One in a Million

I just read an article from The Washington Running Report about the Marine Corps Marathon sellout and fiasco that happened earlier this week.  I didn't plan on running MCM this year, but since I did last year, I felt some kind of kinship with all that were sitting in front of their computers watching the minutes click down until registration opened.  And because of the record sellout last year and the increasing popularity in the sport (Hey, I'm a new girl on the scene, and even I can see the growth!), I was really curious to see how it would play out this year.  So I watched and read for 2 hours and 27 minutes, and my heart sank when the announcement was made.

Now, I could spout off on how Active.com FUBAR'd registration for a 2nd major race in as many months.  I could even find argument in Active's defense.  And I supposed I could go on an on about the pros and cons of a lottery system and pray to the heavens that the idea qualifying times never enters the picture.  But I won't.

So, why am I writing?  Not why you think.

Out of all the "blah blah hooha", one line in this article struck a chord:

"Last year, 23,519 runners finished Marine Corps..."

We've all heard the saying, "you are one in a million!"  Hell, we've probably said it a time or two.

But I am NOT one in a million.

I am one in 23,519.

And I think that's pretty cool.

Something's been missing

It's no secret that I'm getting ready to run my first marathon this weekend (see previous post).  Every once in a while, I have mentioned training, but you may have noticed I have not giving "updates" like I did when getting ready for the Flying Pirate half marathon back in April.  It's not that I haven't wanted to share, but there are only so many times you might want to read, "I ran today," because my friends, when you are training for a marathon, your life basically consists of a combination of three things,

• eat
• run/cross train
• sleep

and then, the rest of life's little pleasures like working and such, you fit in around those 3 basic elements.

Now I will recap 16 weeks of marathon training in one swoop .....

And there you have it.

It's been the longest, yet fastest, 16 weeks I've ever experienced.

Let the carb load commence.

Oorah.

Words for Wednesday

Holy crap.  I'm running a marathon this weekend.

                                                                                                                     -words from yours truly
                                                                                                                                (and you can quote me)

You know it's almost "Go Time" when....

• you can access the 10-day weather forecast for race day
• your entire GU supply has disappeared
• you are counting the hours until your pre-race massage because all of your muscles are on freaking fire
• it's time to make the carb-load grocery list
• you have used all your body glide
• the reminder to pay your life insurance arrives in your mailbox
• you start making your road trip play list (or rather, have Jyl make it because you are iTunes challenged)
• your long runs are now 3 or 4 miles
• you want to eat everything within your reach or sight.....or dream about
• you have 20 different lists going because you write stuff down as you think of things to do or items to pack, only to forget which list you put it on or where the location of said list is
• I'd write more but I can't find my list.....

Things I Might Do Post Marathon

Today was a big day.  Today my training plan called for 20 miles.  Of running.  I don't think you realize just how far that is unless you are on your feet going 6mph eating this nasty GU stuff every 45 minutes.  Things hurt, things went numb....

It was awesome.

Dude.  I ran 20 miles today.

I RAN TWENTY FREAKING MILES.  AT ONCE.  Holy crap.

We all run for many reasons.  Some of us, 1% of us, decide to take the plunge and go for 26.2.  We begin a 16 week period of ups and downs and blisters and pain; and it's also a 16 week period of sacrifice of sorts.  One question that every runner training for a marathon can relate too is, "what are YOU going to do post marathon?"

And so, when you're running for 20 miles, you have lots of time.  Lots of time to talk, to cuss, to blow snot rockets......and to think.  And today I thought of a list of things I might do post marathon:

• throw the biggest party EVER.  Drinks all around!
• eat greasy-bad-for-me pizza
• sleep in until 6 a.m.
• drink a diet Coke
• quit running
• relax
• eat pancakes
• stay up past 9 p.m.
• celebrate Oktoberfest in November
• soak in a hot bath for a week
• clean my house
• burn my sneakers
• read more than 2 pages of a book without falling asleep
• buy the entire series of Dawson's Creek and Felicity and enjoy a different type of marathon where the fuel is miniature Reese's Cups, Hershey Nuggets with Toffee and Almonds and a pint of Ben & Jerry's

and just to keep things balanced....

Things I WON'T Do Post Marathon

• eat Gu gels for breakfast
• go on 15-20 mile runs for the hell of it