3 days

It's a strange feeling for a competitive person to go into a race for "fun." The Chicago Marathon is sunday morning. Lots of people have been asking me if I'm excited, and I suppose I am. I'm excited about the realization of 5 months of training aimed at sunday, of the changes I've undergone in mind and body during this time, but mostly it's just a really long run. I am looking forward to it, but I don't think my body is cut out to do this kind of distance over and over again.

It's a strange question really? Who gets excited about causing themselves pain? I enjoy training more after a workout is done and I'm feeling all the endorphine benefit, but in the middle of the tempo run, it's all out and it's not fun. This is where the competitor departs from the fitness-oriented. I enjoy an easy long run as much as the next person, and these times are great stress-relievers. However, the most enjoyable part of training for me is pushing myself faster than I originally thought possible. You only truly discover your limits if you are willing to push beyond them. I know this is a tangent, but there is great frustration for me in running into so many people who have decided they don't like or won't do something because it is hard. They give reasons such as "well I don't like it" or "I couldn't do that" but have never even given themselves a chance to believe that they could. If you can't believe in your mind that it might be possible, you will never push hard to get there. It's called Faith. If everybody behaved like this, nothing outstanding would ever be accomplished except by chance and dumb luck.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step...so where are you going?

And yes, I'm looking forward to a nice tour of Chicago sunday morning.