ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200043
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DAVID T. MULLINS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
People always ask me, as they do with many marathon runners: Why do you do it? The question seems particularly pertinent for those of us who tend to run in the middle or back of the pack.
With no hope of financial gain, fame or glory, why put yourself through the agony of a 26.2-mile run? Why risk the inevitable cramps, muscle pulls, callouses, strains, sprains, bunions and blisters brought on by three, four, five or more hours of self-abuse, when you know that the only dependable reward will be the days or weeks of hobbling soreness?
I guess we all do it for different reasons. For me, I took up the marathon challenge 21/2 years ago when I turned 40. I had run on a fairly regular basis for five years, enjoying three- or four-mile runs three or four times a week to control weight, manage stress and improve my general level of fitness.
Occasionally, I would run in local five- or 10-kilometer races. They were fun, not particularly challenging but still a way to motivate myself and enjoy the company of other runners.
Of course, there's a big difference between six miles and 26 miles. I had always looked at the marathon distance in awe, as something only for elite athletes.
And I was certainly no elite athlete. I didn't even run track or play organized sports of any kind back in high school.
But when you turn 40, a lot of crazy ideas can creep into your brain.
Such as running a marathon.
Maybe I was trying to prove that I wasn't really getting old. That I was still young and vigorous enough to set a physical goal and then achieve it.
At any rate, after getting the go-ahead from my doctor, I ran my first marathon at the age of 40 - the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. And then, over the next two years, I ran marathons in Virginia Beach, New York City, Boone, N.C., and Memphis, Tenn.
All five of my marathons have been excruciatingly difficult. In each, I've wanted to quit at some point in the race. But in the end I've always finished, always with times just over 31/2 hours.
As I prepared for my fifth marathon last fall, I focused on a goal that sooner or later consumes many marathoners: to qualify for the Boston Marathon. This year is will mark its 100th running.
With most marathons, you simply sent in your application and entry fee, and they let you run, as long as the field isn't full.
But with Boston, you have to "qualify" with a particular time just to get in. For my age group, that's three hours and twenty minutes.
I became obsessed with qualifying for the Boston race. I knew it was a long shot for a runner such as me, but deep down I knew I could meet the challenge if I trained hard enough. For my qualifying race, I even chose a fall event listed by a leading running magazine as an "easy" marathon, where a high percentage of runners qualified for Boston the year before.
I ran the Memphis Marathon in 3:36, missing my goal by 16 minutes. On a warm and humid day, in a race that took me by the front gate at Graceland, I ran half a marathon like Young Elvis and half a marathon like Fat Elvis.
After all the eagerness and anticipation, I was devastated by the failure. Although my physical recovery from this race was quicker than ever, I didn't mentally feel like running for weeks. I had never been so sick and tired of running, and the thought of another marathon didn't excite me.
I had reached a turning point in my life as a runner. Would I ever be motivated again?
And then I got my letter from the Leukemia Society of America.
Runners who join the Team In Training program commit to run a specific team marathon and to raise contributions from friends, family and businesses in honor of their achievement. In return, they get the coaching and peer support which can help them meet their specific goals - whether the goal is to finish their first marathon, or to run the marathon of their life.
The money raised goes to fight leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, multiple myelomas and other forms of cancer. It helps to finance research, patient aid and community service.
Leukemia is the leading killer disease for children, and the leading fatal malignant disease in women and men under the age of 35.
The good news is that thanks to research such as that supported by the Leukemia Society, survival rates for the acute form of the disease have risen from 4 percent in 1960 to nearly 75 percent today. And new cures and therapies are being developed every day.
Since 1993, Team In Training members around the country have raised more than $12 million.
When I read the literature and attended an informational meeting, I knew I had found my motivation.
After running five marathons for me, I'm going to run one for somebody else.
In these occasional columns, I hope I can convey what it's like to prepare for a marathon and to participate in this program. I know I'll be meeting some terrific people on my team, and even more importantly, I expect to meet some truly heroic people whom we're running to help.
You want to know why run? Now I've got some pretty good reasons.
Mullins has committed to run the July 14 San Francisco Marathon as a member of the Leukemia Society of America Team In Training. Mullins and several dozen other Western Virginians are raising contributions that will be used to finance research and patient aid in the fight against leukemia and other cancers. If you'd like to contribute, make your check payable to Leukemia Society of America and mail it to David T. Mullins, 103 South Hill Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060.)
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Turning 40 was a major catalyst to get David T. Mullinsby CNBon the marathon circuit.