I remember like it was yesterday, my first race, and how nervous I was and how scared I was to fail. But I didn't and in fact I realized that running is pretty simple and that it took me to a place that no one could tarnish, no one could cloud. The only thing that has changed through my running is that I lost the sense of fear. With more than 12,000 miles on my sometimes tired feet I miss the feeling of pre-race butterflies. I keep telling myself that when I finally sign up for my 100 miler that I will have more butterflies than a summer flower garden. Tonight something happened.
I'm not sure if this is nervousness, anxiousness, or dare I say a butterfly but I have a different feeling about this Saturday's race. This weekend I am running Freedom's Run Marathon http://freedomsrun.org/Default.aspx and it's got all the makings of a memorable race. The weather should be nice, low 50's with a slight chance of rain. The course has a net elevation loss and a lot of the run is on crushed gravel not to mention that it is a small race (the marathon has a field of 500). This weekend and this course may help me hit one of my most chased goals, to run a sub four hour marathon. If it's going to happen I have no better chance than this weekend and absolutely no excuses.
But in all honesty if I leave everything I have out on the course and fall short I won't be heartbroken. I won't be heartbroken because I will have more opportunities and that's one thing I love about running and my life is that opportunities are always to be found. But guarantee this, if I cross that finish line with a time of 3:59:59 I will have a smile that won't wipe off. This weekend I plan on shining like gold and buzzing like a bee...
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - C.S. Lewis
No comments:
Post a Comment