Today I find myself thinking back to a run I took with my fellow "Girl gone Muddy" Kelli last October. It was just getting cold and she had agreed to do 11 miles for Autism awareness with me (have I mentioned she is a really good friend?) As we were running I said something along the lines of "I just don't have any desire to do that distance! 13.1, sure. 26.2...no thanks!" Fast Foward to March 16, 2014, the day I registered for my first full marathon.
Since announcing my intent to move forward with my goal I've been asked one question consistently, and that question is, "Why"? In all honesty I'm not entirely sure of the answer, but I know it starts with my faith. I truly believe that the ability to run is a gift from God. It is so easy to take mobility for granted in our day to day lives. We get out of bed, walk to our cars, jump out to go to work and run errands without a second thought for our ability to do so. In actuality there are so many people in the world who will never have the ability to walk, much less to run. God has seen fit to give me the gift of mobility, and I intend to make the most of it and hopefully spread some joy and inspiration along the way.
As I write this I am still a ball of emotions. Excitement, happiness, and satisfaction in my decision to take this step. But in the back of my mind doubt is still echoing, it wants me to back down. It says "What are you thinking? YOU, run a marathon!? You're crazy! What if you have a seizure? What if your knees give out? You will look like a fool if you try and fail. What kind of mother are you, taking that time from your family to train. Who do you think you are?"
But I know better. I want to live boldly. I want to push myself and never settle. I want to show my children that they can do anything they put their minds to, as long as they are willing to work for it. I am going to test my mettle and prove to myself that I can do this thing I've thought for so long that I couldn't do. I am taking the first step towards 26.2. I was told "You don't run a marathon without coming out a changed person." to which I replied "I guess I will find out!"
So here goes nothing, ready or not (ok, not going to lie, I fully intend to be ready) Des Moines Marathon 2014, HERE I COME!
