Once upon a time I was watching The Biggest Loser and I saw this 52-year-old woman pull a Rave 4 up a small heel. The next time I watched it I saw overweight contestants run a 1/2 marathon. Then one day the contestants were running a full marathon. Some where in the middle of all that while browsing through some fitness type magazine I seen an advertisement for Vaseline lotion that read;
"For that legs that can run a marathon, run a bath and run a household"
Up until this time I hadn't done that great with running a household, I'm still not brilliant at it. Those who know me, know fully well I am not a domestic goddess. I could run a bath - no problem, but a marathon? Really? Who was I kidding! Yet, there was that little thought in the back of my mind saying,
"I wonder."
I started pushing harder during the 5K's I signed up for, each one trying to beat my time. My goal to do it in 30 minutes. In other words to run a 10-minute-mile. Seemed outrageous to me. With each 5K I set a new personal record. The last 5K I did - 32:45. I've not done a straight 5K in a while. A lot of other things, few 5K obstacle courses and such. My strength has greatly improved and I can run a 10 minute mile - for how long I can keep that pace I've no idea. Not long I'm sure. I average between 11-13 minute miles...when uninjured.
6 months ago I bit the bullet and put my name in for the London Marathon. I did not get in. It was by ballot entry. I kept thinking London, what an amazing experience that would be. Cindy, a friend of mine ran it in April and I watched it on T.V. in awe of it. The day the packages started arriving letting you know if you had gotten lucky or not I had a feeling I hadn't. I wasn't sure if I would be happy or upset. 26.2 miles? I mean, who does that! Right?
Funny thing happened after that, people started looking for the NEXT thing. I put on my Facebook status; "I didn't get into the London Marathon, now what?" To which my friend Darla replied, "PARIS!!!" After some questioning, I started looking into it...
I got excited when other friends began talking about it and how several of us would be celebrating our birthday's in April and it could be like a Birthday Party. I know, we're mad right? Once that started though I got to thinking, "if not London, why not Paris!" What a cool way to sight see!
Crazy? Hell yeah!
Fun? I hope so.
Painful? Damn straight.
Worth it? Without a doubt.
So guess what I did today?
You got it folks I registered for the 2013 Paris Marathon!!!
I will be running my first marathon in PARIS!!! Now seriously, how many people can say that?
Training begins December 3rd. I've a lot of work to do to get ready for this and a lot of mileage to get in on these lovely little legs the good Lord blessed me with, but I know with hard work, determination and dedication I will get there and I will be ready.
My current concern: Holding those I run with back because of my pace and lack of experience. I know each of us will be running to see how we are doing, what our pace is averaging out to be and I do not wish to be responsible for holding anyone back. It might be a silly concern, but still it is a valid one.
Other concerns: training in the cold freaking weather and injuries.
I started out almost a year ago with some major goals, a few plans and a couple of wishes. Little by little I'm making each of those happen. Each experience has been highly memorable and brought on another new experience, just as awesome as the first. The feeling of crossing that finish line and knowing I completed that, is like none other.
I have no idea how I'll manage 26.2, but I know I'm not afraid to try and we all have to start somewhere.
I've no idea how I'll feel at the end of 26.2, but I bet crossing that finish line will be the highest high I've ever felt and I look forward to accomplishing it...
....one step at a time.
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1 comment:
Excellent news!
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