Marathon: My personal journey

Top Tips for Running a Marathon Next Week!

2025-07-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

One of my friends, who is awesome, is running his first marathon next weekend. I talked to him yesterday and promised to send him my top 5 or so tips for next weekend. There are more, but this is a quick list.

1. Enjoy every mile and don't wish the experience away. Throughout my running career, I would run a big race and say "I have 10 miles left"....didn't work as well as I have this fun mile in front of me, "I am going to enjoy this one ahead of me".

2. Walk through the water stations. Take your time here and enjoy the water. It can get slippery, so be cautious.

3. Expect things to get off course or difficult. Before the race, you will likely have a plan, and then the race happens. You will struggle, it's part of the joy. Don't sweat it when things don't go as planned. Expect it.

4. The race is a celebration of you, your training, and the courage it takes to toe the line. There is a reason why it's so challenging, but YOU stepped up, told the world you were going to do this and now you get to celebrate all of it.

5. Just finish. My good friend Lynn Breithaupt always said, "Finishing a marathon is a mindset." She was so correct. No matter what, just finish the race and enjoy it. You are trained, have fun, and finish!

To our friend, go out, have fun, say positive things like "when I finish", believe in you, and most of all....take it all in. It's a fun experience that will define you. Enjoy it all!

Image Source: https://www.musement.com/us/san-francisco/golden-gate-bridge-v/

Excited to start back up!

2025-05-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to start back up with distance training. I will be running the Benefit Classic Half Marathon on September 13th! Over the next couple of months, I will keep you updated on my training progress. Some of the products I'm excited to test, wear, or consume.

Tailwind for hydration
Ascent Protein Powder for muscle
Jocko Greens for nutrition
Zensah Compression socks
Brooks or Asics this round for training

My goal is to finish the race, lose 10 more lbs, and focus on eating cleaner.

Benefit Classic: Renewed focus, big day, gratitude abounds

2022-09-18T08:29:00.005-07:00

Yesterday, I ran the benefit classic 5K in Dubuque with Nile. We challenged each other to use our Garmin watches and the Garmin training app. I must say the results were fantastic. Nile came in 1st in his age group and I came in 3rd in my age group. I beat my time goal by 5 minutes. A few things to share with you about this journey:

1. Nile had me go through his pre-race stretching for cross country, it was awesome!

2. We prayed by the war memorial in Dubuque. It was an incredibly grounding experience to stand above the tile dedicated to my father-in-law, Willis Christ (a.k.a. Biffy). He earned a purple heart and I could feel his presence with us. We looked at all the names and offered up positive thoughts for the families of the fallen soldiers.

3. We ran a great race. Nile torched it and beat my finishing time by over 10 minutes. Nile has turned into a fantastic distance runner and I was so happy the entire race. I dedicated this race to Fletcher, who is related to Roy Higgins III (I know him as Higginized). Fletcher passed away recently. I have never met Roy, but his son plays for the Iowa Hawkeyes. I feel a special connection with Roy through Twitter. He has similar energy and I love his positivity. Roy is a great example of a husband and father.

4. During my training, I only missed one training run. This was the key to my race result. Garmin's training program is EXCELLENT!

5. There was a young lady who was in 6th grade. She finished the race and displayed a ton of courage. She was crying at the end of the race. She is an inspiration! My son talked to her about being in the same exact spot years ago. He said "stick with it, train for the next one even more and you will enjoy so much success".

Great lesson. Thank you for the gift of running. Thank you for taking the time to read this! To Curt and all of the amazing Mississippi Valley Runners Association volunteers, THANK YOU! To all who sponsored the race, THANK YOU!

Never let someone steal your joy, it's yours!

2020-11-15T12:40:00.002-08:00

A few weeks ago, I had a familiar exchange with an acquaintance. Running brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment, most of the time. My physical appearance is not like the typical runner. That doesn't define me. I have been fortunate to finish 8 marathons.

My old friend asked me this: are you still running?

Me: Yes!

Old friend: can you imagine running a full marathon?

Me: Yes, I have run 8.

Old friend: Really? Are you sure?

Me: I am sure of it, started running over 12 years ago. It brings me a ton of joy.

Old friend: But what about your back and knees?

Me: What about them? They have never been better and did I tell you that I just turned 50.

Old friend: Huh, I thought with your weight that it would be impossible to run that far and for that long.

