Christine Vassen and Theressa Miller
The following is a guest post from Erie runner Theressa Miller (followed by comments from her running partner, Christine Vassen). Theressa and Christine are planning to do their first marathon in 2010 (they say they’re still waffling, but…it’s all just nervous talk) and, about once a week, we’ll hear from one of them on how the training is going. Follow along as the girls take their first steps toward the big 26.2.Theressa writes:
Well, it has been decided. In Cleveland on Sunday, May 16, 2010, Christine and I (and a new recruit) will be running our first Marathon. I am excited and nervous and weary all at the same time. It seems so far away and we are already running 10-13 mile runs without too much issue.
But then I think, “Holy moley, I have to run 13 miles after I am done with the first 13!”
Why? Why am I running this? Why am I running 2 marathons? (Kind of an easy answer, Cleveland is just practice before the Erie Marathon.)
My simple answer is because Christine said we are. But truly, I could say no, couldn’t I?
You see, nearly two years ago I said that I would go on a run with Christine. Christine from day one had goals. Health, energy, blah, blah. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of being healthy and energetic and a good role model for my small children. But running is not achieved without grimacing. I agreed to run with her until this “get healthy” phase passed.
It has not passed. Two years later, we are still running more than ever. Rerouting family plans. Rescheduling anything that conflicts with running. Even starting a run group to run with us through the winter.
Part of me wonders when she is going to call “Uncle” and be done with this. But she isn’t going to call “Uncle”. She may hint and hum and slow, but there is no quit in her.
A quick example of this is Sunday night. We are out for what was supposed to be 8 mile run (ended up just over 9). We set off at 6:30 PM from my house and change the run route as we are starting the run. We are going to do an out and back. After an hour Christine says, “We need to turn around, it’s been an hour”. As we get to the bottom of a long downgrade about 7 miles into the run, Christine says something about tightening up. I say, “Me too”. She just keeps running. I thought we might walk a minute but she never broke stride. Just won’t call “Uncle”.
So, I got my first look at the calendar. It seems doable. Doable? Training and running for 26 miles seems doable?
Perhaps, Christine isn’t the only one that can’t say “Uncle”.
Christine responds:
She’s right — we’re both just nervous and wondering if can we do it. I’m nervous that I picked the right training program/hybrid of the programs. We ended up with a hybrid program based on various people’s comments, combined against the fact we’re both working mom’s with small children.
BTW — our training officially doesn’t start until early December so I’ve still got a month to see if Theressa calls “Uncle.”
Theressa and I will most likely weekly blog you about our training – just to keep you in humor as the winter months progress. We joked that we’d let whomever had the most interesting story of the week write As you can see, our run from this weekend ended with Theressa having the best story about how I refused to break stride.
