Running on tired legs • October 18, 2006 | 7:32 p.m.

I can’t believe how quickly these past few months have passed since my marathon training began. Somehow, it's mid-October and I’m already tapering. For anyone who hasn't trained or read about it, tapering is the period two to three weeks prior to the marathon when you cut back on your training and your long runs. During this time you allow your muscles to heal and your body to build up deep energy reserves that will be used on marathon day. Once you hit the taper point, your deadline is upon you. There are no more chances to get your body in gear. You are either ready — or you aren't.

This past weekend was my last long run before tapering. Normally, I run a nine-minute mile on my daily runs. The long runs are slower, but I’ve really been pushing myself to try and get below 9:30 a mile, mostly because I don’t want to be running for an eternity on marathon day. So it was serendipitous that I happened to be running with my friend Denise who had a hamstring injury and had slowed her pace down to a 10-minute mile to compensate. As it turns out, 10-minute miles are perfect for me on long runs. We ran together, talking much of the time. Before I knew it, we had gone six miles, then 10, then 16, then 20. At the end, I could have kept running and would have if Denise hadn’t been nursing an injury. This was the perfect way for me to end the hard training. I felt confident afterwards that as long as I take it easy on my pace, I will enjoy the marathon and can stop worrying about the public humiliation of crawling to the finish line.

For at least the next three weeks, I will enjoy running at my current pace and will be happy with the progress that I have made so far. I won’t think of improving my speed or my form, or building my endurance. I’m done with the pushing for a while. I will go back to running for pleasure, for the solitude, and for the peace of mind that it brings me. But contentment runs in cycles with me. I will be content for a time, but eventually I will want to see progress and growth. I have been down this road many times before. I know the pattern by now. If I don’t push myself, my contentment will be followed by dissatisfaction with my present state, which is then followed by frustration acute enough to cause me to push once again.

In running, I had to learn to run with tired legs. I had to push, even though I really wanted to quit. I had to learn to regain my breath and keep running, after getting winded. Denise ran through her pain this past weekend and felt a sense of accomplishment for finishing, even though she considered quitting after the first mile. As with running, in life I’ve had numerous skills to learn. I’ve had to learn to deal with uncomfortable situations, awkward moments, personal flaws big enough to drown myself in, cantankerous bosses, failure, disease, grief, disappointment, you name it. Each of these required me to push myself out of my comfort zone. So in life, as with running, I am able now to run with tired legs. It takes more to make me quit at something today than it did 10 years ago. And I continue to try and improve my pace. I can't remember if I'm talking about running or life ... it all runs together after a while.

MORE FROM TODAY RUNS A MARATHON

Today Runs a Marathon Section Front

Runner’s diet: food as fuel Natalie’s journal: Just behind Lance Armstrong Karen’s journal: Great day in my life Foods to avoid when you’re running Runners’ best grocery list of all time Hit the road in style with high-tech gear How busy parents can find time for exercising Never run before? Here’s how to get started Quiz: Best snacks? Good Housekeeping: Walk not run Today Runs a Marathon Section Front   Add Today Runs a Marathon headlines to your news reader: