Or a change of sanity. It depends on what way you look at it.
Currently, there is an envelope on my desk. In that envelope contains an $80 check to the ING Hartford Marathon.
I noticed the other day, that my pal that I originally planned to run the marathon with had a countdown. Shit, I thought. I can’t back out cause i’m too lazy. Granted, I was saying “injured” but i feel at this point it’s subtext for lazy. Lazy, and of course my love hate relationship with running itself.
78 days and counting.
Starting Sunday, I take up an intensive training plan – two days of spinning, three days of running, and two days of weights with a day or two of swimming in there also. I’ve been horrible at my workouts this week and last given that this week I’ve interviews, working at the gym and all that jazz. I’ll probably go running after work today since something came up and pal and I likely won’t make it up to FRIENDSHIP-MOTHER FUCKING HEIGHTS for that damn bridal sale. I wasn’t going to buy a dress anyhow, and I don’t believe in the red line north of Dupont circle anyhow so no big loss. Her and I are still going to get drinks so all is well in the world.
I digress though, I’ll go run this afternoon after work, run Sunday am (since I’m working tomorrow morning h8), and next week, two days of swimming, two days of weights, two days of spinning and three days of running. I’m doubling up on the swimming/spinning days just cause then i have one day off.
But i couldn’t let my gal down especially considering she’s doing me the honor of being one of my bridesmaids. I’ll get new sneakers, hopefully sometime this upcoming week or two, I’ll need new running clothes for the race since…it’s going to be cold at 8am in Hartford, CT on October 11. We have plans to leave and go up thursday night, and come back monday sometime. I will do this. This time? I have a time that I’m hoping for. I can’t let myself forget about that time because well…they have a 6:00:00 limit. I’m hoping for 5:30:00 which is about a 11-12 minute mile. Last year my average mile was about 13:00 or so…a bit slower because i wasn’t as prepared. I know it’s late in the game to get started but I’m pretty confident. That confidence is what’s going to propel me through my training and remind me of the end goal.
I’m pretty excited. But I’m going to do it. I’m going to finish and then I’m going to get two framed pictures with two medals that look like this:
Me at the finish line with my medal after marathon #1. There will be a second picture and I’ll show you all on October 12. 
