Valerie Brockling, 29
Marketing Director
Denver
Chicago Marathon, 2009 , 4:46:00
Why did you decide to give up your marathon v-card?
I ran my first half marathon in the spring and I got bored not training for anything. I decided to look for a race, and before I knew it I was training for a full marathon!!
How did you select your race?
I lways heard that Chicago was a huge race with a huge crowd, that sounded like fun to me!
What shape were you in when you began your training?
I had been running since the half marathon, so I was able to jump right into the five miles runs.
What was your training plan?
I ran four times a week, with long runs on Saturdays. I did yoga too.
What was your motivation for running?
It was a goal I wanted to accomplish before I turned 30…so at 29 I decided I better do it.
What was your biggest mistake in training?
It’s hard to say, probably only doing one 18 mile run(the longest run of my training)…but it was because of an injury and I knew I needed to let it heal. I think I could have run a better time if I would have been able to do two.
What was your eating plan?
I ate a lot of protein, veggies and fruit. I stay away from dairy 24 hours before a long run. After the long run I would have a cheat meal, pizza, Mexican, or cheeseburgers.
How did you deal with any injuries?
I had a foot injury about a month before the race. I knew if I ran on it before it was completely healed I wouldn’t be running the marathon I had been training so hard for, so I listened to the doctor.
What was your pre-race ritual?
I watched the documentary Spirit of the Marathon then went to the expo and met Jerry Meyers. Very inspirational! My boyfriend was also running the race so we went out to dinner with his sister and my mom for a huge pasta carb load!
Be brutal, what was the race like?
It was honestly an amazing feeling. Around mile 19 I stopped to go to the bathroom, it was the first time I stopped running and I was shocked to realize how tight all of my muscles were at that point. Mile 23 through 25 and a half were the longest miles for me. As soon as I saw the 26 mile marker I knew I had made it and I had the burst of energy to run uphill the last two tenths of a mile. It was such an emotional feeling, I actually got tears in my eyes as I crossed the finish line.
What was more comfortable, losing your V-Card or your Marathon V-Card?
Ha, funny question! I think I’ll have to say Marathon V-card! The training is the hardest part, the race is fun!
How did you celebrate ?
Met friends and family at a restaurant and had a few beers and a ton of food (OK, maybe a ton of beers)! We had massages the following day, I would recommending waiting a few days…I was so sore I couldn’t enjoy the massage.
How many marathons have you done since?
None, I plan on another one this fall. When I started the experience I said I would never do another one. It was kind of a “bucket list” thing for me. As soon as I crossed the finish line I knew I would do another one. I want to beat my time!
What advice do you have for first-timers?
DO NOT SET A TIME GOAL! Your goal should be to finish. Running a marathon is as much of a mental game as it is physical. If you set a time goal and are off at any point through the race that will play games with your mind. You don’t need that…you’re running 26.2 miles, and that is hard enough!
Anything else?
Get the book The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer, it will become your running bible. Don’t let the name fool you if you are cocky and think, “but I am a runner”. It tells you everything from how you should be training, what you should eat and why, and it gives you an insight to the mental struggles you will endure during the whole experience. Race day, put your name on your shirt. It may sound cheesy, but it will help so much during the race when people cheer you on by your first name. Have fun and give as many high fives to the crowd as you can.
