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St. George Marathon, Revisited
Emily Riddle
I have run the St. George Marathon twice- 2016 and 2018. The time results are strikingly different, with an hour and a half between them, and the lessons from each are invaluable.
I had run a marathon in the spring of 2016 that gave me an inkling that perhaps qualifying for Boston was a possibility, so St. George was my first real attempt. I was excited and ready. All was going well, right on pace, feeling strong, until about the 30k mark when nausea hit me hard and fast. Now, I can run through pain all day, but nausea is a different story. This stopped me in my tracks. I walked and walked, mile after mile, fighting for every step. I crossed the finish line well over an hour beyond my projected time, miserable, devastated, and alone.
This race haunted me. I tried to wish it away, pretend it never happened.
“An amazing and unexpected thing happened. My perspective on the entire race changed.”
Fast forward to 2018. I had now qualified for and run Boston and set out to run St. George that fall. I wanted a marathon PR, another BQ, 70% age grade, and of course, redemption.
A few miles into the race I came upon a friend and we ran together for a bit. We spoke about goals for the day and I told her the devastating story of my race two years prior. Her response took me by surprise. “But what were the good things about that race?”
I paused. It took me a moment to collect my thoughts, realizing I had only ever focused on the negative results of the race. So I found some good- lots of it, actually.
An amazing and unexpected thing happened. My perspective on the entire race changed. I look back at that beautiful race with an unfortunate ending and I see the entire picture. I see that I was strong and prepared, that I truly was fit enough to reach my goal, that I have grit and determination, that my body is mortal and sometimes fails me, that the outcome does not define me, that stumbles are hard but not permanent.
St. George Marathon 2018 was beyond perfect. The course is incredible, the weather was unbeatable, I reached all my goals and this was the first time I finished a marathon feeling like I still had energy left and could have continued running. But St. George Marathon 2016 still holds a special place in my heart and I no longer try to pretend it never happened. It represents a turning point for me mentally and is an important part of who I am and who I can become.
I have learned that it’s never too late to revisit old thoughts and ideas. I don’t think we realize the impact harboring negative thoughts has on our entire being. Changing thoughts takes effort, but the results can be invaluable. What thoughts can you change?
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