I have heard a lot of people lately say to me that they would never consider a marathon. I’m here to say I used to be one of those people. Then I started doing half marathons… a lot. As I hung up my new medal yesterday from my second annual Philly Rock and Roll Half (which is now my favorite race by the way), I noticed all the other medals hanging.
Sunday’s run made the tally go up to 5 half marathons (and 3 10-milers which I think warrant a mention) in just 3 years total since I started running. And it got me thinking: half marathons have become easy.
They aren’t easy exactly. I still struggle to maintain pace , I find aches and pains, I whine through the training, and I’m sore after race day. But I can finish one in a decent time without much training at all. I did Atlantic City 2011 without training. I did Rock and Roll USA 2012 without training. (Neither of those were great races but they got done!) And I definitely finished this one without much training and on a bum ankle.
So I’m doing my marathon for this exact reason: Because it is hard.
Sure, I could shrug it off and say its not worth bothering but I am the type determined to do what I know I can accomplish. I can’t sit back, knowing I could run a marathon, and not try actually doing it. Sure, it will be hard, it will hurt, I may hate it while I’m doing it, but I will be happy when I’m done, knowing I did it.
I’m so proud of you!
In my 20s, I’d run 5ks and not to pick cos seriously…my gimp self ran over 5k Saturday AND Sunday this weekend! If I can hold up, now that I’m getting back to being able to run (against 3 doctors orders), I may start playing around with the charity 5ks again. On SP, I see people with “medals” for them–not that I need the medal but it’s a nice MEMENTO–which is what yours are! I like that…it’s a cool thing to remember what you’ve done and know that you’re doing GOOD things for yourself! (it’s nice when it helps others, too)
LOVE IT!!! cant wait!!
I’m so happy that you’re still challenging yourself! Yay for new bling!
Woo Hoo! I need to find all of my metals and hang them…they are randomly shoved in places in my house…might take me a year to find them all…
Can’t wait until St. Louis!!!
Way to go, I hope to do this someday!