. The counselor in me knows that I've done just about everything I can to prepare for this. I've done long runs in 90-degree sun and 60-degree rain. I ran over 12 miles last week in a two-hour time trial. I know where the water stops will be along the course and when my body will need to re-fuel. [Exciting news: this particular half marathon feeds us Twizzlers.] I, like my students, need to trust in my preparation, close my eyes, and pull the trigger. Though, to be fair, bringing a couple envelopes a few blocks to the post office seems a bit easier than banging out 13.1 miles at 7am on a Saturday. Still, many of my students echo my awed sentiment that I can't believe I have come even this far. They may have a guidance counselor who scoffed at their questions about college. An endless string of older siblings and cousins that hardly made it out of high school. To be considering which college they will attend is something they perhaps couldn't even conceive of four months ago.
Looking forward, however, what we need to remember is that we each have another goal out there on the horizon. They still need to survive financial aid, make a good decision about where to go to school, and step into unfamiliar territory to find success on their college campus. I will need to figure out how to squeeze more hours into the day and more pep in my step to kick my actual marathon training into gear. We have to trust that we have what it takes to get ourselves where we need to be.
One thing is for sure--we all have a lot of work to do. Better make some more coffee.
