And So It Begins....My Journey To The "M" Word

"You should run your first marathon for the right reasons, because you will never be the same person again. You must want to do it, not do it because your boss did it or your spouse did it."

(If you have followed this blog for a while, you might remember this entry from last November. If you are not familiar with that post, please go and read it now because it is a prelude--of sorts--to where I am going now.)

I came across this quote about a year ago and tucked it away with all of my other running quotes. It really struck a chord with me as it seemed to capture my feelings about the "M Word" the marathon. I wasn't ready to fully entertain the idea of a marathon when I saw this quote, but there was just the slightest glimmer of a thought in the back of my mind. It wasn't until last November that I began to think that it might be a possibility and then I quietly slipped it into my running goal list for 2011...and you know how I feel about my goal list...if it is on the list then I make my best attempt to complete the goal....and I don't put a goal on the list unless I am serious about completing it.

I suspect that I have come to the decision to run a marathon a little bit differently than most. I think that most marathoners start running, decide that they like it enough to train for a marathon, and then go for it. I have been running a little over three years and as of today I have run 26 half marathons and a 25K (15.5 miles)...and I finally feel ready. I have had lots of encouragement over the years from Erik and my friends and family, but this decision had to be my own. I suppose that is why the above quote really stuck with me. I knew that I needed to make the decision myself and I knew that I needed to do it for my own reasons. I'm not sure what clicked in my head late last year, but something did and now I feel very ready and very excited about my training. I know that running a marathon will be one of the hardest things that I have ever done, but the idea does not scare me like it used to. Train smart, invest in the plan, and anything is possible. I believe in good training and I intend to put my all into it.

I have decided to run White Rock Marathon, that's our hometown Dallas race and a sentimental favorite of ours for many reasons. Long before Erik and I started running, Erik's Uncle Chock served as chairman of the White Rock--so there is that strong family connection. For at least 9 years now Erik and his cousin Brock have dressed up in blonde wigs and dresses and set up a water station at the portion of the course called the Dolly Pardon Hills (now you see the need for the dresses and wigs?). The White Rock Marathon was Erik's first marathon and it was my second half marathon and I have run the half three times now. The marathon really does show off the best of Dallas--the crowds support is great, the scenery is great, and the weather is usually amazing.

The December 4th date could not be more perfect for me--it is sixteen weeks after the first day of school, the taper period fits in perfectly with a busy late November travel schedule, and the bulk of the training will be done after the summer heat wave has moved out for the year. Fall is the best time for running around here and I will be able to use several half marathons as long runs in my training plan. Fall is usually when I feel the strongest and fastest as a runner after running through a brutal Texas summer.

I checked out several marathon training plans and I decided to follow a fairly conservative sixteen week training program. It fits well with what I am doing already and builds upon the base that I have established by running all those half marathons. The first two weeks have gone very well and nothing really seems that different so far. I know that my goal should be finishing upright, but I can't help but to dream of some time goals for myself.

So on Wednesday afternoon I sat down at the computer and signed up for the race. Of course I had started training already, but it all seemed alot more real once money was on the table. I would be lying if I said that my heart rate didn't go up and my hands didn't get a little bit shaky. This is for real, folks.

Looks like the old saying "never say never" holds true once again, the girl who was never going to run a marathon is now embarking on her marathon journey. Here we go!