Interesting to say the least. One lesson here, don't judge a book by its cover. Heavy people run. They can have fun doing it. They can be successful too. They can experience joy of the run.

This was marathon #6. Pure joy.

See you at the finish line. My goal is to finish 10 full marathons. They are grueling. They teach you so many things. They beat you up mentally and physically. They teach you how to experience joy.

Don't let anyone ever steal it from you. :)

Summer Challenge: Race Across Tennessee!

2020-05-02T18:51:00.001-07:00

Sorry it's been a long time. I am back. During this quarantine, I have some interesting goals. Next up, I will be running across the State of Tennessee virtually!

1,000Kilometers -OR- 621 Miles

It translates to 5.20 Miles a day and ends on August 31, 2020. I look forward to this challenge and will keep myself in check. I look forward to learning and having fun on this mission!

Stretching
Nutrition
Consistency
Discipline
Sleep

As Jocko Willink would say, "Discipline Equals Freedom"
#getsome
Some other local runners are doing this too, cheer them on!
https://www.facebook.com/jeffery.tschiggfrie
Jeff is doing the race!!!!
https://runsignup.com/Race/TheGreatVirtualRaceAcrossTennessee1000K/Page/tracking

Lilly Jo: Thank you for teaching me!

2020-03-08T11:53:00.005-07:00

Three years ago, I was lucky enough to push a chariot through Aynsley's Angels. Thank you Chad Darter for asking me to do this and for pushing me! I was able to meet Lilly Jo, we spent two + hours running a difficult course with Shannon and Greg Wrobleski. I was moderately trained for the race and as expected, struggled. Here are the lessons Lilly Jo taught me:

Sisters ROCK! Check out those medals!

She taught me that friends are the BEST, even if you don't see them as often as you would like!

Lilly Jo taught me to finish, not complain, be generous, and to celebrate the journey.

By the way, I always loved the way you smiled at me.

Rest in peace, sweet angel!

You were always my favorite!

The Joy of the Journey!

2019-05-05T16:29:00.002-07:00

The CRANDIC race was amazing. It was hilly, difficult and I learned a TON! Here's a summary:

I learned how to finish in difficulty circumstances.

I learned how to race with different gear. It was the first time I have ever "raced" with my Brooks coat. It worked, but I learned about some details for next race.

I learned how to help others out, including myself.

I fueled well, but hydrated poorly. This manifested in the form of cramps. UGH.

I raced for my little buddy JP, Curt Ehlinger, the orange army, the military serving, the military who served, my family and my friends.

During training, I had some nagging issues. I figured out how to heal during training. Not an easy task. About three weeks before the race, I thought about withdrawing. It took some creativity to stick with it.

I read "Can't Hurt Me" while in training. It helped me on race day.

I thought about @jockowillink and how to focus on the mission. I played a few of his videos to remind myself of the sacrifice.

On race day, I shined brightly. I met some new friends. Nicole and Lisa. They are finishers too!

Next week, I will share my modifications for the next race. Perhaps, I will announce where and when for marathon #8.

Thank you all for the amazing support. Especially my wife and son. They put up with the craziness of training and race day.

CRANDIC RACE SUMMARY through video

2019-04-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

What a KILLER race! Thank you to all of the many volunteers, Monica and her staff at the Run CRANDIC, the law enforcement and fans. You all made this experience so amazing!

During this race, I experienced some up and down moments. I could tell you all about it, but why not do it through video?

10 miles in, was feeling great "let's keep it rolling"

Halfway through and was feeling GREAT!

The CRANDIC race flexed it's muscle and had me in a sleeper hold, not giving up. This was moments before some foot issues. @#$%!

Then I saw the Kirkwood CC, an island oasis covered with HILLS- more HILLS!

Then Angie-Maske-Berka came to the rescue with pickle juice, to help my cramping legs. 4 miles left!

Thank you to Teri Connely, Nile and all my friends for supporting this amazing journey. I was getting teary eyed here, VERY emotional. CRANDIC!

And then I had to go Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior on the CRANDIC race, summons the lightning bolts and JIM-A-Maniacs. HEE HEE

Feeling great with .2 miles left. #7 in the books, felt great to finish. My foot hurt like crazy, but I was numb to the many pains. The finish depended on my getting it together!

Thank you all for the support.

