First week of training is here! And boy am I glad that I live in California where it never rains. Oh wait…
Anyway, I’ve thought a lot of about my goal for the race and whether or not I wanted to share it here. Committing to it on the internet for everyone to see forever and ever would certainly be great motivation; however, falling short would be disappointing and, well, kind of embarrassing. The Big Sur course is very hilly (Hurricane Point, gulp) with a decent headwind so there is no telling what may happen out there.
When I ran my first marathon in 2014, I really had no concept of a reasonable time. I figured I would end up somewhere around 4:30:00 because it was my first one. I finished in 4:48:54 and was secretly kind of disappointed because deep, deep down I really wanted to be on the other side of 4:30:00.
You see, somehow I had gotten the idea of 4 hours (that’s about a 9 minute mile) being an average marathon. Part of it is due to the fact that I grew up with the Boston Marathon year in and year out, and the finishing times printed in the paper every year.
If you were to guess, what percentage of people do you think finish the Boston Marathon in under 4 hours?
In 2015, it was 71%.
Of course, that was a cold, nasty day that could have led some of the less dedicated runners to shy away from running. So there is a possibility that that number could be a little off; however, even looking at other recent years, the number is pretty high:
2014: 59%
2013: —-
2012: 40%*
2011: 68%
2010: 68%
It has the most sub-4 hour finishers of all US marathons, with NYC, Chicago, Marine Corps, Philadelphia and Twin Cities coming in behind it.
The highest percentage of sub-4 hour finishers for those marathons?
42% in Philly in 2012 and 41% in Philly last year.
And those were the only times the number crept over 40%. For all five of those marathons. From 2010-2015.
Back to Boston for a second. Notice the 40% in 2012 above has an asterisk? Yeah, it reached 90 degrees that day.
Guess a limited field chock full of elite runners will do that.
So I’m here to set the record straight (for myself and my own mental state of mind as I enter into training time).
Let’s take a look at the actual median finish times:
The median finishing time for any marathon participant is approximately 4:30:00
The median finishing time for a male marathon participant is approximately 4:02:00
The median finishing time for a female marathon participant is approximately 4:45:00
I don’t know about you, but I sure feel better. Weirdly, I also really enjoyed the math.
I’m still hesitant to put the information out there; however, class, today’s lesson makes it a little bit easier.
My goal is to finish in 4:30:00, which is approximately a 10:15 minute mile. It means more work during training (by which I mean making the miles counts instead of just doing them), but I think it’s achievable.
Now that that is out of the way, on to the more important things.
In running for Project Purple, it is my duty to spread awareness regarding pancreatic cancer and to raise funds for Project Purple. Previously, I discussed the pancreas itself and pancreatic cancer (with some pretty scary statistics).
Today, I turn to the symptoms:
Jaundice
A yellow color of the eyes and skin caused by a build-up of a substance called bilirubin that is made in the liver. At least half of all people with pancreatic cancer have jaundice.
Weight Loss
Losing weight without trying over a number of months is very common in patients with this cancer. They may also feel very tired and not feel like eating.
Pain
Pain in the abdomen/belly area or in the middle of the back is a very common sign.
Digestive Problems
If the cancer blocks the release of the pancreatic juice into the intestine, a person may not be able to digest fatty foods. Stools might appear irregular. Other problems may include nausea, vomiting, and pain that gets worse after eating.
Swollen Gallbladder
The doctor may find that the gallbladder is enlarged. The doctor can sometimes feel this and see it on imaging studies.
Fatty Tissue Changes
Another clue that there may be pancreatic cancer is an uneven texture of the fatty tissue under the skin which is caused by the release of the pancreatic enzymes that digest fat.
Blood Clots
Sometimes blood clots form in the veins of the legs, leading to swelling. These clots can sometimes travel to the lungs and cause breathing problems.
Diabetes
Because pancreatic cancer can cause problems with blood sugar, it can (but not often) cause diabetes.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, so don’t panic or go running to your doctor if you recognize any of these in yourself or a loved one. Any of these symptoms may signal something else or nothing at all. I share because I care: a large reason that pancreatic cancer is so dangerous is that the symptoms go by unnoticed (or are easily attributed to something else). As a result, the cancer is not identified until a very advanced stage, making it all the harder to treat. If you think you may be at risk (and are not generally a hypochondriac), it my be something to discuss with your favorite family physician.
And finally, a quick reminder of just what Project Purple does:
• Scholarship Program providing grants for children and grandchildren who have lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer in order to continue their education.
• Patient Financial Aid Program that helps families pay the daily bills that have become otherwise difficult to pay as a result of the financial hardship that stems from treatment.
• Project Purple Research Program, provides funding to some of the best medical centers and hospitals in the field of pancreatic cancer research.
To donate to Project Purple and to be part of their initiatives, click here.
All running facts, figures and statistics are brought to you by the 2014 and 2015 RunningUSA Annual Report.