Training

Roamin’ Cheruiyot

April 23, 2010
By Rebecca Gardiner

Day 97 of 130
Ks covered: 702
Ks to go: 400
General mood: Much better
Running highlight: Great short-long run (“only” 24K)
Equipment status: Well used
Body status: Shoulder still sore. Must work on posture.
Weight: Thinking about throwing the scale out

While I was busy feeling sorry for myself on Monday one of my Kenyan heroes, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, skipped through the Boston Marathon in a lazy 2:05:52. To put it in perspective, that’s running 1K in just under 3 minutes and then repeating it just over 42 times. What the ????

Here are some things I can do in 2:05:52:

– Get 7% of the way to Boston from Toronto via Dog Sled.
– Eat approximately 0.008% of the world’s largest pancake
– Watch 87% of Ben Hur (There were Cheruiyots in that right?)
– Run a half marathon (almost)

Cheruiyot’s time is, quite simply, super-human. According to my marathon PB I’ve got a good 37 years before I can even think of qualifying for Boston. And, when a massive volcanic ash cloud covers the earth preventing anyone from moving except me riding my magical unicorn, I may even have a chance at winning.

Nevertheless, if you had told me 10-years ago that I would even have a marathon PB I would have found it equally unfathomable.  We all have to start somewhere right? I mean, Lindsay Lohan wasn’t born a screw-up, she had to train for it.

When I did my undergraduate degree there was a 5K loop around a local golf course. The first time I ran it without stopping I felt more shagged than three of Tiger’s mistresses and there were more bogeys hanging out of my nose than out on the course. But I was so proud of myself, I might as well have won the Boston Marathon.

Today, the mere fact that I am training for my third marathon makes me feel like I have my own super powers.  Will I be able to ride Robert’s Chariot and achieve my goal of finishing under 4:20 in Ottawa? Who knows, but I sure think I’m super-awesome for trying.

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