Running A 26.2 Mile Marathon Is No
Easy Task
. “Rejoice, we conquer,”
is what the Greek messed
gerPheidippides said ki 490
B.C. after carrying news of
the Greeks’ victory over
Persia. Pheidippides, after
having run 35 miles from
Marathon to Athens, fell to
the ground dead. Uttle did
he know his 35-mile j«<m* _
to become 35.3 miles at the
1908 Olympic Games -
would become the ultimate
challenge far runners
RUN 25.2 MILES?
Running a marathon is
no easy task, believe me.
(This past Saturday’s
Charlotte Observer Mara
thon was my nth and I
plan to do *M0 more.)
However, the rewards are
numerous for those who
elect to. Researchers have
found that compared to
non-ekereisers, mara
thoners -
-have a lower percen
tage of fat
—weigh less
-have lower blood
pressure
—exhibit better heart
lung function
have lower cholesterol
and triglyceride levels
-have hearts that beat
more efficiently
-live longer
-demonstrate better to
lerance to stress
-suffer fewer heart
attacks
-enjoy better blood
circulation
Are there other reasons
for running?? Of course.
Mattie Mitchell and Gwen
P. Harvey both competed
in the Charlotte Observer
Marathon. Not the 10K
(6.2 miles) but the 26.2 mu*
QUALITY
. LIFE
I
non-runner could ever
imagine.)
MILESTONE
Mattie and Gwen, like
marathon runners around
the world, have obtained a
significant milestone -
they have run 26 miles, 385
yards. I know that you join
me in congratulating them,
and others whom I could
not contact, for a job well
done. They are unique.
Over 220 million Ameri
cans have never run that
far. They are truly
heroines who can proudly “j
proclaim, “Rejoice, we I
conquer ”
i--— I
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h lh»
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tour of southeast Charlotte.
I had the opportunity to
speak with these mara
thoners and a synopsis of
our conversation follows:
MATTIE MITCHELL,
age 35, has been running
for seven years. With an
average of 30-35 miles of
running per week, she was
able to traverse the Char
lotte course (both of her
marathons were success
fully done in Charlotte) in
five hours, 1 minute, »i»i 59
seconds.
. She says she runs to re
lieve stress and enjoys the
self-fulfillment running
' provides. When aakari to
comment on the individual
whose only exercise con
sists of lifting a beer ran
she responding by saying
be or she is “missing life”
and should get off their tail
and start working out.
Not content with having
run two marathons, Hattie
wants to compete in either
the New York City or
Marine Corps Marathons.
She has come to the
realization that exercise is
a lifetime commitment -
Just like eating and breath
ing - and she plans to “run
MUgSUaTgimHrfSl
Carole R Rida, AXXW.
of Caroled Comer
offer*
Pre-Marriage
Counseling
By Appointment Only «
3334)140 M
Kw^mY »• i;: ■ r *'. • ' - t.
forever.”
GWEN HARVEY, age 33
years of age, began run
ning five years ago and,
like many other runners,
cites a “sense of accom
plishment” as her reason
for going to distance. With
a time of three hours, 57
minutes and 58 seconds for
her first marathon effort,
we can expect much from
this lady.
Gwen prepared for her
first marathon by running
50-60 miles a week. It was
this strong base that al
lowed her to pass many
“brothers” in the final
miles, she believes With
the 1986 Charlotte Ofaeerver
Marathon well behind her,
Gwen is focusing on run
ning it again in 1987. She
does not hasten to add she
has not ruled out running
the Marine Corps Mara
thon later this year.
I asked Gwen the ques
tion she will hear from the
non-runner over and over
again; why run 26.2 miles?
Her answer? “It’s fun
when it’s done!”
(Note: Marathon run
ners know the 26.2 miles
run is really two races in
one - a 20 mile race
followed by a 6.2. Almost
any runner can run 20
miles. But the last 6.2 miles
are something else —
almost like another 20.
Yot^ muscles ache and
fatigue seems so severe
that you will want to quit.
You will find yourself
angry, grumpy, and very
irritable. To continue to
run those last 62 miles
takes more mental tough
ness and discipline than the
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