Part 2: Consistency and Discipline
Part 3: Accountability
Often as runners, we hear about having those around us hold us accountable as we chase our goals. Whether this be a running coach to track your progress, a running group you meet with to get your miles in, or a significant other, family member, or friend to check in with throughout training. Whoever it is in your life that is there to hold you accountable, marathon running and training often takes a village.
As I keep my eyes focused on a massive PR and crossing the finish line with my dad in Duluth in June, I am finding out just how important accountability is. Through training for my last seven marathons, I have noticed that March and April are typically where I start to lose steam. This is where the consistency and discipline that I wrote about in my last blog post really come into play. This year, I am also relying on accountability from those around me to keep me motivated and focused on my goal.
For me, accountability is coming from many different directions this year. Everyone in my life knows of this goal I am chasing and are always there for me to lean on when things get tough. My husband holds me accountable by saying things like, “your dad would be running right now” when my alarm goes off at 4am and I turn over to hit snooze (which, I might add, drives me crazy in the moment but is very effective!!). My coworkers hold me accountable by asking if I got my run in before work. My friends and family hold me accountable by going on runs with me, giving me guidance when things get hard, and texting me daily about how our training is going.
One of my favorite things about this training cycle which I have never had before is going on runs with family and friends. In the past, I have been too self-conscious of my pace to want to go on runs with other people. However, this time, I have gone on several long runs with my friends, brother, and of course my dad. Even when I was battling a nasty cold that kept me from running, two of my friends (who are also training for Grandma’s) got together with me to go on a 5 mile walk. Which, of course, was better than nothing, which is what I would have done without them there.
My dad and I have gone on several long runs together now. My pace is not exactly where I wanted it to be at this point, but he holds me accountable by pushing me during these runs. He tells me things like, “run with authority” and “if you pick a landmark to run to before walking, make sure you run hard through that spot”. After our runs we talk about what needs to happen before the next time we run together- consistency in day-to-day training, healthy eating, water intake, quality sleep, etc. These little reminders keep me focused on our goal and gets me more and more excited for June in Duluth.
As we get closer and closer to June and this goal becomes more and more real, I am relying on my husband, family, and friends now more than over. I have always known how incredible the running community is, but this year, I am really learning to take full advantage of those around me to push me through.
Rachel Barger
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Favorite Grandma’s Marathon Memory: Grandma’s Marathon has been a tradition in my family since the 80s. After thirteen of my own Grandma’s Marathon weekends, it is so hard to choose just one favorite memory! So just to name a few: Finishing my first ever race in Duluth (the William A Irvin 5K) in 2011, crossing the finish line of my first full marathon in 2014, sharing the full marathon course with seven of my family members in 2016 when we revived our family running club from the 80s, crossing the finish line of the half marathon with my now husband during his first ever race in 2018, and experiencing the joy in Duluth in 2021 during the first race after the pandemic hit. Every year brings new favorite memories and I always look forward to adding to my “favorite Grandma’s memories” list.
Song that must be on your running playlist: “Big Dreams” -The Score
Favorite pre-race meal: The night before, ALWAYS the Michelina’s Spaghetti Dinner! The morning of, a banana, half a peanut butter sandwich, and a powerade.
Running superstition: I always say the same prayer as I cross the starting line and I always run on the far left of any race course (a superstition that stemmed from Grandma’s Marathon so I could be closer to Lake Superior throughout the race).
2025 running goal: I am SO excited to announce my 2025 Grandma’s Marathon goal- I am training to run the full marathon with my dad! This will be his 25th Grandma’s Marathon. I have run seven full marathons, six of which were when I was either in nursing school or nurse practitioner school. Due to this, I have not had the time to properly train and I have always crossed the finish line after my dad. This year, now that I am done with school and in a better place to train, I look forward to pushing myself harder than I ever have in the past in order to achieve this goal. Along with running the race with my dad, the goal that we made together would give me almost an hour PR in the marathon. I haven’t been this excited about a goal since my first marathon over 10 years ago! I can’t wait to share this journey!