We had a gorgeous tease-of-spring weekend in western New York, so on Saturday morning I laced up my sneakers, turned up my iPod, and hit the road for a few miles – seven to be exact.
When things are going well – I’ve worn the right amount of clothing, my feet and legs and lungs feel strong, I’m hydrated and well-fed, and the temperature is cool enough that I’m not too hot but warm enough that I’m not freezing – I often think: How far could I go? The canal path stretches out before me, mile after mile. The longest distance I’ve ever walked is 13.1 miles. Could I do double that? More?
There aren’t a lot of marathons around that have a finish time long enough for me to try. If you figure my average half marathon finish time is around 3:15, I’m guessing it would take at least 7 hours (and probably closer to 8) for me to finish a whole 26.2. There are quite a few marathons that have a 8-hour time limit, but I have a hard time signing up for something that I might not be able to complete (which is why I have yet to compete in the spring half marathon that takes place in my own backyard – the time limit is 3:30). Some races also make you move to the sidewalk after a certain amount of time has elapsed. That wouldn’t feel like a race to me.
Here’s my dream race: The Honolulu Marathon. Not only does it take place in what seems like one of the most beautiful places in the world, but there’s no finish time. At all! From Wikipedia:
Entry to the Honolulu Marathon is open to anyone who can pay the entry fee. Unlike other marathons of similar size, popularity, and stature, there are no qualifying standards to meet, no fixed limits on the number of runners, and no time limit to finish the course (all runners receive an official time and certificate).
Imagine walking a marathon in paradise, without the pressure of a time limit. Now, obviously I would still walk those miles as fast as I could, but knowing I will not be shunted to the sidewalk or pulled from the course after a certain amount of time would certainly be a load off my mind.
Until the day comes that I have the means (mental, physical, and financial!) to do that race, I will be left to wonder: How far can I go? How many miles can my feet take? How many miles can my brain take? Maybe it’s time to find out.
What’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled using your own power (that is, on foot or on a bicycle)? How far do you think you could go?