A few months back I decided I'd like to go all the way.... 26.2 miles to be exact! Today I registered for my first FULL MARATHON!!!!
I am of the mindset that running 13.1 miles is a whole race, not just "half" of one. I am content with my half marathons, and I believe they are an accomplishment despite what their names may imply. I have also decided, thanks to the amazing running community I have been introduced to, that I would like to try 26.2 miles. What better place to do that than Disney World?!
Before I ran my first half marathon I said the only place I would want to run 13.1 miles would be at Disney. Thus, Princess Half Marathon 2014 being my very first, and quite magical, half marathon. Flash forward to April 2015: I have run 6 half marathons to date, and will be running my 7th half this weekend! Needless to say the magic of the Princess Half wasn't just attributed to Disney, but to the act of running itself.
After running the Jeff Galloway 13.1 in December of 2014, I set my sites on 26.2. The pain of my longest run on record (17.5 miles training) has faded enough for me to believe that a full marathon distance is possible for me. The ONLY place I am willing to run that far (at this point in time) is Disney World. I mean, you get to run through all 4 parks, possibly get to ride some rides, take photos with characters, and race to the finish where Minnie and Mickey will be waiting with high fives for all!!! Does it seriously get any better than that?? This is the hope I will be holding on to through this journey, and it will be a journey! Nothing is given. Everything is earned.
I am nowhere near the fastest or most skilled runner on the course. In fact, my wonderful sister-in-law who will be running with me could run circles around me and still finish well before I did. The point, however, is not to be the best or the fastest. The point is to have fun, run with your heart, and break through all your personal barriers that hold you back from greatness. I'll be happy to, as Jeff Galloway puts it in his training plans, "finish in the upright position" with a smile on my face!
I have 257 days until Marathon Day to get my body, mind, and heart ready to go all the way, but the preparation for this moment started long before today!!
I am of the mindset that running 13.1 miles is a whole race, not just "half" of one. I am content with my half marathons, and I believe they are an accomplishment despite what their names may imply. I have also decided, thanks to the amazing running community I have been introduced to, that I would like to try 26.2 miles. What better place to do that than Disney World?!
Before I ran my first half marathon I said the only place I would want to run 13.1 miles would be at Disney. Thus, Princess Half Marathon 2014 being my very first, and quite magical, half marathon. Flash forward to April 2015: I have run 6 half marathons to date, and will be running my 7th half this weekend! Needless to say the magic of the Princess Half wasn't just attributed to Disney, but to the act of running itself.
After running the Jeff Galloway 13.1 in December of 2014, I set my sites on 26.2. The pain of my longest run on record (17.5 miles training) has faded enough for me to believe that a full marathon distance is possible for me. The ONLY place I am willing to run that far (at this point in time) is Disney World. I mean, you get to run through all 4 parks, possibly get to ride some rides, take photos with characters, and race to the finish where Minnie and Mickey will be waiting with high fives for all!!! Does it seriously get any better than that?? This is the hope I will be holding on to through this journey, and it will be a journey! Nothing is given. Everything is earned.
I am nowhere near the fastest or most skilled runner on the course. In fact, my wonderful sister-in-law who will be running with me could run circles around me and still finish well before I did. The point, however, is not to be the best or the fastest. The point is to have fun, run with your heart, and break through all your personal barriers that hold you back from greatness. I'll be happy to, as Jeff Galloway puts it in his training plans, "finish in the upright position" with a smile on my face!
I have 257 days until Marathon Day to get my body, mind, and heart ready to go all the way, but the preparation for this moment started long before today!!