“I survived. I lived through six hours, 59 minutes and four seconds of running, jogging and walking. On Sunday, March 14, I, along with about 20,000 others, ran the Los Angeles City Marathon, 26.2 miles of unending excitement and grueling frustration. And then there was the pain. It started in my feet, crept its way up my legs and for some reason, into my arms. It became more and more difficult. Running (and, by the end, walking) felt like a much too arduous task, one that I was sorry I had gotten myself into. When running on a flat surface, I felt like I was running up a steep hill. My legs continually cursed at me in a garbled language I barely recognized as English. My stomach even developed a new skill — it learned how to say, “I need food and I need it yesterday,” at a point when I thought I could feel no worse.
Even though I put my body through a great deal of stress and anxiety, I am proud that I survived the distance. I’ve even mustered up the will to run the marathon again next year. It will be the first marathon of the new millennium, my first year in college and my first year as an adult. I have now made running an instrumental part of my life — something that will help keep me in shape and keep me feeling young.
How I got started in distance running
From my freshman year at Middle College, I knew that there was a program called Students Run Los Angeles at my school and at other schools in L.A. County. This is a program that encourages youth to begin running, to run the marathon and to make running an integral part of their lives. Students participating in the program make a commitment to train effectively, come to the runs (held about once a month) and finish the marathon. The running events are located at various places including Northridge, Irvine, Culver City and downtown Los Angeles. As participants of the program, students receive a host of benefits including transportation to races, at least one pair of running shoes and other assorted running gear.
When I saw other people at my school training and talking about running the marathon, I was happy for them and respected the fact that they could do such a long distance. The marathon coach, Mr. Sherwin Boucher, was always trying to get students
to join Students Run L.A. “You need to!” he’d say. “It will help you with tennis and increase your speed.” At the time, I wasn’t convinced. I hated distance running and couldn’t understand how so many people could run these distances at such fast paces. Carlos, one of the guys who ran the marathon at our school this year, finished it in about four hours. Hearing about how fast the other students were discouraged me a little. I wasn’t sure that I could make the marathon.
In mid-December of last year, I participated in my first race with Students Run L.A. My sister was doing the race and I thought I could run as well. I thought, hey, if she could do it, I should be able to. I ran that 10K (6.2 miles) race and finished before my sister. And I wasn’t even so tired! After that run, I officially joined Students Run L.A.
Running is a huge commitment
And I began to run on the weekends and whenever I could during the week. I went to an aerobics workout three times a week and did a few weight training exercises. Because of all this, I began to get more in shape. I also began to try to eat better although with all my efforts, I simply couldn’t get past the junk food plus fast food combo (by the way, if you’re training for the marathon, do NOT make it a habit of eating like this). My training included short runs during the week days and longer runs on weekends as I worked on pacing and getting used to the distances.
Running has helped me become more physically fit and has helped me to relieve some of the stress that comes with being a high school senior. Running in general helps to lower one’s chance of contracting heart disease and cancer as well as many other diseases. For me, running is a way to use my mind and body in order to accomplish something—like running a long distance or relieving tension. It’s a great way to get in and stay in shape. I feel physically and mentally stronger than I’ve ever felt and I believe running has helped my development in that sense. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be physically fit and who would commit themselves to run (and believe me, it’s a HUGE commitment)!
How to prepare for a marathon
If you would like to run a marathon, there are a lot of things you will need to do. First of these is to make a commitment. Tell your family and friends about your new venture. Begin to cut back on junk food (so much for that chocolate cake, or Big Mac, or warm cinnamon roll) and step up your normal exercise routine if possible. It’s vital to begin training as soon as possible. Nothing can take its place! Start slowly and increase the rigor of your running schedule as the marathon day nears. Drink plenty of water (at least eight glasses a day) before the marathon. Decrease simple sugars like candy and gum, and decrease or eliminate fats. Load up on carbohydrates like bananas (they help you stay energized) and protein like beans (they helps build and repair muscles). I also eat a lot of green vegetables for vitamins. Stretch for about five to 10 minutes before the race to help relieve tension and to prevent injury.
While running, it’s important to keep mentally busy. Break the run into smaller pieces (i.e. 10Ks and 5Ks), sing along with the bands, check out the scenery. Alter your pace as you need to — especially as the miles get longer — and stay relaxed. Pay attention to your form. Your stride shouldn’t be too long and your arms should be bent slightly at your waist. Remember that fatigue is part of the challenge. Time, no matter what anyone says, is not the priority. Your goal should be to do your best and finish the marathon. Running can become a life-long habit. I want to keep running until my bones start creaking — and then I’ll take walks.”