Marathon Comments

A collection of the good, the bad and the ugly comments I have heard throughout this training period and hopefully an educational response back :)


"You inspired me to get out there and run this past weekend"

-From various people, I LOVE hearing my training has inspired others to lead more healthy lifestyles. It's one of the best compliments anyone could give me. 


"So...how long is the Boston marathon? Is it different from the [insert other City here] Marathon?"

-Info you can use for the rest of your lives: No, EVERY single Marathon is 26.2 miles or 42.195 km. It doesn't matter if you are running Boston, Death Valley, Antarctica or even the Underwater Marathon (which is for a great cause and looks pretty damn cool) they are ALL 26.2 miles. Why? Check out the story of this Greek guy named Pheidippides who ran that distance to Athens after competing in the Battle of Marathon...and then died after proclaiming victory over the Persians :/ Just remember, a Marathon is a unit of measure :)


Girl at bar:"O you're running the marathon? I run too. I could totally run the Boston Marathon!"
Me: "yeah, I'm nervous it's my first marathon. How many have you done?"
Girl at bar:"O me? I haven't run any. I played Lacrosse in college so I could totally just run Boston."

-Oooo this girl is still under my skin. I played a year of field hockey in college, have done multi-sport races over 26 miles, have done countless long runs and other races and I STILL did not feel like I could just show up and run the Boston Marathon (and not want to die the whole time.) In fact, right now I'm very nervous about Monday. Consider the winter we have had and how long many longs run runners have done in sub 32 degree weather in various winter conditions. Still sound like a piece of cake?


"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SOMEONE DOWNPLAYED YOU RUNNING THE BOSTON MARATHON??? It is amazing you are running! Women have only been allowed to run *officially* for the past 42 years! (It is the 117th running of the race.) You are doing a great thing."

-This chick who told me that statement is awesome! She really inspired me even more (if that is even possible) about running :) More history on women running the marathon including Roberta Gibb, Katherine Switzer before they were allowed here


"Have you run Heartbreak Hill?"

-Yes, pretty much every weekend and every long run has included this wonderful hill. It's not the longest, steepest hill I will ever run, it is just the worst placed :)


"Are you ready?"

-This question is killing me. Because the honest answer is IDK? I've never run a marathon before so how am I suppose to know if I'm ready? I've done all my training long runs (see Marathon Progress Tab) so does that mean I'm ready? I guess we'll only know that answer on Monday ;)


"Can you please cry when you finish the Marathon?"

-I have never cried out of joy, I actually rarely cry at all. So yes, people who know how much this race means to me have asked me to please cry haha I hope I do! It would be nice so people could see how much this race has affected me in such a positive way :)


"Running a marathon is really bad for you, we aren't suppose to run that far."

-Is running the Boston Marathon Good for you?  Because many won't read this full article, here is the conclusion: "Dr Baggish's enthusiasm is encouraging. 'I fully believe,' he says, 'that routine, consistent exercise and training, including training for a marathon or two each year, is the key to
 long-term health.'"


"So....I donated to your fundraising efforts, does that get me anything? Like a gurantee you will finish?"

-O gosh, I wish it did! The truth is I think the reason why I am so nervous about this race is because of how publicized of an event it is. Approximately 500,000 people watch the Marathon and everyone will ask what your finish time was. You ask people to donate, host fundraisers, tell people to get your text updates on race day, people make signs for you and get you marathon gifts AH! It's all so exciting and meaningful but CRAP I don't want to let anyone down!


And on the flip side of that comment...


"I didn't donate to your fundraising efforts...but I read your blog!"

-Hmm...this one I almost didn't put up because I don't want to sound ungrateful/preachy but I figured for knowledge spreading purposes it was worth mentioning. I love all my blog readers and I'm flattered people have responded so positively to my posts on this blog. Unfortunately, the only way I was able to run the Boston Marathon this year was by applying to a charity. The Boston Marathon is one of the few marathons you must hit a qualifying time in order to receive a number. I am not fast enough. For a woman my age, I would need to run a marathon in 3 hours 35 min which is about an 8 min pace the whole marathon.  Pretty damn hard for my first marathon. Instead, I was lucky enough to be accepted to Tedy's Team and raise a minimum of $5,000 for a very important cause. It's important to keep in mind that if a charity runner does not meet their fundraising minimum, he/she is financially responsible for paying the difference. Remember an easy $5 or $10 goes along way...


And the #1 (no pun intended) comment I get out the Marathon...
"What if you have to go to the bathroom???" *Said with terrified look on his/her face*

-No comment on this one but trust me, every runner has already thought through this question

Also, if you want to join the elite group of individuals who read my blog AND support my marathon fundraising efforts you can do so here! (and I will be eternally grateful) :)



And now watch this video and laugh: 

PS
Could there BE any more links in this post???

Excited for my Paint Bar fundraiser tonight!
-cat

If I was ever going to cry watching a video...

This Hoyt video would be the one to make me. Why do you run? For those that can't.

 

My Tedy's Team Application Essay

With just 11 days left until the big day I decided to publish the essay I wrote about my Grandmother, my stroke Hero, as part of my application to be on Tedy's Team.

I'll admit I haven't done a great job writing about Tedy's Team and how amazing of an experience it has been. I think every time I go to write or think about it, the race day just seems so real so I stop myself because it is making me so nervous. Running this race is such a dream of mine I honestly can't believe I'm doing it and for my charity of choice. Seeing Tedy at the water stop during our 21 miler, thinking about all the long runs with brunch after, hearing all the amazing stories from my teammates, all the gear they gave us (and much much more) has made my first marathon experience amazing. I'm so proud I was accepted to this wonderful team and it has been a privilege to train with them these past 4 months.

And without any more of my ramblings...

Essay for Tedy’s Team Application

I want to run for Tedy’s Team because stroke is a cause that hits home for me. While I was in high school my parent’s got a call from my grandmother’s neighbor saying they found her on the floor in her home and called an ambulance. My grandmother suffered a major stroke and passed away few days later.  My grandmother led a very active and independent life into the last years of her life. The stroke came out of nowhere and shook up my family quite a bit.

My hope for fundraising for Tedy’s Team is to support research that will help identify symptoms of stroke before they happen. Because my grandmother lived alone she had no one around when she felt the onset of symptoms. My hope is that research will help doctors figure out symptoms long before the stroke actually occurs.  I would also like to spread awareness about the identifying characteristics of strokes. I’m not sure if my grandmother knew what the warning signs of a stroke were and if she had known the outcome might have turned out differently.

Running the Boston Marathon for a charity that is close to my heart would be the perfect way to run my first marathon. Knowing that I am running to help prevent what happened to my grandmother will help calm the nerves I’ve had about running this race in the past.  I’m really excited for this coming April and hope I will have the opportunity to fulfill my goal of running the marathon for Tedy’s Team.

Running the Boston Marathon has been a dream of mine since the first time I watched runners go around the fire station on Comm. Ave. I will admit, I have been too nervous to sign up before but after watching the runners cross the finish line, I know that this year is the year. Last year in particular, I actually wrote myself a note and made a video of the runners crossing the finish line to remind myself how much I want to accomplish this goal.

Besides my very personal connection to stroke, I want to mention that I'm a person who is always looking for the next way to challenge myself. Having grown up in Newton, I've watched the marathon from Heartbreak Hill for years and I'm excited to finally start training for it! I have a "can-do" attitude and smile that just won't quit.

If you have any doubt about my enthusiasm and positive energy, I have attached a photo taken at the end of my longest triathlon (1 mile ocean swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run) that I completed on 9/15/12. Please note my actual finishing time was 3 hours 20 minutes.

Thank you for your consideration.

-Cat Porfert

   Here is the photo I attached:

If you would like to contribute to my fundraising efforts you can still do so here: http://tedysteam2013.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1039935&supid=371671877

-cat

Now that's what I call multi-tasking :)

Nothing like a little run/mail drop off :)