Please Let Me Be Better Than Oprah At One Thing
Friday, 5. February 2010
This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of my first-ever half marathon.
You can read all about my experience at The Surf City Half Marathon here. That was a fun day. Except for the part about parking miles away from the race and having to walk that far after running 13 miles. I never would have thought that beer could taste SO good that early in the morning. Or that it would feel so good after running.
Since that first race, I’ve run two other half marathons and a 10K.
This weekend, I will run the Surf City for the second time, again with my sister Brooke.
But, it’s different this year. Originally, my goal was to finish the race in 2 hours or less. Now that I’m training for the Eugene Marathon in May, this weekend is simply a training run. While I know that it will be difficult to slow myself down and not get caught up in the adrenaline of a race, I wish that every long training run had me surrounded by thousands of other runners, beer at the finish line, spectators with signs and a cool surfboard medal.
Usually a half marathon would be my peak. It would be the reward for months of training, and I would take at least a week off afterward. Now I can’t think like that. I have to run 13 miles on Sunday and resume running on Tuesday. We’ll see how that goes.
At this point, I don’t know what my goals or expectations for the marathon will be. Right now I want to get through the next three weeks of back-to-back-to-back long runs and see if my body holds up. Assuming it does, my goal will likely be to finish the race without having to walk at all.
Having said that, I was talking to Laef the other night and mentioned that deep down my hope is that I can finish the full marathon in 5 hours. (Which is insane because I could drive all the way to my parents house in Sacramento in that amount of time, so I have no idea WHY on Earth I think it will be fun to run for that long).
Without hesitation Laef said: “As long as you finish faster than Oprah.”
Of course, neither of us had any idea how long it took Oprah to run her marathon.
After some quick googling I found out.
4:29:20.
SHIT.
The fastest I have ever run a half marathon is 2:06. Double that and I would run the marathon in 4 hours, 12 minutes.
But, I can pretty much guarantee that I won’t be maintaining that pace over miles 20-26 in my first-ever marathon. So, it’s more realistic to think I’d finish in closer to 5 hours.
However, Oprah ran this shit in 4 and a half hours!
I really want to beat Oprah.
If I don’t though, there are other famous people that I think I could beat and still feel happy:
Mario López, (5:41:41). OK, so either he was cocky and didn’t train at all and is in good enough shape to just go for it, OR he stopped along the way to do situps.
Freddie Prinze, Jr., (5:50:49). See above.
David Lee Roth, (6:04:43). He probably stopped at a bar along the way and had a smoke.
John Edwards (3:30:18). Let’s be honest. He has a lot to run from. That’s the only explanation for that time. And, it’s probably a lie.
Al Gore, (4:58:25). This is more like it.
This list is outdated because I know that Edward Norton ran a marathon last year, but here’s the list I looked at for Oprah’s time.
TGIF!
Ben Says:
Laef, sorry your man card has been rescinded for even knowing that Oprah ran a marathon.
Angie Says:
Dude. I did the Eugene in 4:37 (or 4:34, can’t remember). That was with unexpected/extended walking spurts for miles 16-22 because of pain I had never felt in months of training. If your physically prepared, no doubt you’ll be well under 5 hours…
Angie Says:
Arghh… you’re.
admin Says:
Ben: How did you not know that Oprah ran a marathon? I thought everyone knew that!
Ang: REALLY?! (BTW, as much as I don’t want to walk, I will if it is necessary…I have a feeling that it’s not going to feel so good).
Angie Says:
Also, set a reasonable goal. You know your half-marathon time. Double that and add 20-30 minutes. My goal was probably was a little ambitious (4:25) for my first marathon, but I was still pretty pleased with finishing and finishing with a decent time despite the unexpected obstacles.
Angie Says:
I was in PAIN. To the point where I was internally debating with myself if I could finish at all. So I walked until it hurt less then jogged until it hurt too much. Finally, at 22-23 I decided that I needed suck it up and decided I was running (jogging)the remaining few miles because I didn’t train for months to walk across the finish line. Mind over matter.
AJ Says:
I’m guessing in the marathon that Mario Lopez ran there were mirrors every other mile and he got distracted and had to stop to check himself out:)
You will be great!
Jen Says:
I’m laughing so hard that Laef knew Oprah ran a marathon. Does he watch her every day? Best of luck on the run – I wish I was that motivated!
Jason Bellamy Says:
I’m not supposed to say this, because first-time marathoners aren’t supposed to get distracted by time goals. But …
Oprah is catchable.
Some say a SAFE estimate of your full time is double your half plus 10. (Some say even less than 10.)
So — presuming you’re healthy — if you go with the mindset of running conservatively, you’ll probably beat Oprah. If you go with the mindset of blowing away Oprah’s time, you’ll probably bonk.
So if you need motivation, there it is.
little.lamb Says:
my goal this year was to run a half. i bought a treadmill and have been running for a month. FUCK. i hate this shit. now im like freaking myself out because i dont even think i could do a 5k without walking
Allison Says:
Jason, Coming from you that means a lot because I fully expected you to tell me not to even think about finishing in under 6 hours!!
Lamb: Where and when are you running a half! I want to be there with a sign. And, yes, you will be able to do a 5K AND a half without walking (even though sometimes it doesn’t feel like it).
heather... Says:
OK I did not know Oprah ran a marathon. But I find it really fucking hard to believe that time. REALLY fucking hard. I mean…was it all downhill? WTF!
You’ll kick her ass, I have no doubt. Because you’re way more awesome than Oprah.
pixielation Says:
I am sure you can do it – and even if you don’t, it’s still a massive achievement.
My husband ran his last marathon in 4 hours 40 minutes. He was aiming to get less than 4 hours, but keeled over at the 25 mile mark, was made to lay down in the St Johns Ambulance tent for 30 minutes, then staggered the last mile on legs that thought he’d already finished and had seized up for the day!
If anything – you’ll do better than that!
Elaine Says:
My best marathon time (like 5 years ago): 4:29:28. I’m still pissed at Oprah! If you train, you’ll do fine–just remember it’s totally a mind game. Suggestion for your running mantra, nothing wimpy like “just keep swimming”…something like “Fuck Oprah”