It’s just putting one foot in front of another – for 26.2 miles.
Sunday morning the marathon run returns to Eugene after a 23-year absence, and, adjacent to Hayward Field, roughly 4,500 runners will start their epic walks, runs and jogs across Track Town.
“Eugene is really a magic word around the country and even the world,” said University adjunct running instructor, Eugene Marathon Board member and 63-year-old running guru Joe Henderson. “People might not know anything else about the town, but people know about running here.”
The event will bring runners from 45 U.S. states and 8 countries to participate in the marathon, the half marathon, 5K run and kids run. Henderson was almost giddy at the prospect of so many community members and students running the marathon.
University sophomore Zach Barrett-O’Keefe said he is very much looking forward to running Sunday.
“We’re in Track Town, U.S.A. and it’s just a celebratory event to be out there running, having a great time in Eugene,” he said.
Barrett-O’Keefe spent about a month preparing, but he is a regular runner and he said he typically considers himself an ultra-marathoner.
“That’s longer running, but typically a lot slower,” he said.
Runners thinking of coming late to the race are probably too late, Henderson said. Anyone planning to run Sunday should have finished their training weeks ago.
“Still, It’s never to late to make mistakes,” he said.
Both Henderson and Program Director of Graduate Studies in Athletic Training Susan Verscheure recommended that would-be marathoners keep hydrated, avoid running quickly in the early portions of the race and take the next few days to rest.
A last-minute practice run can do more harm then good. Physiologically, running hard before a race can cause microfractures in muscles: microscopic tears at the cellular level that need time to heal and become strengthened.
“I always tell my son,” Verscheure said, “When we’re resting (that’s when) we’re actually getting stronger.”
For runners facing dehydration, a sports drink will do the trick.
“People think they’re soda now, but they had a purpose when they were first created and they keep you hydrated,” Verscheure said.
The University professor plans to run the half-marathon Sunday. She started running again about a year ago, but she trained more recently with Henderson.
Marathon running isn’t really about technology, or professional training, Verscheure said. Most of the fellow runners she trains with are just everyday Joes and Janes dedicated to running.
“These are just regular people. To be honest, it’s awesome,” she said. “I mean, I don’t look like someone who runs long-distance – I’m 6 feet tall – but I know I’ll do great on Sunday by my own standards.”
After the race is finished, runners should take time to recuperate before hopping back on the track.
“Obviously, running a long distance is going to do some serious wear and tear on your body,” Verscheure said.
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The starting pistol
The marathon and half-marathon races start at East 15th Avenue and Agate Street Sunday at 7 a.m. The 5k run begins in the same location 15 minutes later.
A Short History of Long Runs
490 B.C. – The mythic Greek messenger Pheidippides brings word of the Greek Army’s victory against the invading Persian Army of General Datis in Marathon back to Athens by foot. He successfully delivers the news but dies shortly thereafter.
440 B.C. – In an alternate version of the tale, written 50 years after the events by historian Herodotus, Pheidippides is sent before the battle from Athens to request reinforcements from Sparta. There is nothing in the story that mentions whether Pheidippides returned with the Spartan reply – “No.”
776 B.C. to 261 A.D. – The longest race in the ancient Olympics stretched fewer than 5km.
1896 A.D. – The first marathon is run at the first modern Olympics. Although distance running was common in the ancient world, the ancient Olympics featured a much shorter run. The 19th century rendition is inspired by a popular Robert Browning poem about Pheidippides. Eighteen runners participate in the 40km run.
1897 – The New York Athletic Club organizes a 25 mile Marathon; only 10 of the 30 runners finish the race. On March 15 the Boston Athletic Association holds the inaugural Boston Marathon.
1970 – The New York Marathon admits women
1972 – The Boston Marathon registers its first women participants.
2003 – Paula Radcliffe sets the women’s world record by running the London Marathon in 2:15:25 and Paul Tergat sets the world men’s record, during the Berlin Marathon, at 2:04:55.
– Source: Association of International Marathons and Distance Runs
Pancake Breakfast
When: Saturday, 7-10 a.m.
Where: The Hilton Eugene & Conference Center
Price: $5.00 (all ages), tickets available at the door
The eats: Pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee
Pasta Party
When: Saturday, 4-7 p.m.
Where: The Hilton Eugene & Conference Center
Price: $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under 10, tickets available at the door
The eats: Pounds of carbohydrate-rich pasta