It all started so well on December 3, 2010, when I launched my effort to run the 30th anniversary Twin Cities Marathon. I thought that providing myself with a 10-month training period would be a wise decision to acclimate to running longer and longer distances.
The first seven months went very well culminating in my second annual run of the Red, White, and Boom Half-Marathon on July 4, 2011. I finished with a per mile time of 12:35, almost right on my targeted pace of 12:30.
But, as the mileage started to ramp up, the physical demands started to manifest themselves in greater and greater health issues. Each run over two miles became a challenge to balance the multiple effects on my body and soon my mental determination was increasingly being overpowered.
The proverbial "straw" that broke this runner's resolve was a diagnosis of runner's asthma that creeped into my non-running hours. It took the better part of a month to make the decision that I'm a great half-marathoner, but I'm just not destined to run a marathon.
Thank you to the many people who supported me over the eight-and-a-half months of training. I am proud to have logged over 500 miles of running in that time, two 5Ks, a 7K, my second half-marathon, and my all-time longest distance of 14.24 miles.
Most importantly, I learned to put my health in front of my goals. The moral of the story is that sometimes you need to fail to succeed.
If you find my story inspiring, please continue to donate toward the efforts of TEAM PAM by donating on my Razoo page or to one of our other eight runners. I am still trying to raise my committed $900. I'm supporting my colleague Will O'Keefe and throwing my funds his way. In the end, it will all go to support PAM's mission to preserve, protect, and promote Minnesota's historic resources.
Take care,
Bon
