Overcoming the Impossible

June of 2006 had to be the most interesting month of my life. I'm at work when an email is sent around to a few of us girls about going to Hawaii but at the cost of running a marathon. I had heard of marathons but had no clue what it TRULY was except that it involved an insane amount of running. I laughed it off and replied to everyone with "Yeah, that'll be the day." I see an email the next day from a friend, Debbie who was all hyped up and ready for this challenge. I called my sister and said in the most sarcastic tone possible that Debbie had to be insane, "We are not really going to do this! Is she crazy?" and you know what Jeni's reply was? "Yes, we are really thinking about it!" WHAT!!!! When did people lose their brain functionality and decide to do something so crazy? Its next to suicide? Later at lunch they were discussing this and I sat back thinking, if you want to go to Hawaii, just do it, don't find a monumental excuse to. Then they mention that the marathon training is going to take 6 months and we will have to prepare for the grueling 26.2 miles! I can't remember if I was drinking something when I heard that number but let me assure you that if I had, I would definitely have spit it out!

Grueling isn't even a word that is close to describing running 26.2. I don't even think suicidal covers it. The next thing I know I have committed myself to run this marathon! Did I really think I could do it? I wasn't sure because I had never run more than 2 miles my whole life. I usually ran a mile on the treadmill and I hated every second of that! Running was not my thing. I only did it to keep in shape. It was the best cardio-calorie-taker-offer thing at the gym they had available.

What came next? Well let me tell you. The alarm at 4:45am came next waking me up so I could begin my first 3 miles attempt before the sun woke up so I wouldn't end up dying of heat exhaustion at the same time I was dying from running.

Well I finished my first 3 miles without stopping but I can't remember much else because when I got home my face looked like a tomato and I laid on the floor wishing death would envelop me to take away the pounding in my lungs! I was on that floor for nearly 20 whole minutes before I was able to get up and drag myself to work to let the others know I hadn't failed. I refused to face that humiliation knowing there were 3 other girls out there. I only hoped they were near death too. Like they say, Misery loves company! It was more true during the next 6 months of my life than anything else.

The next 6 months I found myself waking up early every day and giving up a social life as the running was all I had energy for after work. I found injuries and the cost to buy the shoes, waterbelts, clothes, and doctor's bills for the plantar fascitis I developed was enough to think anyone was crazy for doing this to themselves. I had to buy $300 in orthotics to cure my plantar fascitis injury! Having a knife stab you in the heel of your foot everytime it leaves the pavement isn't the greatest feeling in the world! So now you might be asking why I kept on training when it didn't seem real fun to both my body or my pocketbook and I hadn't even made it to the marathon date yet. Not to mention we also pay $100 just to run the dang thing. So Yes! Yes is the answer as to if we should admit marthon runners into the mental hospital. They definitely need to be evaluated.So why do we do it? Well its the sense of accomplishment! Knowing that you just finished a 16 or 18 mile run is enough to make anyone love the pain they just went through. How many people do you know can do that? Can you? Besides I didn't want to go to work and have the other girls think I was a loser when they were out doing it especially my pregnant sister!

Dec came and we were in Hawaii. With only 2 hours of sleep all 4 of us girls got out of bed and headed for the start line. Little did we know that wih 30,000 others we would be nearly a mile behind the start line. So I guess we completed a full 27.2 instead. Now why doesn't my certificate reflect that? I demand a refund! 10% off would be nice. But in all reality crossing the finish line is the most amazing feeling one can ever experience in their life. I am so glad I did this because no one thought it was more impossible than me who hated running. I guess looking back now I actually enjoy it now and run all the time. Its the greatest feeling in the world. Are you ready to try?