Today is Vol. 16 of “Marathon Mommas.” Come along as we follow two women — Theressa Miller and Christine Vassen — in their quest to run their their first marathon in the spring. Each week, they’ll give us a glimpse into their training and mindset as they push themselves toward 26.2.
By Theressa Miller
If you have read many of our blog entries, you will know that I am not the runner who likes to get up and get my run in just for the sake of running.
I like to run and talk and just enjoy being outside. Yes, even when the weather is not enjoyable.
On Saturday, we had our long run. 18 miles. (Just 10 weeks to go until the marathon!)
We ran on mud and slush and ice for the first 4.4 miles, then …. glorious pavement. I am not normally a fan of pavement, but after the early soft surfaces it was a welcome change.
As we stopped for a moment, about 6 miles in, we noticed that the air, literally, sparkled. It was snow blowing off the trees, but it sparkled in the sunlight of the morning like someone had just shook a jar of glitter over us. The tree tips were frosty ice-white against the blue cloudless sky.
As we ran, there were dogs that came out to say hello. Their owners were not really sure what to think of the two women running so early. Christine talks to the dogs. Since we’re usually doing an out and back, she usually tells them that we will be “right back.”
I’m sure to clarify for the pooches that we don’t be “right back,” but we’ll see them in an hour or so.
[Christine] Theressa fails to mention that I ALWAYS talk to the dogs. The bigger the dog, the more like I am to chat friendly with the dog about how it should stop barking because we’ll be right back. but, if some little lap dog comes barreling at us, I start yelling at it to eat Theressa first.
Then there are the vehicles. We have been training a lot near my house, so some of the drivers and neighbors are getting used to seeing us. (There was the Amish girl in the window who looked confused, though).
[Christine] She was probably wondering why the shorter woman was yelling at her dog.
There were geese flying north. (Silly birds its only early March!)
There was the sun. The warmth of a spring morning.
In the end, it was 18 miles of mind-filling beauty and an awareness that spring will soon be in full bloom.
TO BE CONTINUED…










