The Hare Strikes Again

So I got this stupid notion to run a marathon.  Mind you, running a marathon is not stupid nor is the idea insane when someone other than me has the desire to do it.  The problem (and I do see it as a problem—not on a therapist level just yet, but I could see it going there) is that I am naturally a hare (we have actually had this discussion before but I thought it bared mentioning again).  So far, through out this entire process—losing weight, the race, training, and so on I have been channeling the tortoise 95% of the time.  I have made it a point to set small goals for myself each month so I don’t get overwhelmed, and surprisingly it has worked!  So why now?

I bought a magazine for female runners.  I love, love, love this magazine.  I like love it so much I could just eat it (yea—that was extreme…let’s forget about that comment), and because I love it so much I spend time reading every inch of every page.  On the first page is an ad with a svelte woman running past some place at Disney World with some animated dragon breathing fire behind her (that alone…svelt woman, fire breathing dragon, and Disney World…is kick ass).  I notice the ad is about a marathon happening at Disney.  Err? Marathon?  Why yes! Of course you can do a marathon. It’s only 26 miles—plus you’ve got time.  You can do it!  Yea—that’s exactly what I said to myself.  Dilusional…I know.

Forget the fact that I (A) have yet to complete my training for the 10k, (B) have yet to even run the Peachtree, and (C) have yet to run a 15 min mile—which this marathon requires by the way.  Forget all of that.  Let’s just focus on one tiny little fact I have obviously skipped over….THIS IS A MARATHON!  This is a 26 mile run which requires the runner to travel a mile in 15 minutes by way of actually running (or else the little ‘man down’ cart will come and whisk you away).  WTH was I thinking?  I wasn’t. I was just believing that I could do it. I was believing that in the 9 months I have before the race I could complete a few 5ks, the Peachtree, lose a ton of poundage, and find the time to train for 26 miles of non stop running. 

This is not to say that I am not going through with it.  I am actually…well…sorta.  There are other options such as running a Family 5k or a half marathon (13 miles sounds a helluva lot better than 26) that would ultimately have the same effect as running a marathon.  I would be a part of the Disney run and I will have put more mileage under my belt.  I will just tuck my proverbial little furry tail between my legs, scuttle off, and keep my focus on doing things one at a time.

The Runner