HOW RUNNING A MARATHON CHANGED MY LIFE

Lynn Peneck

I wanted to share a story of a moment that changed my life.

I met up with my friend Carl after working at a dental conference in Washington, DC. Before I got married, Carl and I traveled with friends on ski trips and skating races hosted by athletic clubs.

Carl congratulated me on running the Broad Street Run. He said ten miles is quite the accomplishment. Carl knew running was new to me. He then asked, “Do you want to run a marathon?”

I said, “You are crazy; I could never run a marathon.” We ordered another beer. As the evening went on, he shared that if you can run ten today, you can run a marathon; if you add one extra mile a week to your training, you can run a 26.2-mile race in 16 weeks.

In that moment, I thought to myself, “If you put it this way, it sounds obtainable.” After a second beer, I said, “OK, I’m in!”

He then asked, “If you could run just one marathon, which one would you do?” My answer was obvious: New York, of course.

We both applied to run the New York Marathon and started our training program. I bought John Galloway’s book “Marathon Running for Women.”

We trained in our respective cities, with me in Philly and Carl in Washington, DC. I loved the discipline and structure of the program. It includes running three miles a day, three to five days a week, rest, and LSD.

LSD stands for Long Slow Distance; you increase your long slow run by one mile each week and rest a day afterward.

My long runs were on Sunday. I would then spend Sunday afternoon on the couch, exhausted, indulging in a televised game of football. This was a great time in my marriage because my husband just wanted me to watch Eagles games with him.

Each week, Carl and I reported to one another about how we felt after short runs during the week and our long runs on the weekends. The training was going well, and then we received the acceptance letters for our race applications.

Getting into the NY Marathon is like getting into Harvard; it’s more like a lottery, but only a small percentage of applicants get into the NY Marathon, and you never hear of a first-time applicant getting in.

I called Carl to share that I beat the odds and got in the NY marathon on a first-time application!

Carl shared that he did not get into the marathon with the lottery.

At this point, I was comfortably running eighteen miles. I shared that I was committed and would complete this goal together. We changed plans and registered to run the Baltimore Marathon instead.

Baltimore is halfway between Philly and DC, which is equally inconvenient, as it is the location of my Alma mater, the University of Maryland.

RACE DAY

I have been told that only 2% of the world’s population has run a marathon. At the Baltimore registration, I was introduced to the usual suspects at these events. Marathon runners are high achievers, have a good sense of humor, and are extroverts. I met a man who juggles the entire run, a man who wears his blue polyester ruffled tuxedo, and many women (and a few men) in tutus. I saw friends I knew from skating and skiing who also ran distances.

People wear signs on their clothing: “1st marathon,” “It’s my birthday,” “This seemed like a good idea three months ago,” or “Dear God, please let there be someone behind me to read this”.

The race went well; our time was 5 hours 20 minutes, and we finished without injury, sunburned and hungry. I’m not sure if I would have finished this without Carl there to encourage me.

The story is not about running the distance; the story is about how running a marathon taught me I could do anything. You can’t take that accomplishment from me.

How often have you talked yourself out of something because you did not think you could do it?

But wait, there is more!

I was not going to pass on the opportunity to run the NY Marathon. Three weeks later, my husband and I headed to New York City and stayed at a friend’s apartment. At 4:00 a.m., along with thousands of strangers, I took the designated bus over the Verrazzano Bridge to the start line on Staten Island. This was a completely different experience. It was 45 degrees colder, and it snowed during the race.

Carl came up to NY on race day to cheer on his friends. He wore his inline skates, skated the route, and was there with water, energy gel packs, and kind words of encouragement.

EVERYONE NEEDS A FRIEND LIKE CARL.

I ran a mile with a man wearing a shirt that said, “73 today! -30 marathons.” This made me think: I’m 45 and running my first; I’m not doing something right, but I can correct it.

Then, next year, I set the Marine Corps Marathon as my target goal. Carl asked me to reach out to our friend Karen, who was registered and going through a tough time. Karen’s husband, Marshall, recently died from cancer. Marshall was an exceptional athlete and a driving force in our network of friends. We all love and miss him.

I learned from watching my dad after my mom passed that when you lose a spouse, you need your friends, a routine, and a lot of distractions. Karen and I agreed to connect weekly, compare our training, and run the Marine Corps Marathon together.

We meet up on race day at the start line. We saw the usual suspects: the juggler, the tuxedo, the tutus, and a guy in a hot dog costume with a sign that said “SingleGayMarathoner@gmail.com.” Brilliant! If you want to attract like-minded people, this is how to do it!

My top 5 Gallup strengths include discipline and belief. With proper preparation, anything is possible.

To finish this story, I want to share the words of a great philosopher, Ted Lasso, “Believe – If you Believe, you can achieve.”

THE REST OF THE STORY

I ran my first marathon in 2006 at 45.

Carl and I have run more marathons together, including Scranton, PA, and the Ocean Drive at the Jersey Shore. We both still skate and communicate regularly on social media. Carl still runs marathons and continues to outdo his previous personal bests. He is now married to a lovely woman, and together, they have a beautiful baby girl who rides in a roller stroller as Carl does his LSD.

Karen is remarried with two beautiful children.

We all still miss Marshall terribly.

I have been on crutches twice in the past two years. My training is called the “Couch to the 5K” program. I still know I can do anything, and I try to contain my superpowers.

About the author:

Lynn Pencek’s strengths include responsibility, restorative, empathy, belief, and discipline. As the first-born grandchild, she embodied the responsibility common in firstborns. At six, she decided to become a dental hygienist and later thrived as an award-winning dental loupe salesperson, using her restorative strength to help others succeed. Lynn enjoyed outdoor activities and embraced a marathon challenge, showcasing her discipline and belief. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two Bassett Hounds, enjoying cooking and park walks.