Marathon 2 Recap: Finding Strength in Every Step

Marathon 2 Recap: Finding Strength in Every Step

I like to write these recaps the morning after a marathon, when my body feels every mile and my thoughts are raw. The soreness and fatigue serve as powerful reminders of why I’m doing this: to InspireKidz. Every mile, every climb, every moment of discomfort has a purpose—helping kids in our community overcome financial barriers and get active through sports. That deeper "why" is what keeps me going.

Yesterday’s run was a gnarly one, starting at 7:05 a.m. on my doorstep in the dark. The plan was straightforward: run the Boise Greenbelt for a few miles, head downtown, and then tackle the foothills. After six miles in the dark, along the Boise River, I made my way into the quiet streets of downtown Boise. The sunrise greeting me was breathtaking, a reminder to pause and appreciate the moment.

By mile 9, I entered Camel’s Back trails, my favorite meditative space. The plan was to cover 10-13 miles in the foothills before exiting near the marathon distance. My trails included: Red Fox, Gold Finch, Owls Roost, The Grove, Kestrel, Military Reserve Connector, Mountain Cove, Central Ridge, Ridgecrest, Shane's Loop, Watchman, Femrite's Patrol, Freestone Ridge and Three Bears. The trails, as always, didn’t disappoint. Running out there alone, my thoughts wandered freely. Some moments were reflective, thinking of my family and life. Other moments were spent fully present, focusing only on my breath and the rhythm of my steps. It’s therapy, pure and simple.


Of course, there were tough spots, like climbing an 18% grade hill at mile 17. These are the moments that test you, that make you question if it’s worth it. But with every step up, I reminded myself: You’re closer to your goal. Keep going.

That mindset, though, doesn’t come without preparation. Running 29 miles isn’t just about willpower; it’s about executing a plan. Staying fueled and hydrated was critical to maintaining my effort and keeping my thoughts positive. Forget to eat or drink, and the "bonk" hits hard, dragging your body—and your mindset—down. I focused on steady nutrition, taking in gels, fig bars, sports beans, and Gatorade to stay strong.

When I exited the trails at mile 25.5, I was close to home. At that point, the thought of stopping was tempting. I even considered calling Stephanie to pick me up. But a stronger voice in my head said: Finish what you started. What’s three more miles? So I kept running, one step at a time, clocking 29 miles by the    time I reached my doorstep.

The overwhelming emotion as I finished? Gratitude. Gratitude for the ability to take on something this challenging. Running gives me a gift I don’t take for granted, the ability to pause life for a few hours, to focus, to reflect, to just be.

Long-distance running is never perfect. It’s about adapting, whether it’s to fatigue, fueling needs, or pacing, and embracing the beauty in those adjustments. It’s about staying present and making choices in the moment. Those lessons extend far beyond the miles; they’re lessons for life.

Physically, I’m feeling it today, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. Recovery starts now, and I’m already looking ahead to Marathon 3. The work isn’t done, this is just the beginning.

Run Stats:

  • Distance: 29 miles
  • Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
  • Elevation Gain: 3,149 feet
  • Avg Heart Rate: 145 bpm
  • Calories Burned: 3,372
  • Steps Taken: 51,250
  • Fuel Consumed: 2 gels, 2 fig bars, 1.5 bags sports beans, 2 scoops Gatorade mix: approximately 600 total calories

Here’s to staying present, embracing the challenge, and always moving forward...one step at a time.

Please check out our GOFUNDME link to learn more about InspireKidz and how you can get involved and support.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marathon 3 Recap: Just Get it Done

Image
Marathon 3 Recap: Sometimes You Just Got To Get It Done There will be many marathons this year where the mindset is simply,  “just get it done.”  Let’s face it—running 26.2 miles on a Saturday or Sunday morning is no walk in the park, especially during the winter months. While Boise has been fortunate with relatively mild weather this year, Marathon 3 started on a brisk 19-degree morning at 6:45 am. It was dark, cold, and my mindset wasn’t in its usual positive groove as I kicked off the run. The first five miles were all about grit—putting my head down and pushing through. But something about running toward the sunrise always shifts my perspective. Around the hour mark, my usual optimism surfaced. My legs loosened up, my body found its rhythm, and suddenly, the run felt manageable—even enjoyable. Running toward the sunrise felt spiritual, a reminder that sometimes you need to push through the tough moments to reach the beauty waiting on the other side. The Course This maratho...
Read more

DadLife, A Work In Progress

Image
I once got some advice from a good friend that stuck with me, "Justin, 90% of what we do as fathers will go unnoticed, but don’t let that frustrate you. Keep doing it all. It matters." I didn’t fully grasp the weight of those words, but now, I live by them.  Over the years, my goals have changed. It used to be about accolades, performance, or building a bigger business. I was always chasing the next milestone—whether it was running another marathon or getting another win in my professional life. But somewhere along the way, I realized none of that really mattered if I wasn’t truly present for my kids.   My focus now is simple: build a meaningful and positive relationship with each of my four kids. I don’t need to run faster, make more money, or achieve something that looks good on paper. My biggest success comes from being there for my kids, supporting them, guiding them, and teaching them. It sounds simple, but it’s the hardest and most important job I’ve ever taken on. ...
Read more

Blog comeback: Still Running

Image
We moved to Boise, Idaho in November of 2021. Immediately, I began to run the roads of the Treasure Valley. Through the process, I have found beautiful landscapes to explore. Many miles on the iconic Greenbelt path, running next to the Boise River. We are fortunate to have the mountains a hop, skip and a jog away. We have trails all around us that provide serenity and peace along a gorgeous track, only a few minutes from downtown Boise. Having a plethora of running paths and roads to peruse keeps running fun and interesting. I can, literally, run any direction. The past few months (June-September), I have averaged 40-55 miles of running per week. A majority of my miles are easy effort runs, between 8:30-10:30 min/mile. These are the "base" miles. These are also good runs for stress management and where I do all of my pondering. These types of runs will accumulate over time, which will improve endurance physiology. I will become better at circulating oxygen, suppl...
Read more