The Long Race

I can run a 5K race, but I don’t enjoy it. The pace is fast and short, which suits other runners more than me. I could run a 10K with preparation. I also don’t love it because the pace is also fast.

My sweet spot, if I’m prepared, is the half-marathon. It’s long enough for a slow, steady pace, and yet short enough that it doesn’t require more training than I’m prepared to take on.

A full marathon is something altogether different. In terms of preparation, a full marathon is much more than double a...