I have officially begun my “official” marathon training. You may think that I have overused the word “official”, but let me tell you why that word has importance when it comes to training.

One could say that any running I have done prior to running a marathon is “marathon training”, but it’s not. The difference between doing training runs for a marathon and running for overall health or pleasure is staggering. And it’s all based in motivation.

I have discussed motivation in the past, that’s because it’s an especially touchy subject for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m the most motivated person you will meet, but motivation has a cousin called following through and I happen to suck at that. So what exactly is “official marathon training” and how has it caused me to follow through? I’ll tell you!

“Official” marathon training can mean different things for different people. For some it can be the decision of “I’m going to run a marathon and therefore any running I do from now on will be towards that goal”. It can also be signing up with a coach, or making a schedule, or buying new gear with specific marathon intention. For me it was a combination of deciding to actually run a marathon (and not some fluffy abstract idea of someday running one) and signing up and paying for an online coach.

The day I decided that I really am going to run a marathon was the day that I signed up for the site Runners Connect. Through the website I was assigned a personal coach who made a custom made marathon training running schedule going all the way up to race day on March 18 2016. It includes a vast array of different training runs, strength exercises and a community of other runners who are constantly posting about their similar experiences.

Let me explain how this has made all the difference. Pre-marathon training Katherine would wake up, look outside, decide that today is not the day to go running and go back to sleep Current marathon training Katherine wakes up, looks outside says to herself “it’s either now, or later, but this is going to happen” puts on her running shoes and goes for a run. I can’t afford to not run any more. Every run I do goes towards the goal of running 42 kilometers. If I skip out once, I will allow myself to skip out again and I will not be able to achieve my goal.

Any of you non-runners need an alternative explanation? Here you go: Let’s say you and your friends want to watch the Lord of the Rings movies. If someone says “Hey guys let’s watch the LOTR movies” you will proceed to sit down, watch one movie, say it’s enough and go your separate ways. If you say “Hey guys, let’s do a LOTR marathon” then everyone will bring an array of junk food, pajamas and blankets and prepare themselves for a 9 hour watching experience. The commitment… it means something.

I needed to set a goal and stick to that goal. In the past half a year I have run more than I ever have in my life. I’m currently running 5 times a week. With my longest runs being between 10-15 kilometers and the shortest being 5. Since the beginning of my training I have not missed a single run. I have woken up at six in the morning to get in a run and I have run at ten a clock at night. I have moved around my rest days, but I have always gotten in every single run for that week. I’m doing it all for the marathon.

I used to be easily discouraged. If I didn’t run in the morning, then I wouldn’t run at all that day. If it’s raining, I wouldn’t even go outside. I let myself be persuaded out of running. I would forget how good running makes me feel, because somehow my brain manages to convince me that sleeping in an extra hour feels better. Now that I have a goal, and a big goal at that, I have not allowed myself to be dissuaded. The marathon is bigger than that. I have held myself accountable by telling friends and family of my goal. Heck, I even put it on the internet! If I don’t push myself mentally, then I face the risk of failure… *dum dum dum*.

And that’s all it is really. It’s a mental push. I’m over a month into my “official” training, you know the one with the fancy schedule and coach. Physically, it has been a piece of cake. My training plan is building my body up slowly so that I don’t experience pain or push myself too hard. The physical part is easy, once I get my body outside it knows exactly what to do. It’s getting myself out there. I feel like I have finally found the secret potion that has turned me into a runner. I have found the recipe that takes my motivation and turns into following through. I needed a goal. A big one. What’s yours?

Let’s set the scene. It’s 6:45 am. Outside it is cold, grey and rainy. Inside it is warm, blankety, and cozy. Katherine has just woken up. She picks up her phone. Text message to Dad reads: “Dad, how am I supposed to run when it’s raining?”. Reply reads: “You won’t melt”. Well hot damn. He is right.

Running in the winter. It’s a bitch. It’s cold. It’s the season where Nike wants you to buy their ridiculously expensive dry-fit, yet thermal running gear. It’s the season where you go out for a run and you never put on the right amount of layers. It’s either too much, or too little. It’s the season where hibernation starts to sound really good. Bears definitely have the right idea. Unfortunately, we are not bears. We are people, and this particular person is training for a marathon that is going to take place in March. And before March, comes December, January and February. Even in Jerusalem, those months are cold. So what should one do when trying to run and stay fit while the outside screams at them to go back inside? Here is a helpful list of possible situations and what to do:

1. It’s cold. Answer: put on a sweatshirt and go for a run.
2. It’s raining. Answer: Is it pouring? If so, wait an hour until the rain hopefully subsides a little. If not, put on a raincoat and go for a run.
3. It’s grey and gloomy outside. Answer: It’s just a color. Go for a run.
4. It’s snowing. Answer: Is the snow covering all the pavement? Is it too slippery to run? If not, go for a run. If yes, go over to the nearest gym and hop on the treadmill.
5. I have a cold. Answer: Studies have shown, that running when you have a cold is not bad for you, if of course you are feeling up for it. So basically, go for a run (but listen to your body).

Basically, running in the winter is psychological. I have heard so many people say “I’m usually a really active person, but it gets hard in the winter what with wanting to stay inside wear slippers and drink hot chocolate”. Anyone will want to go for a run on a beautiful, sunny, warm, but not too warm day. It takes a true hero to shed their fleece PJ’s to move their warm body into the stiff freezing cold for a run. Are you a hero?

Remember that 90% of the time you will feel better for having gone on that run. Plus, you will feel excellent when you are eating that warm delicious pastry that you were going to eat anyway, knowing that have been on a run that day.

From an evolutionary standpoint, humans have evolved the ability for long distance running to be able to hunt for food, survive and remain safe. From the safety of bed, with a fridge full of food downstairs, my body really is not understanding the need to go outside and run, but alas. The brain knows that it’s the right thing to do. We feel better after we move. Heck, we evolved to be able to do this. Let’s not let down evolution.

In summary, ask yourself why do you run? Is is to lose weight? To stay healthy? Do you like the feeling it gives you? Are you training for a race? No matter your reason, the goal is clear. It is to run. Don’t let winter bully you out of your intentions. Plus, if you’re lucky, the weather will suddenly clear up for the hour at which you decide to run, like it did for me all of last week. (I have good Karma). Happy Winter Everyone!

P.S. To be opened and read on gross rainy mornings. -Katherine