Category Archives: Michelle’s Marathon Training

I recall the moment I flipped the switch in my head and said “yes” to running the Chicago Marathon.

It was one of those things I couldn’t think about for very long or I would have talked myself out of it. It is something I have never done before. I have never even run past 13.1 miles in my life. Now I am running 26.2.

Michelle Marciniak finishes the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, June 2010

Am I crazy? I have a sprinter’s build and spent much of my life on the hardwood and track training as an elite basketball player: 30 seconds here, a 10-second burst there… So a 3.5-4 hour run seems to be a stretch for me… or is it? (More on my fast-twitch to slow-twitch muscle-fiber transition in future blog posts.)

I’ve always had the mindset that I can do anything I put my mind to. I reach high and learned to set goals as an athlete. I always knew that if I prioritized my days and stayed focused on the task at hand, I could accomplish anything – a successful formula that’s worked time and time again throughout my career.

But this is a MARATHON where I have to push myself past my comfort zone to a place I’ve never been. “Distance” has never been my thing! However, I am finding myself very engaged in training for this marathon knowing that if I don’t train properly, I will not finish. It is driving me. There are no corners to cut. There is a very specific training plan. I am four weeks into my training. It is tough no matter which way you slice it but I also travel three out of every four weeks each month for SHEEX, which makes it even more challenging with time zone changes and “road fatigue.”

I am fitting in early-morning runs during the week to mentally and physically prepare for my long Saturday runs. I just completed my 13-mile-long run last Saturday and am looking to finish my first 15-mile run this coming Saturday. A huge challenge for me but I am excited and gearing up to do it. The key is the preparation throughout my week – putting in enough miles to gain the confidence that I am ready for my Saturday runs. There are so many parallels in my marathon training to our everyday lives. Life is about preparation – I can’t just show up on game day and expect to be great. So I move onward – to 15 miles, then 26.2, one step at a time.