According to reference sources, the expression "to run the gauntlet" has 15th century military origins and means "to race, as a punishment, between parallel lines of men who thrash one as one runs." "The knight was forced to doff his clothes and run the gauntlet." In idiomatic terms, the phrase has come to mean, invariably, "an onslaught or attack from all sides," or "a severe trial; an ordeal."
Beginning on the 26th of September, I will be running (pun intended) my own version of the gauntlet as I go through what I have just realized has become a rather hectic fourth quarter running/racing schedule. This is what I have in my race calendar so far:
26 September - CamSur Marathon - 42k
10 October - 10.10.10 Run for Pasig River - 21k
24 October - Adidas King of the Road - 21k
7 November - New Balance Power Race 25k
13 November - Subic International Marathon - 42k
21 November - RunRio Trilogy: Leg 3 - 32k
5 December - Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore - 42k
Three full marathons, two races that exceed the half-marathon distance, and two half-marathons thrown in for good measure - all in a span of a little over three months. Of course, in between these races, there will also be the now-customary (read: mandatory) weekday training runs and weekend long runs. If my wallet can overcome all of these, then so can I!
CamSur training has started, and by tomorrow afternoon, I will have logged 65 kilometers for this week alone. I'm loving every minute of it, and my body is holding up thus far. I hope expect to emerge from this happy mess a stronger, smarter, and better-seasoned runner.
