Marathoning

I have a love-hate relationship with running.  You can adjust it to fit into a busy schedule.  You can do it anywhere.  You can quantify it, which I like because I like to see a solid measure of progress/goal setting.  It makes me feel accomplished and healthier.  I used to run a lot as conditioning for rugby. You can go with friends or family and enjoy your surroundings.  Plus, if you burn more calories you can eat more!  There are lot's of great reasons to run.  I love it- but also kind of hate it.  If I don't go when I should/planned on it, I feel guilty.  If I'm feeling weak or tired and don't run very well it's disheartening. It also hurts and is just a pain in the butt sometimes. Love-hate.

This last September I was captain of the Cool Runnings team for the Red Rock Relay.  We started out with a full team of people mostly from BYU, then after about a 13 person turnover of quitting we came up with our 12. I am so, so thankful for my family coming through and helping fill up the spots. I had about 7 people quit the team during the two weeks before I got married- including the people that said they would drive. Talk about stressful.  I think I was more stressed out about the race than the wedding. I am very appreciative of all the help that people were (for both the race and the wedding!).

Anyway, we had a great team. The ages ranged from 10 to 'over-the-hill'.  Both the oldest person and the youngest person were among our best runners- they were tough! Everyone did great though! The race was so much fun! We started at Brian Head Resort and ended 186 miles later in Zion National Park.  What great scenery! One of my runs was through Snow Canyon right while the sun was coming up. Gorgeous! It was so great to spend the weekend with friends and family in such a fun atmosphere!

So, running... Accomplishment... I've done half marathons before, but that was about a year ago and I am nowhere near the fitness that I was.  I haven't been running consistently enough to keep it up.  But I'm going to change that.  I hereby declare that I'm going to do a marathon next spring. I have the training book from my father-in -law, the most legit marathoner I know.  He says that if I stick to it, I'll be able to do it. Yep, I'm going to torture myself for 5 months all so that I can torture myself all 26.2 miles of that one morning.    But it'll feel great (and painful).  That just reaffirms what a love-hate relationship I have with running.  I can't wait, but I'm dreading it.  I'm going to get registered and paid for as soon as I can so that there's no backing down. Wish me luck!

basically the conversation i have with sam when i ask if he'll come