The Secret to Running 18 Miles

Marvin, 4 years in SRLA – Camino Nuevo High School #2

Since the 8th grade, I have run 3 marathons, 6 half marathons, two 15K races, five 10K races, and two 5K races. So when I say that the 18-Mile Friendship Run is the hardest course I've ever run, that means a lot.

It consists of two 9-mile laps around Pacoima and through Hansen Dam Park. But the beauty of the area does not help conquer this beastly course. One mile can have an overbearing heatwave and the next mile can have a strong cold draft. The next mile can have clouds and light rain, while the next one has a persistent sandstorm. Just overall crazy weather.

Two out of the four times I ran this course, I ran it alone: literally the worst idea ever. I was in horrible pain, with my knees cramping up, and no one to help push me through the course. I ran it once with a knee brace thinking that it would ease the course for me, but it was of no use. Actually, it gave me a pretty bad tan.

But luckily in the last two times I have run this course, I discovered the secret to defeating this monstrous race: running with a friend. Sounds a bit far fetched that running with a companion will help finish this, but this actually works. I ran the last race with my one of my closest friends, and even though we were both in pain, we made it through and did better than when we ran alone. It helps to run with a friend because you get to have someone push you through, someone to ask if you are okay to run, and someone to experience the pain of the race with. I guess they don’t call it the Friendship Run for nothing.

So my advice to a fellow runner planning to run the 18-Mile Friendship Run or any run for that matter: run with a friend. Trust me.