First timer set for 26.2 miles at marathon
By Brett Turner
Skywrighter Staff, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
September 16, 2005
Editor's Note: The following is the fourth in a series of articles following the training of a first-time runner in the Air Force Marathon . Skywrighter is following her progress leading to the race Sept. 17.
Second Lt. Lisa Heitman is ready to go. She flashed a genuine smile at the prospect of going all 26.2 miles of Saturday's U.S. Air Force Marathon.
"It's go time," said Heitman, an acquisition intelligence analyst for the Air Force Materiel Command Intelligence Division who has been training for her first marathon ever.
Months and miles of training and commitment will come down to 7:35 a.m. when she joins 1,400 other runners at the starting line. Heitman said she hopes to head across the finish line near the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force about four hours and 30 minutes later.
Heitman said the big confidence boost came on Labor Day when she did her first 20-mile run. That's the distance many first-timers do as their longest training run.
The excitement of the event, the cheer and support, will take care of the rest of the 6.2 miles of the full marathon.
Heitman said she rose early and started near the parking lot of Skeel Avenue and ran the flat area of the course past the 445 th Airlift Wing and Bass Lake up to about 10 miles. Then she turned around and went back.
"I said' if I can do 20 miles, I can do 26,'" she said. "It was a beautiful morning and I felt good."
Heitman said she did have to stop during the run as her hips tightened, but it went steady and felt good. Every five miles, she used gel supplements to aid her.
A knee injury a few weeks ago created some drama for Heitman, but she said it's solid and doesn't think it will affect her Saturday.
Although she said she's excited, Heitman said there are a few little thoughts that creep in - what if early in the race, at mile 5, for instance, the knee acts up? What if she feels bad that morning? The good thoughts are outweighing the bad though.
"You just have to say 'Tough. I'm doing it.'" Heitman said.
She'll have friends and co-workers waiting at the finish line. Unfortunately, her husband, Andrew, will be unable to make it to the race. He is deployed, but will fly in Sunday to help support her during her post-race recovery.
"I think I'm ready," said Heitman. "A lot of people are excited for me. I'm just going to keep going and not stop."