Today I Ran a Marathon

Ok. I am way too tired to write about it right now....but I thought it would be amazing to write that sentence.  Any other day it would just not be true.  But....Today, I ran a Marathon!

Count Down

Only 10 days until the marathon.  Insert "Home Alone" like scream with hands on the cheeks here. (AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!)  Ok, so I'm freaking out a little.  The jitters are kicking in a bit. I'm fluctuating between questioning my capabilities and being certain that I have what it takes. I've bitten all of my nails off. I've second guessed my shoe and attire choices. I feel the need to go out and try some crazy new supplement that might give me just a little extra...I don't know what.  I've scoured the LA Marathon website for information about race day like a maniac.

I am consumed with the feeling of uncertainty.  It's not that I don't think I can do it. (Ok, that IS part of it...but a very tiny part.) The uneasiness is due to the fact that anything can happen at this distance, and I don't have a lot of control over the variables.  Will I get enough food and rest the few days before?  Will it be hard to get to the shuttle? Will I get there with plenty of time? What will the weather be like?  How long will it take me to actually cross the starting line?  Will it be so congested that I feel trapped?  Will I feel strong and powerful that day?  Will I have to go to the bathroom a million times?  Will I be able to see my family?  How long will it take me?  Will it be fun?---at all?  There are so many questions that can only be answered on the day.  This is all part of the challenge, especially as a first timer.  It's another reason why not everyone runs marathons.

I find myself wondering how other first time marathoners are coping with the count down.  I've been consuming anything related to marathons and or running.  Books, magazines, movies, web pages, etc.  Today I watched a movie called "Spirit of the Marathon" & bawled like a baby.  My emotional investment for the runners in the film was immediate.  They were where I am right now.  Adrenaline kicked in as I observed their experience.  I'm so glad I watched it when I did, it was so fitting. What a happy accident that I stumbled across the film.

Although I have all of these nerves, doubts, and anxieties....I am ready.  Deep down I am certain I will finish.  I control my reaction to the variables on race day just as I did in training. This is so vital to success. I have done the research and put in the work.  Here I am on the cusp of the single digit countdown sans injury (I just knocked on wood--not taking any chances!) Now I'm tapering (slowly cutting down on mileage to rest the bod before the big day, phew!)...OH! Lightbulb!  Maybe THIS is why I am losing my mind a little....I've read about this!  Ok. I'm good.  This is totally normal. I think.

The bottom line is that I can't wait to see what this experience will bring.  I love how people that have run 26.2 miles always claim it will change your life.  I wonder what this will mean for me....because it's already changed me so much....

Running For A Cause

I have decided to run this marathon in honor of my Uncle, Norman Dobson.   I will also raise money for his chapter of the ALS Association.  This might be one of the most challenging parts of running the marathon for me.  I could have chosen to buckle down and simply focus on the running aspect of the race.  But, a few years ago my Uncle suffered from ALS and passed.  Simply put he was an amazing human being.  I've always wanted to find a way to raise money for ALS.  Here is my chance. How can I turn my back on this golden opportunity?

I have to admit that I really hate asking for money.  I know it's for charity. Still, it makes me really uncomfortable.  Asking for money from people is even further out of my comfort zone than running a marathon is.  I'm taking this on in the spirit of doing things I never thought I'd be able to. That's been the theme of my marathon journey.  What the heck, I'll add one more challenge to the pile.

So I have jumped in.  I started a link on a fundraising website.  Its crowdrise.com/ElizabethGardner.  I put this site up on facebook so that all of those "friends" may have a chance to donate.  I sent personal emails to local friends.  Tomorrow I'll be sending out letters and self addressed stamped envelopes to my extended family members.  This will hopefully make donating as easy as possible for them.  Hopefully I'll get some response.  This time next week I will be able to confidently say that I have done everything in my power to raise as much money as possible.

My goal is to raise $2,000.  I don't feel like it sounds like that much.  Though it's certainly more than I would be able to give at one time on my own. I've never done anything like this before, so I'm not sure what to expect.  The extent of my fundraising prowess is my sons jog-a-thon.  He raised the $100, all I did was provide phone numbers. The goal seems pretty reasonable to me.  I've worked out how much I need each person to donate in order to meet it.  Honestly I'll be happy with whatever amount I can donate in my Uncle Norm's name at the end of all of this. It just feels good to be running for a great cause.

I think of him often in my training.  Sometimes I feel as if his spirit is with me. One of the reasons I decided to do this race is simply because right now I can.  We never know what will happen to us in life.  For Norm his life rapidly changed once the disease took hold.  He became completely dependent on his family members.  In his life he was able to accomplish so many amazing things .  He was a terrific father and husband and an avid skydiver. He was also the director of research and development at Brewer Science.  Norm was involved in the Center for Applied Science and Engineering at Missouri State.  After he passed they named a research wing of the University in his honor. I know he would be proud of what I am doing, for seizing the opportunities that life presents.