T Minus 5 Days...

Wow, it's almost here.  My first marathon, the 26.2 with Donna Breast Cancer Marathon.  I guess you could say being this close to the big event is making me reflect over the path that brought me here.

Late last year, after finishing my first olympic distance tri, I decided I wanted a larger challenge which turned out to be running a half marathon.  In fact, I decided on a trifecta of races:  the Outback Distance Classic Half Marathon, the Donna Half Marathon and the Gate River Run 15k.  I didn't feel ready to commit to the seemingly impossible distance of a marathon.  In 2012, I'll do one, I thought.  Then I'll be ready.  Then in October, on Halloween, we ran the Pumpkin Run, a 10 mile course through a local cemetery, and I started to think, maybe I should go farther.  And on Thanksgiving, when I ran the Outback, I thought, this isn't enough.  And decided to go for it, shoot the moon, take on the challenge.  E had, several months prior, agreed to run my first marathon with me.  Being an Ironman and having already completed one marathon, he was definitely up for the challenge...I just don't think he thought it would be this soon!  Of course, I didn't either. :)

My training the last couple weeks hasn't been the greatest, but I'm ok with that now.  I have confidence that I'll do it; not finishing is not an option.  My dad and his girlfriend will be there cheering us on, and my aunt will be here, plus friends.  It's a race with great support, and there are so many women in my life who have been touched my breast cancer that running for them is something miraculous in and of itself.  

So I'm nervous for Sunday, but I'm also excited.  The last year has seen me become more and more of an athlete, something I would never have dreamed I would become.  I've learned to have a better relationship with my body and with food.  I've been able to feel proud of my progress and my strength.  I look forward to this race and I'm already ready for the next one!