R.I.P my right pinky toe. You bore the brunt of this race, I owe you one- get better soon!

What a story! Help out if you can:)

2019-04-19T15:30:00.004-07:00

What a story Curt Ehlinger has! I first met Curt over 20 years ago, when we worked together at Eagle Point Software. Throughout the years, he has been so supportive and has shown a genuine interest in my running escapades. Last year, I saw him at the CRANDIC full marathon. He asked me if I was ready, we talked and he made me feel great about the journey.

My wife and I have donated to his campaign. Curt's mom has MS and I am sure you may know of someone who does too. It's a terrible disease. Curt's mom has battled the disease for a long time and it recently stole her ability to walk. She would walk 3 miles a day. Curt is doing what he loves for the one he loves. Running for his Mom. Running to beat MS, so others don't suffer.

Curt is running 9 marathons in 9 days. 241 miles.

WOW! He is doing it to raise money for MSRUNTHEUS. So I have a favor to ask can you do one of these two things or both?
1. Donate to his cause. www.tinyurl.com/endms19
2. If you can't donate, that's OK. Can you show your support by commenting on the Facebook post with a motivational comment?

Running one marathon will take a person to the brink, so I can't even imagine 9 in 9 days. Curt can do this! He is a VERY tough person and a great runner.
Curt- GREAT WORK and you have got this!

www.tinyurl.com/endms19
https://www.facebook.com/curt.ehlinger

https://www.facebook.com/donate/2334590349884416/10216175225146188/

What a journey!

2019-03-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

Oh the variations of training. Personally, I have experienced some up and down moments this Spring. The weather has been a challenge. Schedule, self-regulation, lack of sleep, self-motivation have all presented unique challenges.

Recently, I have felt a certain "surge" in my training. The long runs have really kicked my @ss. Today, I listened to @DavidLeeRoth on @joerogan 's podcast. GREAT stuff.

The scenery was awesome too. Check it out. Running for the WIN!

Broken + Repaired

2019-03-09T18:23:00.001-08:00

YIKES! I pushed myself too hard a couple of weeks ago and caused myself to tweak some nagging injuries. Since then, I have been working hard on moving, but taking it a bit easier. Today, I ran outside for the first time in a couple of weeks. It felt GREAT! I was worried about how my lower body would handle it. I listened to my body and it helped out a ton.

For my two off weeks, I mixed it up with stretching, foam roller, hockey and the elliptical. Now it's back to the grind!

:)

Image source: https://personalpeptalk.com/products/listen-temporary-tattoo

Hello discipline my old friend.....

2019-02-05T19:12:00.001-08:00

As you know, I LOVE Jocko Willink. His mantra is discipline equals freedom. Today, it hit me when he mentioned that discipline is your friend and will take care of you better than anything.

So it got me thinking deeper about it. Jocko is right. Discipline will always take care of you, even though it is a tough friend.

All week I have been working on some things and I have reacquainted myself with an old friend....discipline.

......and it got me singing....hello discipline my old friend:)

Keep running!!!!

The long and winding road of training

2019-01-21T19:42:00.000-08:00

Training for a marathon has a few up and down moments. The roads will curve and twist. Today, I had a cold training run. The wind blew the entire time. I ran well and simply focused on running one segment at at time. Before I knew it, the run was finished.

The key for me was total immersion. I immersed myself in the positive nature of the run. I can't wait to run again tomorrow.

I am grateful for the opportunity. Thank you.

This picture is from a Fall 2018 training run.

The BEST turkey trot ever!

2018-11-23T18:20:00.001-08:00

The past couple of days, I went running with my favorite partner ever! We ran a 5K today and yesterday. He taught me how to have fun while running. He roller bladed while I ran. So much fun!

I should be headed into some training runs in December!

Searching for answers....

2018-08-25T11:11:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!
I have been searching for answers about the tragedy of Mollie Tibbetts. I feel terrible beyond words, everything about it. I didn't know Mollie, but her friends talk about her love of running, she was a great sister, student and daughter. The world has a huge void without her in it.

I have watched the world around me struggle with this. People are sad, mad, frustrated, furious, etc. I wish that we didn't have such evil in the world. Personally, I have been searching for some answers.

On a podcast, I was asked what I would do if I ran the world. My answer:

I would ask every single person to hug 10 people a day.

