How Training Is Like Planning A Wedding

A few weeks ago during a long run, I had a thought that training for a big race (like a half marathon, marathon or triathlon) is kind of like planning for a wedding, or other major event. I know the parallel may seem far-fetched, but I don't think it is. Here is why:

Falling in Love and Choosing a Date

• When you get married, you first need to meet your future spouse, date, and fall in love. You take time to get to know each other. Eventually you decide that he/she is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. Just dating is not enough for you. You choose a date for your wedding, preferably one that's not so far away that you have to wait forever, but not so close that you can't plan properly. You want to make sure your wedding date is good for the important people in your life (your parents, siblings, close friends), for the person officiating, and for the venue in which you want to get married. You take weather into consideration: do you want to get married in the blistering heat or if there is a chance of a blizzard?
  

• When you decide to do a big race, you fall in love with the sport (running, biking and/or swimming, etc). You decide that you want to take it to the next level; running a few miles in your neighborhood isn't enough, you want to do the whole 13.1 or 26.2 or whatever. You research potential races and choose one, not one that is so far away that you'll lose motivation, but not too soon as you need plenty of time to train properly. You want to make sure your race date is good for the important people in your life (will it interfere with any major life events, such as kids' birthday parties, exams, business trips?). You take weather into consideration: do you think you can run a race in the hellish heat of Texas in summer or a rainstorm in Seattle?
  

Shop, Shop, Shop

• When you're engaged, there are a lot of things to buy: invitations, wedding dresses, cakes, etc.

• When you're training for a race, there are lots of things to buy: running shoes, running clothes, fuel belts, etc.

Preparation

• When you are engaged, you want to do the work to ensure you get through your marriage in a healthy way. To that end, many couples go to pre-marital counseling to gain skills and tools to learn how to communicate and resolve conflict.

• When you are training for a race, you want to do the work to ensure you get through your event happy and uninjured. To that end, you will do your long runs faithfully, slowly build up mileage, cross train, and perhaps add hillwork or tempo runs, etc.

Finding the Best You Can Afford

• When you are planning a wedding, you want to get the best you can afford without breaking the bank. The florist, the music, the caterer, the dress....everything is expensive and while you want it to be nice for your special day, you need to stick to your budget. You may sacrifice some things (perhaps spend less on the flowers) to be able to spend more on something else (like the entertainment).

• When training for a big race, you also want to get the best you can afford without breaking the bank. You may sacrifice some things (like stay in a cheaper hotel if you're traveling to the race) in order to spend more on something else (like good running shoes).
  

Pre-Day Jitters

• In the months leading up to your wedding, it's normal to experience anxiety. Anything from the cost, the logistics, the idea of changing your name, or the thought of spending the rest of your life with one person can provoke jitters. It's normal and it will pass

• In the months leading up to a big race, it's normal to experience anxiety. Anything from doubting your training plan, worrying about race-day weather, and getting an injury can provoke jitters. It's normal and it will pass.
  

Something Will Go Wrong

• In planning your wedding, hopefully you will hire people you trust: the caterer, photographer, florist, etc. You are also in love with your partner and are looking forward to getting married. During the engagement, however, some issues may come up. You may fight with your fiancee over the guest list. You may have run-ins with your future in-laws. You may move in together and you fight a lot learning to share a house. Additionally, you never know what can go wrong on your wedding day. The florist may show up with the wrong kind of flowers. It may rain. There may be a huge accident on the freeway, causing the caterer to be late. However meticulously you plan, there are some things that are out of your control. Regardless, in the end it doesn't matter, as you will be married!

• In training for a big race, you will put your trust in a training plan. You will hopefully follow this plan, more or less, and by the time race day arrives you'll be ready. However, things can go wrong in training. You can get injured. You can get sick. You can get slammed at work and have less time to train. And during the race itself, there are variables beyond your control. You may wake up with a migraine. It may be horribly hot or cold or raining. Regardless, in the end it doesn't matter, as you WILL reach the finish line if you put one foot in front of the other.

The End is the Beginning

• When your wedding day is over, it's really just the beginning: the beginning of your marriage and hopefully a long, happy life together. It doesn't end on your wedding day, it starts!

• When your big race is over, you need to start training for your next race, or at least just continue to run, in order to keep momentum, motivation and fitness. As 'Lil Wayne sings on Jennifer Lopez's song "I'm Into You', "every finish line is the beginning of a new race."

Regardless of your event whether it's your wedding or a big race, it's a huge milestone. Congratulations!