50 Shades of Marathon

And just like that, my lust for running is reignited..

After 16 weeks of marathon training, I couldn't wait for it to be over...an aggressive Achilles strain along with the common battle scars had me in a lot of pain, and frankly, I wasn't sure I would be well enough to toe up to the start line. Fortunately, my mentor had steered me well, and we went with a very conservative training program.

After two weeks of taper torture, I felt more tired, sore, and yet freakishly relaxed about the race. After all, this could very well be my first start & finish of a marathon...just completing the training is trophy enough. And, at the same time, I was so frustrated from it all that I thought it might be time for a brief break-up....the drive was going, the love was gone...I felt left in pieces...

But like distance making the heart grow fonder...my two weeks of taper torture had me ravenous to run again...desperate...like if I didn't run, I might have nothing left of me...

On race day, during those 26.2 miles mostly alone...and with nothing in my ears but my own thoughts...it was life altering...or at least it felt that way at the time. I'm pretty sure I stared down every insecurity along with every bit of earned confidence...and in the end, despite saying I would never do that again when I could barely walk after the finish...something changed.

All week I've found myself reliving every mile, every moment for good and for bad...and every time, I come back with that same feeling...wow, that was amazing...painful, relaxing, clumsy, graceful, ugly, beautiful....and exhilarating....the type of thing that only those that have, will understand....

And I can't wait to do it all over again...