from the beginning

This is a blog about the chronicles of my marathon training for the upcoming ING Georgia Marathon. As I have learned from past trainings I have done, the training in itself is much more difficult than getting out on the road on a particular day to run 26.2 miles. The training takes weeks and weeks of nothing but dedication, sacrifice, preparation, guts and courage. Someone who trains for a marathon is crazy. I admit that. There are few and fleeting moments of pleasure. Most of it is painful. Sometimes dreadful. And yet, here I am again, going for number 5. Why? Because I can. Because just because I have done it before doesn't mean I can do it again. I saw this happen in the summer when I quit the training for the Lake Tahoe Marathon. Mentally, I was tired. Physically, I was exhausted. And now, I am back. In better spirits and with a better mental mindset of why I take on the challenge. I am already 4 weeks into the training and a tad bit behind schedule. I cannot worry. I have to trust by body. Trust that it will get me where I need to go. Sometimes, I question my physical abilities, but I rarely question my determination. I am ready to go. Ready to see. Why do I do it? Well, to sum up the late George Sheehan, "for the chance, the opportunity, to be my own hero."
I hope you will find the chronicles interesting and possibly even motivating. As I delve into the first 3rd of the training program I follow, I recall what it felt like to finish my 1st, my 2nd, 3rd and 4th marathons. That moment of pure joy, ecstasy, exhilaration, exhaustion and accomplishment is all the motivation I need. Cheers!