marathon blog - Healthy Living

Running Commentary: The Miracle Isn’t That I Finished

March 7, 2008

by Jessica Seaberg

Through blisters, humidity-induced asthma, scorching sun, and humidity, I prevailed.

I started writing this column the day before the marathon, because I didn’t want my message to be colored by the outcome of the race. That was smart, given that I woke up at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday to 72-degree heat and 84 percent humidity. It only got hotter and wetter as the day went on. Under conditions like these, training goes out the window, and you just have to make the best of what you’ve been given. I’m sure most of you heard of the mess that was the Chicago Marathon—but what you didn’t hear was that had it been 1 degree warmer at the start of the Twin Cities Marathon, officials would have cancelled the entire event.

I finished.

Through blisters, humidity-induced asthma, scorching sun, and humidity, I prevailed. I can now say that I finished the Twin Cities Marathon.

Over the past 20 weeks I’ve come to see running as a metaphor for life. I want to share with you some of the most important things I’ve learned.

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26.2: A Running Commentary

February 29, 2008

By Jessica Seaberg
Hi: I’m Jessica Seaberg. I’m 29 years old, I live in Minneapolis, and I am training to run my first marathon, which takes place Oct. 7, just five short days after my 30th birthday. Come on the journey with me in this online journal. Read More

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Running Commentary: The Weight of It All

February 29, 2008

At the time in life when you’re supposed to be cute and stylish, not fitting into “normal-sized” clothes is depressing, isolating, and lonely. Explaining the experience to someone who has never had a weight problem is like trying to explain to a swimmer what it feels like to be quadriplegic. I felt like the only overweight woman in my group of girlfriends. My closest friends probably had no idea how much my weight impacted my life. Read More

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Running Commentary: Journey of 1,000 Miles

February 29, 2008

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Or so said the ancient Taoist master Lau Tzu. In my case, the journey to run a marathon starts with the first mile. The picture above was taken as I crossed the finish line of the TC 1 mile—a fun-run event, held to mark “open season” for marathon registration.

Hi, I’m Jessica.

I’m 29 years old, I live in Minneapolis, and I am training to run my first marathon. More specifically, I’m getting ready for the Twin Cities Marathon, which takes place Oct. 7, just five short days after my 30th birthday—my one big goal to ring in the big 3-0.

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Running Commentary: Running with the Wolves

February 29, 2008

“If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman… have faith… there is yet time.” — From Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

As I sat down to write, the notion of “pack mentality” was in my head. I’ve always been what I thought of as a solitary runner. I look forward to the ritual of getting up with the sun, enjoying a morning cup of coffee with open windows and a quiet house, going through all my pre-run motions, and then running and returning while half the city is still asleep.

This past Saturday, however, I got a taste of what it’s like to run with a pack—I passed a running group that was stopped for a bathroom break at the Lake Calhoun boathouse, and a few minutes later, they very easily caught up to me. Instead of letting them pass me by, I pushed hard and ran alongside them for about 10 minutes, what I estimate to be about a mile.

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Running Commentary: Equal and Opposite Reactions

February 29, 2008

As I write this, I’m sitting on a plane, en route home to Minneapolis from San Francisco, where I was on business all week. It was a great trip out West–sunshine, perfect temperatures, a Giant’s game, shopping with some girlfriends, and oh yeah—we got a lot of work done, too. For a business trip, it was an A+.

Health-wise, however, my marks are not as good: An inventory of the past few days includes a lot of unhealthy food, alcohol, late nights, and not enough vegetables or workouts.
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Running Commentary: 8 Mile Crossroad

February 29, 2008

One of my favorite movies in recent years has been the Eminem flick, “8 Mile,” because beneath the swearing and rap-culture overtones, there’s the story of an underdog who overcomes all odds and wins.

The movie’s final scene takes place at a rap “battle,” where rappers and MCs randomly take the stage to spit out improvised combinations of words and rhythms. Combined with some awesome acting and music, there’s no better type of story. I’ve always been a fan of the underdog.

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Running Commentary: Halfway House

February 29, 2008

After the high of having completed a near-10 mile run, I did what any other completely insane person would do: I walked through my front door, logged onto the internet, and signed up for a half marathon.

That’s right–Aug. 4, I will participate in the Richfield, Minn., “Urban Wildlands” half-marathon. It’s the day that, per my training program, I am supposed to run 14 miles, but I think I’ll run a little less: 13.1, to be exact. It will be my longest run–and my longest race–to date. I’ve run a handful of 5k races, a 10k, and the TC 1 mile, but my “distance” runs have never been in a race setting, and I am eager for the crowd support.

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Running Commentary: Girl on the Run

February 29, 2008

I’m writing again from an airplane, this time en route to Los Angeles, where I’ll be spending the weekend with some girlfriends. I’ve been eagerly anticipating this weekend for months now, but I’m also a bit fearful, as it marks the beginning of my “Road Warrior” season. By the time this article publishes, I will have spent the majority of July in airports or on roadtrips, covering everything from San Francisco and Los Angeles to New York City and Chicago. I’m calling it “Around the World in 30 Days,” and I have a feeling that on August 4th, when I run my half-marathon and then life returns to some semblance of normalcy, I will be tired. Very tired. Read More

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Running Commentary: Erase and Rewrite

February 29, 2008

“Our running shoes are really erasers. Every step erases some past failure. Every mile brings us closer to a clean slate. Each foot strike rubs away a word, a look, or an event which led us to believe that success was beyond our grasp.”

Whenever I read this quote from John Bingham, my eyes immediately fill with tears. I have such an instant, uncontrollable emotional reaction to those words that it always takes me by surprise. I immediately flash back and started playing “old tapes.”

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