One Long Year

I haven't written on my blog in over a month. I've been so busy with life that I haven't really had time to just sit and put my thoughts down on digital paper. Between training, trying to find a job (which has been completely unsuccessful), trying to have a life, fitting time for Magic and my girlfriend, the blog just took a back seat to everything. Even now I'm sitting with three windows open and having a hard time really writing on here. But in all honesty, this isn't a post about my current life troubles.

This weekend is the ING Hartford Marathon. I am going to be running in my third half marathon in six weeks. It's quite an accomplishment for me that I have come this far. I honestly can't believe that I am really going to be running my third race in this short amount of time. I don't know if anyone really knows this but last year was my first real trek into running. I decided to do a 5K in honor of my girlfriend and I did all that fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and raised $6000 because of amazing Magic: the Gathering players. I ran the race and finished in 28:02. My first ever 5K and I did it under 30 minutes. I was amazed. I couldn't honestly believe it. A lot of runners online were shocked as well and told me that I could totally do a half marathon the next year. I definitely scoffed at them, thinking that I would never be able to get to that point in running.

But now, a year later, and I'm staring down my third opportunity to get another medal. My wall hanger is already halfway full with virtual race medals as well as my divisional second place medal at the Bluff Point Trail run and my Warrior Dash bottle opener medal. I can already picture my Hartford Half marathon medal sitting there in it's multicolored glory with all the other medals that I have earned this year.

Looking at this weekend, it's not really just a race. It's more of an accomplishment that I have gotten this far. I can look at this weekend as one of the best things I have ever done. I can look at it as that I have finally completed something I set forth back in January. This weekend is a culmination of training and hard work and sacrifice to finally get to one ultimate goal: finish 13 miles on this particular weekend. Every person that has ever been there for me or supported me or insulted me or told me I could never do this will be with me this weekend. It'll be my opportunity to thank them or to prove them wrong. In some cases, both.

Now to register for some races next year.