This past weekend I ran the Disney Half Marathon and coached my runners in the Disney World Marathon. It was an amazing weekend considering last year it was 27 degrees at the starting line and Florida had the coldest weekend in its history. So 65 and sunny was a perfect break from the arctic air of Boston.
Two runners that I train did very well. One of my runners goal was to run a half marathon on Saturday and a full marathon on Sunday. At the Disney Marathon weekend, this athletic endeavor is called the Goofy Challenge. Probably because you have to be a little Goofy to run 39.3 miles in two days. But he completed this goal and even did it fast! He ran under 2 hours for the 13.1 and under 4 hours for the 26.2 miles. Wow. I was amazed. The real amazing part was because he trained all weekend and very little during the week. He proved that it can be done and it was nice to see.
I am going to write a detailed article about this next accomplishment. My second runner, Mae, completed her first marathon in 3 hours and 34 minutes. Her time qualifies her for the 2012 Boston Marathon. This is the holy grail of long distance running for many people who run marathons. We had a 28 week plan that she carried out perfectly and ended up getting her goal. The marathon was impressive but her work ethic for 28 weeks would blow you away.
The big thought I had during this weekend was that I do not think 50% of the people out there should be running a marathon. Every year that goes by I gain a better understanding of where running is on the placement of fitness. There are so many benefits but so much that can go wrong.
The marathon has a mystique about it that I still cannot explain. I wonder where “running a marathon” ranks in people’s bucket lists. I would be willing to say it is a high number especially in Boston. People wake up early to go out on the Boston Marathon course in April to watch the amazing triumphs of so many whom dare to run. Then they get inspired to run. The marathon is the goal that sets you apart from others. It is an experience that cannot be taken away by anyone and lots of people hang their hat on the phrase “well, at least I ran a marathon.” That phrase can end many arguments.
The Disney Marathon is so much fun because the course goes through the park and you can take pictures with the characters along the way. By the way, it is in Florida in January. Perfect timing.
But you will be surprised to know that I believe not everyone SHOULD run a marathon. I do believe anyone CAN run a marathon. The true concern is about heart health and biomechanical issues. People are constantly getting injured during the training or even during the real race. The pain that I saw people go through was profound and concerning to me. I met people who completed the marathon in over 6 hours. Hell, I have runners that I have trained that ran over 6 hours. I was proud when they crossed the finish line but nervous that whole time.
My nerves come from some studies that research the health of the human heart at the beginning and end of completing a marathon. Some of the studies show signs of a heart attack and other risky deals. Now millions of people have run marathons and very little of them have died from it, but I wonder about the long-term effects of running for over 2 plus hours. It has been proven that going over 2 and half hours of running increases the chance of a biomechanical breakdown such as strains of the IT band, shin, calf, hip flexor, and plantar fascia to name a few. Physical therapy is always a helpful tool but I recommend it for my runners who have no injuries. Chances are they will. “Physical therapy, but you don’t have an injury…Exactly”.
I may be controversial with these statements, but I stand by them. People need to smart about their bodies and health. Is the marathon right for you? If so, consider the Disney World Marathon. It is easier than any other marathon because Mickey Mouse is a nice distraction
