Strava Marathon (Bellingham, MA)
Finish Time: 3:36
Pace: 8:15
Temp: 60
Conditions: Indoors
Run For: Jennifer
Recap:
It has been a minute since running the previous marathon with 26.2 For You. Life has been busy and scheduling a time to run a marathon was tough over the past few months. Luckily that changed which allowed me to pick up from where we left off to continue our journey towards 100 marathons.
We have moved the clocks ahead which means spring is officially here and that will lead to more comfortable outside running temps and conditions, thankfully. All that being said, today’s marathon was done entirely on the treadmill again for convenience and honestly for another motivational purpose; I wanted to catch up watching professional cycling and the spring racing season. Why not combine the two, being productive at accomplishing both the marathon and watching the pro’s ride their bikes.
Most, if not all, runners have a disdain for the treadmill which I’ve talked about before. I’ve shifted to the way I perceive the treadmill, finding it to be a useful tool used to help me accomplish my goals at the time.
I’ve been running long distances for a while now and with the volume of marathons I’m running, speed is not something I’m striving for or focusing on. It’s all about consistency while feeling comfortable trying to pump out as many 26.2 distances as possible. The best way for me to approach running for distance and not speed is to allow my brain to shut off, become distracted and not focus on pace or overall time. The treadmill with the tv is the perfect tool to allow me to do this, achieving the desired outcome I’m looking for. Every runner is different but for me, this works! I can zone out, direct my attention to something other than the running I’m doing at the moment and let the time pass and the miles tick away.
Today’s viewing choice was the Paris-Nice cycle race. I was able to watch all the stage highlights getting a full recap and it was the perfect distraction. For me it helps to watch sporting events as opposed to shows or movies when I’m running. Seeing the cyclists attack on the climbs, mash the pedals in a group sprint and dangerously careen down mountain roads motivates me to continue turning over my legs mile after mile. I had been waiting to watch Paris-Nice so instead of sitting on the couch for hours I jumped on the treadmill and got through another marathon for 26.2 For You.
My strategy worked as most of the miles felt comfortable and smooth. This is one of the most consistent paced marathons I think I’ve run within this challenge. Obviously being on the treadmill helps because I can just set the speed and incline without the need to switch things up. Again, just zone out and cover the distance I need without thinking too much about it.
So, with the fans running, my water and tailwind within an arm’s reach I had a majority of my attention on the bike race while completing this marathon and feeling really good.
Today’s marathon was run for my friend Jen, whom I met last year. Jen was on one of our marathon teams as she signed up to run the Chicago Marathon with Team Challenge this past October. Not only was she on the team but she was one of our team’s honored heroes. After reading her story you can see why she is exactly that, a true IBD hero for sure.
I am amazed and in awe of what people who have IBD do despite the fact that they often don’t feel well, or in the case when they do feel well, knowing that at any moment that can drastically change. IBD is unpredictable, there is a lot that we know about these diseases but so much more that we don’t. IBD can be scary, hard, embarrassing and absolutely terrifying. It’s people like Jen who prove over and over again that they take these challenges head on. There was a lot of meaning behind Jen’s Chicago Marathon run. The city of Chicago played a major role in her Crohn’s Disease journey because it was here that she spent a lot of time in the hospital seeing the doctors that helped her. The 2024 race was also a meaningful year because it marked the 27 years since she had been dealing with Crohn’s. So she was heading back to the city to run one mile for each year she has had Crohn’s.
Being able to witness Jen run this race and finish the marathon while proudly supporting the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation wearing that orange TC shirt was nothing short of amazing. It was warm, she was tired and sore, but she didn’t quit and she didn’t let anything stop her from crossing that finish line, not even her Crohn’s was going to stop her on that day.
I am always so proud of all those teammates that finish a Team Challenge event and this was the case with Jen when she ran the Chicago Marathon this past fall. Amazing on so many levels and not only did she run for herself, she ran for all those who battle IBD and she made a huge impact within the IBD community. Honored hero Jen is right!
Thank you for being an inspiration to so many, including me. Thank you for helping raise awareness and spreading the word about Crohn’s Disease, allowing me to share your story. It means a lot to me to be able to do this, having you play a role in 26.2 For You in 2025! This 26.2 was for you Jen!
26.2 FOR YOU 