And so it begins....

I've been thinking about starting a running blog for awhile, but I think now is finally the time.  Why?  

Why not?

No, seriously, because in less than two weeks I will be doing my first marathon, and in 2019 I will attempt to run at least 5, but possibly 7, 50K trail races as part of the 50k MashUp!

I signed up for the marathon just under a year ago.  Back in 2015, when I first started running, I always said I would NEVER NEVER NEVER run a marathon.  I said, there isn't ANYTHING I would want to do for 5 hours, why would I want to RUN that long?  (And, let's be real, it is probably going to take me well over 5 hours to complete the race!)

But, something has happened over the past three years, I guess, and now I am one of "them".  Yes, "them", you know, those annoying people who get up at 4am to go run.  Those who talk incessantly about pace, and PRs and races and nutrition and bonking and all those other things runners talk about.  Those who will get up early on the weekend just to go run for a "free" t-shirt and a medal.  (I'm not going to say "cheap" medal because some of them are really pretty sweet!)

So, yes.  I'm a runner now, and it has become much more than it was when I started three years ago.  Maybe it is my mid-life crisis.  Maybe it is the way I stay sane.  Maybe it is the way I stay connected to nature.  Maybe it is just a chance to get out and make sure I don't succumb to my innate laziness...but no matter, it is now a part of me and how I identify myself.

I wanted to chronicle my attempt over the past year to get to the marathon, but failed miserably.  Oh, I have a nice, bound journal that I've written in a few times, but mostly those entries have only been over the past month or so - once my long runs truly started getting long.  I missed out on those early thoughts of why, and how, and feel my mindset has changed a lot since the beginning of the year, and now I can't go back and truly feel those same feelings and express those same thoughts.

Instead, I will try and blog my way to 7 50K races in 2019...and, IF the stars align, possibly end this insane attempt with the Barkley Fall Classic.  Given how difficult this race is to get into, it's unlikely, but I'm going to try.

Given my running history, I don't know if I'll be successful in this grandiose, INSANE plan, but what the hell.  If I'm going to set a goal, I might as well aim high and totally go for it!

As a reminder of both the highs and lows - here are some pictures from the Dances With Dirt Devil's Lake Trail Half Marathon back in July.  To date, this is the most difficult race I've ever done ...I'm sure that will not be the case after 2019!

Ah, the beginning when everything was awesome!

A bit of a look for the camera, I think i was a bit surprised by it.  (BTW, those are MARATHON runners coming up behind me!)

Ah, the pain!  I love it!  it's so glorious being out here in the woods!

I almost look like I'm running "fast" here!

I feel this is a bit of a contemplative picture. 

The finish line!  Finally!

Oh shit, everything hurts, but I'm done! 

I did it!  Can I stop yet?

Normally I wouldn't post this - it's a terrible face I'm making, but it's a pretty accurate reflection of how I felt.  I was trying not to cry.  I mean, yes, I was in pain, but I also felt like I'd accomplished something AMAZING!  Overwhelmed with emotions!