Old-Fashioned Runner Saving Himself For Marathon He Really Loves
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In the seven years he’s been running, Andy Carell has run dozens of races, including 5Ks, 5- and 10-milers, half-marathons, and four 20-mile trail races. But the 40-year-old electronics store shipping clerk hasn’t yet attempted a full marathon—for very personal reasons.
“I’m saving myself for a marathon that I really love,” Carell said in a recent interview. “Call me old-fashioned, but I want the first time to be special.”
Carell described his perfect marathon as “point-to-point, mostly flat but with gently rolling hills in the second half, a slight downhill finish, and in my time zone, so I don’t have to deal with jet lag.”
“Also, the race director should be a nice person,” he added. “Someone thoughtful and kind, who really cares about me.”
Carell admits his standards are high, but said he’s happy to wait. Not that he hasn’t had moments of weakness.
“Sure, I get the urge from time to time,” he said. “Just the other night, I’d had a few beers when I got an email for a fall marathon—I can’t even remember which one or where it was—and before I knew it I was clicking the REGISTER NOW link.”
“I’m only human.”
Carell said he’s confident he’ll find the right marathon sooner or later—and that when he does, crossing the finish line will be a moment to remember.
En route to that finish line, Carell said, he intends to take his time. There will be plenty of opportunities later to lower his marathon PR.
“For my first time, I really want to go slow and enjoy the experience,” he said. “I don’t want to finish too soon, you know?”