I hypothesize that if everyone did this, we wouldn't have much hate, negativity or loneliness. We might smile more often. OK, maybe 10 is a bit aggressive, but some number around 5 might work. They just have to be different people. Spread it around. Should we try this? Maybe I will do it this week- so heads up. I will report back my results.

One other thing that has helped me is my friends, family, running and my son. We have trained for some races recently AND my wife sponsored the Peosta Glow Run. We used the hash tag #milesformollie. I know it isn't much, but it helped me feel like I was doing something good.

The last and most amazing thing to help:
Fists of fire! This is a yoga phrase and check this picture of my son out. He used it before his favorite race this morning. He reminded me that you have to enjoy life and have fun. Somehow, I believe that Mollie would enjoy the perspective.

And oh yes, I hugged my son extra hard after his race. :)

Have you ever felt?????

2018-07-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

I have been talking to my son about goals, fitness and being tough. He has seen me in a vulnerable state and assured me he will help me get to a set of goals. How cool is that?

Have you ever felt scared to run fast? I have. I have. I have. I have. So many times.

Today I ran 3.5 miles and had my son finish an extra half mile up a hill and down one with me. My son is SUPER fast. I knew I would have to torch the run. Not easy after ripping a medium run. So here is a funny exchange.

Jim: I will get your favorite song on. Check. I will start the Nike Plus app back up. I will time us to see how fast we are going.
My son Nile: Hey dad, how come we aren't running?
Jim: Got it, let's go.

To be truthful, I was worried about not keeping up. I was scared about the pace. I didn't want to let my son see me be "slow". I reminded myself of the advice given to me about vulnerability and starting. I smiled and just ran with my boy.

What a great run. We zoomed. He ran faster than I did, but we had so much fun. We talked to each other. Listened to some tunes. We did push-ups after. We journaled everything. He wants to run one mile tomorrow. We will. I won't get scared.

This is a picture from the other day. He roller bladed while I ran. He whispers to me all the time "Dad- I am going to help you get to your goal".

Happiness. Love. Miracle. Joy.

Sleep in, pay the price!

2018-02-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

Yep, I was sure tired this morning. I hit the snooze a couple of times and said to myself "you can run later". I had an 8 mile training run.

For me there are problems when I don't run right away in the morning.

First, the day gets away and my chances for running get slim. Second, I forgot it was going to rain later in the day.

So as luck would have it, I started running in the rain and got the training run in. I loved it, but it was sure cold and wet. That's the small price for sleeping in.

When do you run? Early morning or later in the day?

Source: http://clipart-library.com/rain-cliparts.html

It's been too long!

2018-01-23T20:08:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted in a VERY long time, but I am now back at it. This morning I was so tempted to go back to bed, rest and stay warm.

Strangely, I was called out to the cold, ice and snow. It was like I really needed it. Whoa.

Got the run in and loved it. There's something about getting out when you shouldn't. I felt great after the run.

Can't wait to run again tomorrow!

Check this photo out from November. It was one of my favorite memories/races of 2017. Ainsley's Angels! I can't wait to run with them in 2018.

Tips 5-14 for a solid marathon finish!

2017-06-07T20:21:00.001-07:00

I am fortunate to finish five (5) full marathons, and I know of a few running friends toeing the marathon line for the first time in the next couple of weeks/months. This post is for you. As your race draws near, self doubt may visit you. You are entering the unknown, and that is normal. Here are some quick tips for you that I have used with great success.

