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Marathon Mommies

Two running working mothers. One marathon: 24 February 2008.

Training begins NOW.

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Every Friday afternoon, Annie and I exchange the routinary SMS message: “Run tomorrow? Same time, same place?” And, almost always, the other will send a customary reply of “Yes. See ya!”

For the past six months, Annie and I have been enjoying our Saturday runs together. Saturday mornings is reserved exclusively for our long runs; it is the time where we can run without distractions from work or family. Children have no school nor homework. And, at least for me, the hubby is out longer than I am playing golf.

Alabang with Annie and Coach

- Training in Alabang with Annie and Coach B (June 2007) -

Ours is a friendship built on running. I met Annie after I invited an acquaintance to join Coach B’s running clinic; that friend took Annie along. When the running clinic ended, it was only Annie and I who found ourselves committed to continue training on our own.

Annie, a mother of two girls, is a Fitness First and stotts pilates instructor. Between the two of us, she is by far the stronger, faster, and more experienced runner. She has been running for over three years and has joined more races than I can count. During our runs, we can talk about a wide range of topics ranging from motherhood to shopping, but our discussion will always, always go back to running. It is what binds us together.

Adidas with Annie

- Adidas KOTR with Annie and her friend (July 2007) -

So, it came as no surprise that when I told Annie about my plans of joining the Pasig Marathon, she instantly decided to join too. When we got over our initial excitement (which lasted for over five minutes), we informally discussed our strategy. She suggested using Hal Higdon’s marathon program while I recommended Jeff Galloway’s (She won here. I’m now using Higdon’s Novice II program while she’s using Intermediate I). We also agreed, quite happily, that we would transform our 10 to 15k Saturday runs into our once-a-week long runs. “Annie,” I begged her, “we seriously have to slow down from now on” because, as I’ve experienced many a times, Annie does not know the meaning of slow or tired. “Yes,” she adds, “we also have to force ourselves to take walking breaks now” something we always fought against in the past.

As I write this, I am building a mental checklist of other things I must discuss with Annie as we try to add more science and strategy to our runs. These have something to do with 1) starting earlier so the sun doesn’t beat down on us, 2) stock piling on power gels since water won’t do for us anymore, and 3) planning the races we intend to join so that they can work seamlessly with our program.

Suddenly, my personal goal has turned into a dream I can share with a friend. While running a marathon is still an individual conquest, I take comfort in knowing that I can share the same hardships and triumphs, pains and joys, and hills and troughs with someone who doesn’t need to stop and ask me “Why must you put yourself through this?” She just gets it. And, should the time come during the marathon that my legs turn to lead and I want to give up at 30 km, I know that Annie will be there pushing and urging me to move forward…just as I will do for her.

Good luck to us Annie!

Posted on 10.25.07 to 01 Bullish Insights, 05 Training. Tags: , , , . Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 16 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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16 Responses to “Marathon Mommies”

  1. Congratulations..

    You have found the other person who has the gift too…..
    THis is real…. your dream is real.
    I know both of you will make it..

    I hope to see you both smile at the finish line….

    roderick poblete said on Oct 25 07 at 1:12 PM Reply

  2. I’m glad you’re starting early with your training. WIll have to skip this race too. :( Lucky you, you’ve got a training partner and a good amount of time to prepare for it.

    Ben said on Oct 25 07 at 2:02 PM Reply

  3. There is no doubt in my mind that the 2 of you will make it. Hay and I am still struggling with 10k or even 7k. Take care of yourselves.

    Mayi said on Oct 25 07 at 4:00 PM Reply

  4. Congratulations! Having a running partner is one of the best ways to improve in running and be able to run your first 42K. I’ve been fortunate to have a younger brother (by two years) who started serious long distnace running one year ahead of me. After one year of intense training by reading Fixx and Rogers books, I was at par with with my brother’s endurance and speed. I trained in the province (Ilocos Norte & Baguio City) while my brother’s practice runs were in Manila and we just met in the starting line during road races in Metro Manila. We always crossed the finish line holding and raising our arms together. I remember in those runs that we always improved our PR times every race we joined.
    But beware, please don’t have the tendency to compete with your running partner. In marathon, you compete with yourself and the course/route.
    Good luck! Hope to see you in the Pasig River Heritage Marathon Race 2008.

    jovie75 said on Oct 25 07 at 9:15 PM Reply

  5. Yes!!! The Bullrunner is finally doing it!!! Good Luck!!!
    Sub-4 yan, sigurado!!!

    Levy said on Oct 25 07 at 10:18 PM Reply

  6. hey bring annie to our mizuno sessions! :-)

    marga said on Oct 26 07 at 1:40 AM Reply

  7. one sure thing i know, your training won’t be dull when she’s with you. :) good luck jaymie! good luck ate annie! :)

    Meeya said on Oct 26 07 at 3:22 AM Reply

  8. awww…you have a training partner. I’ve had a couple of good ones myself. They’re the best, enjoy the good times.

    rick said on Oct 26 07 at 4:52 AM Reply

  9. Roderick, thanks a lot! Hope to see you there!

    Ben, this is still in Feb…maybe you would have recovered by then?

    Mayi, there’s still time for you to sign up. We would love to have you as marathon mommy #3 hehehe

    Jovie75, aww that’s such a great experience to share with a sibling! I hope you guys have more marathons to run together.

    Levy, salamat! Sub-4? Uhm…basta makatapos!

    Marga, she’s been planning on going for the longest time but her sched’s been super tight.

    Meeya, oh yeah, never dull with annie. She even gets a little bit crazier when we’re past 70 minutes running haha.

    Rick, I know…I read about your past training partners in your blog. Aren’t we just lucky to have found great training buddies?

    bullrunner said on Oct 26 07 at 8:02 AM Reply

  10. here’s….Swo0OSHing you the best in your marathon..

    roadrat said on Oct 26 07 at 8:09 AM Reply

  11. That’s great you have a committed training partner, I’m sure it’ll make all the difference to a successful training.

    I only started running this June, so I’m sure I’m overextending myself by using Hal Higdon’s Intermediate I training program. I started my “official” training last Saturday and have logged 26 miles for the week.

    I’d like to improve on my speed, so I’m thinking of melding HH’s program with Runner’s World for more speedwork. Let’s see how that works.

    I look forward to hearing about your training. Best of luck.

    bealtea said on Oct 26 07 at 4:00 PM Reply

  12. Hi. I have been wanting to squeeze time because i want to run (and bike actually). Do you have any tips for newbies like me? I used to go to the gym everyday but when my toddler started going to school, had to drop my early evening gym for her.

    help puleaassee. . .

    Bullet said on Oct 29 07 at 11:49 AM Reply

  13. wooohoo! i said this before but i’ll say it once more, i’d cheer on the sidelines for the running bull and of course her running pakner! :-) go! go!

    banggigay said on Oct 29 07 at 6:50 PM Reply

  14. go jaymie! go annie! kayang kaya yan for sure! …hope you find the best and safest training plan and here’s wishing lighter mommy duties for you both so you guys can concentrate…ingat and good luck!!!

    mary715 said on Oct 29 07 at 10:31 PM Reply

  15. Bullet, how about working out while your toddler is at school? That’ll give you a good two hours in the gym or more than enough time to bike/run and shower after. As long as you have someone to care for your child while you’re exercising, I think you’ll find that it’s easy to squeeze in a bike/run 4x a week. I turned away from the gym because I felt guilty leaving my son behind for 3 hours (including travel time to the gym).

    Banggi, thanks! Sali ka?

    Mary715, thanks! How’s your injury?

    bullrunner said on Oct 30 07 at 7:49 AM Reply

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