A weekly share on the practical and reflective elements in training for the Sugarloaf Marathon.
It’s been a few years since I’ve trained for a spring marathon. With over 45” of snow having fallen over the last ten days, (uh . . . that’s almost four feet, by the way!) this phase of training has been a test of my patience in dealing with the conditions of winter, and creativity in how I’m logging in the miles.
“Happiness, not in another place but this place . . . not for another hour, but this hour.” -Walt Whitman
While the weekly mileage totals haven’t been impressive, I’ve operated more in the way of short, powerful bursts between treks through the woods in knee-deep snow; mid-distance runs on snow-packed roads; and speed intervals on the trails and the treadmill. These stronger, more effortful workouts are balanced with a lot of time out of doors walking with with my dog. The time spent on my feet, whether moving fast or slow, is taken as a gift.
Time in nature feeds my soul. I love living in Maine, and having the experience of four seasons. While there is a harshness about winter that goes on a little too long for my liking, the inconveniences create other opportunities that make life interesting and even more beautiful. School and work cancelations lend to unexpected family time, and the snow covered trails need to be blazed by making several slow passes, allowing the opportunity to notice the beauty of the landscape. When the pace is slowed down, everything becomes more clear, and that clarity naturally gives rise to a peaceful existence. That peace allows me to be ok with where I am in time, space and even in my training.