READY? OK!

So, this isn’t the first marathon I’ve trained for (and plan to complete) BUT it is the first I’m documenting via a blog.  Why bother doing either?  I’m not an elite runner and have no fantasies of winning, or of even placing in my age group.  I have a bunch of race tee shirts in my drawer and finishers’ medals on my wall- why train for 18 weeks to get another of each?  The best short answer I can muster uses Hal Higdon’s words, “In a marathon, except at the elite level, you do not beat others. Instead you achieve a personal victory.” Training for a marathon is both a physical and psychological  journey that transforms a person in so many ways; completing the 26 mile 385 yard marathon is actually the reward!  If the marathon is my prize for 18 weeks of time consuming training, why commit any remaining precious hours to  this blog?  I want to enshrine these weeks in my mind as I know they will be in my body, especially my legs.  While I know I achieved some level of personal metamorphosis in my previous training, I didn’t bother to document my experience along the way.  Now that I’m 42 (and have a lapsing memory)  I’m pretty sure the only way I’ll retain any of this adventure is by recording these next 126 days for not only myself, but also some blog readers which (I’m hoping) will hold me accountable to stick with it.

I invite you to join me in training for the 2013 Portland Marathon.  It’s going to be a wild ride!!!