Perhaps My Biggest Leap Yet!

I gambled....and won!

About a year ago, after finishing a 1/2 ironman triathlon, a friend of mine called and mentioned the "M" word...my first response was silence, then "are you kidding me? there is no way", then I started looking up different marathons that we could do (If I am going to do a marathon it needs to be at a fun location or have some sort of incentive...like a Tiffany necklace!)  We talked about it for a couple weeks after, and then it kind of faded away! Within the last couple months, after doing the AZ Rock n Roll 1/2, I have had it on my mind to do a full marathon. Should I put in the for NY marathon?? Do 26.2 miles in the lights of Las Vegas while checking out all the men in wranglers? Do Arizona again because it is rumored to be a flat, fast course??  Well, one day at the gym I was talking with a mom of some kids I used to swim with and she mentioned the Nike Women's Marathon.  As soon as she mentioned firemen and Tiffany necklace I was sold!

I normally plan to do these races with other people, but I went out on a limb and entered into the lottery application process for the race.  To be honest, the hardest part is taking the initiative to sign-up! There were a couple slight miscommunications regarding this race...I was under the impression you only received the necklace if you completed the full marathon, well come to find out everyone gets one :) And secondly, I was talking to a friend who also signed up and we are planning on doing it together, and part way through the conversation I realized she only signed up for the half!!! Well...this Wednesday I received the email telling me I was accepted into the race, and despite the miscommunications, I am doing the full marathon! My initial reaction was a mix of terror, excitement, nervousness, and "OMG, I am going to run 26.2 miles." I had a small taste of the joy and feeling of accomplishment that  I will feel when I accomplish what was once considered impossible! 

"The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you'll receive. But it's just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey"

"I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement, it's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible"

"Man imposes his own limitations...don't set any"