14. Invite your "wall to the party". The wall will present itself around mile 18-22, it's a rugged adventure for sure. I like to paint my wall black and gold, to give it some class and break that @#$% down.
13. Embrace the unknown. Every single marathon I have run, something unexpected happens. You have trained yourself for this and just go with the flow. Make that unexpected crisis or surprise work for you.
12. Don't wish the miles away. OK- you may want to kill me for typing that, but hear me out. You signed up for this race. It's only 26.2 miles. Heck, my average finish time is around 5 hours and 35 minutes and that is a long time. I learned along the way that you should enjoy it, every single mile. Wishing it away is a bad move. Smile at every mile, enjoy it. Even when it gets difficult.
11. Find a mirror and say these words "Hello, I am Natalie White, I am a marathoner". Say it 10 times with conviction and confidence. See how you feel. Proud and confident. You haven't finished the race, so you might feel superstitious like I did. A great runner once told me that you have to do this, it's self affirmation. BTW: This is a shout out to Natalie, who is going to crush her race Saturday. Welcome to the 1%. :)
10. Read the signs along the race. You will notice some really fun, funny and creative signs. High five a few of the spectators, make any of the children who show up feel great, give the fans what they want. They came to see you run. Be loud and proud, FIRE them up!
9. Think about everyone who supported you along your journey. Thank them before you run and say their name during your run. It will make you smile. They will appreciate it too.
8. Know that you trained for this race and the actual marathon is just a simple celebration of your training. It is just one big party. You will likely become addicted to it. I am and don't deny it. :)
7. Your will will win. If you trained for 20-22 miles, then the last 4-6 miles will be the "land everyone wants, and few can earn". Claim your land, you will earn it.
6. To hell and back. Your race will challenge you mentally and physically. Once you take that first step, you will never be the same. You will learn so much about yourself, it's amazing.
5. Don't worry about pace or finish time. Keep it slower and don't panic. If you run a 10 minute mile through training, you are likely going to finish higher than that. Trust your training and just finish it. When someone asks your time post-race, look them in the eye and tell them you finished.

I will post the rest of the tips later this week.

Thank you all who have served and sacrificed the most.

2017-05-29T08:58:00.001-07:00

Thank you all who have served and sacrificed the most. I was reminded of the significance of this day, as I walked through the cemetery at Fort Douglas.

I love this quote from the headstone of Douglas Coy Miles. Thank you for your sacrifice, you are a true hero.

"Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause"

I listened to this last night and it took me through a range of emotions, don't forget to smile!
https://youtu.be/STtXeJYr1Ak

@jockowillink

Tip #15: Build a playlist and practice it

2017-05-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

For longer distance races, I like to run to music. One creative thing that I LOVE to do is ask my friends to select a song for me to play during the race. It's a song I play and think of them. You will really enjoy the songs that come your way.

One year during the Chicago Marathon, I would YELL the persons name as the song came on. My fellow runners really thought I was crazy. :)

A quick way to improve your pace!

2017-05-11T20:00:00.001-07:00

Aggravate a neighbor's dog, so she runs after you for one mile. This translates into a 1 and a half minute pace improvement. BOOM!

Seriously, I have the worst luck with neighborhood dogs. Today it worked out to motivate me. :)

Tip #16: Practice Drinking!

2017-01-10T19:20:00.002-08:00

For me, I did this a lot during my college days. My college drinking wasn't the type of drinking that would help you on race day, that is for sure!

I read a few years ago, that it is a good to practice your drinking during the training runs. Essentially, you will be training yourself to run and drink. One stressful part of a long distance race is the water stops. The traffic is intense and the last thing you want to do during a race is experiment.

Race day experiments are not advised. I DO recommend experimenting during your training. One other aspect to figure out is water vs. sports drink.

I can drink just about anything during the race, but some people have digestive issues. If you are worried about digestive issues and need more than just water, I would recommend mixing water and Tailwind. Whatever you do, experiment during your training. I have tried Gatorade, Powerade, and a number of other drinks. Tailwind seems to work best for me.

http://www.calicobeanmarket.com/index.php/shop/training-fuel

Tip #17: Start your official training runs or "pre-runs"

2017-01-02T19:50:00.001-08:00

OK, this might seem obvious. They key to your journey will be two things related to starting. First, you have to start. Second, be patient. Every training season I have experienced some early frustration with my pace or something related to training. Getting a jump on your training runs is important. I try to run consistently before I start training. 3-5 miles a day is good, if you can swing it.

The good news, you will get better over your time in training. Your patience will be rewarded on race day (at the finish line).

Speaking of finish line, I am motivated by the people who are at the end of the race...my family.

Check this photo of my son and I at the finish line in Chicago 2012.

Love that feeling. Love the cowbell. Need more.....

Tip #18: Start your pre-training or training plan

2016-12-10T07:13:00.001-08:00

This should likely be a #1 tip because it is so important. If you are months or weeks away from your training, it will be helpful to start running a bit to build your base up. It may not be easy for you at this stage, that's OK. As you progress with training, the runs will ebb and flow between easy and difficult.

Great job, you are on your way to the finish line. All by simply starting!

YAHOOOOOOOO

Image source:
https://www.skylanders.com/characters/royal-double-trouble