Marathon

Running a marathon had never been a goal of mine.

Never.

If the thought ever came to mind, it was simply in some passing conversation. My body would react with disgusted shiver--pushing and shoving that thought right back out of my brain, sending it swirling up into the atmosphere where it would dwindle and disappear--repulsed by the mere suggestion.

Even as I began incorporating running into my workout routine, I don't remember even the slightest tinge of desire to put my body in motion for a whopping 26.2 miles. Until a year or so ago, the thought of running much more than a mile wasn't a concept in the realm of my cognitive thought. It was only after the need to increase the intensity of my workouts that an internal drive to go longer, further, and faster began to surface. That drive carried me from jogging slowly for 3 minutes at a time, to running several 5k events, and has kept me consistent with my workout schedule over the last year.

3 weeks ago at my friend Heidi's wedding, my friend Chelsea told me she was training for a marathon. She asked me to do it with her. Admittedly, my brain was screaming "NOOO". But at the end of the night I just blurted it out:

"I'm doing it--I want to run that marathon with you."

I'm still not sure my brain is ready to accept the possibility of taking on such a distance (Did I mention it's 26 miles 385 yards, to be exact). But, as I think more, read more and talk to people who've run the distance a time or two, I find my excitement growing exponentially. To accomplish something that less than 1% of the world's population has done (or so I read) is undoubtedly intriguing (and perhaps a bit of a narcissistic motivator). But more so, I look forward to pushing my body to new limits--to prove that I am not bound by the restrictions of my former self. I'm strong. I'm mobile. I'm free.

Looking over the training schedule last week (for the umpteenth time), I knew right in the center of my gut, I could finally say "I can do this".

Next goal: Marathon June 28, 2008 in Sun River, OR (followed by a week of camping on the Oregon Coast! ) Now begins the training. 18 weeks of mileage build-up, which starts with pretty much the workout schedule I've been doing consistently since Summer. (4 or 5 miles at a time to start, about 4 days a week) Then 18 weeks of the marathon training schedule. This is where the essential LONG RUNS begin--peaking with 23 miles about 5 weeks prior to the race. 23 miles is where my excitement turns to pure nervousness. HOWEVER--it will seem much less daunting when the time comes, since I will have many miles of preparation under my belt.

So here is where I currently sit. Waiting in anticipation to begin the training schedule. Nervous about the commitment it's going to take--scared of burnout and injury--anticipating the blisters, sore muscles, and burning lungs. But above all of the anxiety, I look forward to the hard work--the mental and physical preparation, the sense of accomplishment, and the ability to push my body to new limits.

I'll be using this blog to post my training and progress throughout the entire process! Please stop by to visit often, and thanks to all of you who continue to be a part of this story!