Your heart is racing and your body is saturated in sweat. Breathing hard you feel like you cannot endure another second, but you know the reward that the end will bring: Pride.
So you press on. After all, it's only 26.2 miles.
To some, running a marathon sounds like torture, but for dedicated runners at the University, reaching that grueling goal is both a hobby and resolution.
Second-year College student Lindsey Vardy has been a member of the University's running population for a while, but now she isn't just running for exercise. She's training.
Vardy and her mother made a New Year's Resolution to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. in October. Even though her mother currently is living and working in the Dominion Republic, their training bond has traversed the distance between them.
"My mom is my inspiration," Vardy said. "Together we'll run in October."
Unlike some New Years Resolutions to lose weight or study harder, this one is going to take an above-average level of commitment.
"Running a marathon is nothing like running a mile, or even for an hour," said Alec Lorenzoni, owner of Ragged Mountain Running Shop on Elliewood Avenue. "It's an exhausting and invigorating experience."
Vardy is not out there on the road alone. Students never cease to pound the pavement and the trails throughout Charlottesville.
"Running in general is great exercise," fifth-year Education student Shannon Rose said. "But running a marathon is life changing."
Shannon stumbled into the distance-running world when, on a whim, she and a friend decided to run a marathontwo years ago.
"Our biggest mistake was picking to run the San Francisco marathon," Rose said. "We did not even think about the hills."
In spite of that first uphill battle, Rose still competes in local runs and is training for the Virginia Beach Rock and Roll Half Marathon held on Labor Day.
"The Rock and Roll Half Marathon is going to be a lot of fun," Rose said. "It has the perfect race conditions because it's at the beach, the weather is great, the land is flat and at the end there is a big rock concert."
In anticipation of her day at the beach, Rose trains almost every day, following a training guide she was introduced to at the Ragged Mountain Running Shop. She starts her runs six days a week at 7 a.m., regardless of the weather.
Like Rose, Vardy also trains six days a week.
"My ideal run is in the morning on a peaceful trail, but it's hard actually getting from the bed to outside before classes," Vardy said.
But racing toward her October finish line, Vardy doesn't have time to lie around. The training method she follows prepares a runner for a marathon in 26 weeks using a variety of speed, hill and distance work.
Vardy has set a realistic time goal for her first marathon: 4 hours and 20 minutes, an approximate pace of 10 minutes per mile.
"I don't want to break any records I just want to finish -- without walking," Vardy said.
Vardy is up to the challenge, in part because she is used to the commitment running requires. She has been running since eighth grade for fun, exercise and as a way to de-stress. With nine and half months to reach her October goal, Vardy said she feels she has plenty of time to get herself primed for her target.
But, not wanting to do the October marathon cold, she has many races ahead of her in the meantime.
Planning to run the popular Charlottesville 10 Miler, Vardy also wants to run a practice marathon on her own before the real thing in October, "to get a real feel for it," she said.
She has a lot of options to choose from.
Runners can sign up for different training workshops and races through the Ragged Mountain Web site, which this month alone features three races: the Valentine's Day Partner 5K, the Five Miler Freezer Trail Run and the Cancer Classic 5K.
Runnning intermittent races such as these will help Vardy reach the goal she set for herself Jan. 1, which she said, "isn't just some New Years resolution meant to be broken."
Having a good training program is not the only thing she has on her side. This second year has running in her blood. While her mom provides motivation, her dad has experience.
"My dad use to run marathons before he switched to triathlons," Vardy said. "I remember doing a youth triathlon with my sister when I was younger."
Drawing on those first limit-pushing experiences, Vardy is careful to stretch and maintain proper nutrition to prevent injury during this rigorous training period.
"I always make sure to stretch before and after a run," she said. "I was really active in yoga last semester and plan on getting back into it."
Vardy, a vegetarian, also is conscious of her protein intake. In order to have the stamina a marathon requires, she will need adequate protein for energy and to prevent muscle damage as well.
Rose, who is a three-time marathon runner, agrees that nutrition is key.
"Running a marathon affects your life," Rose said. "It's only partly about the run. The rest is about proper nutrition and an over-all caring of your body."
Rose makes changes in her lifestyle before she runs each marathon, including scheduling a pause in her social calendar.
"You curtail your late nights out when you know that the next day you have to run seven miles," she said.
Similarly, Vardy has considered the possible setbacks of late-nights and malnutrition. But it's the sensation that running gives her that Vardy is looking for.
"The best feeling comes when you finish a run," she said. "It's a rush."
With eight months left to her goal, Vardy is poised to run - not walk - across the finish line.
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