RUNNERS!!! Why did you sign up for a Marathon?

I ran the Tucson Marathon 12 years ago after losing 150 pounds...I did it just to say that I could. Stressful job, baby, and moving kept me from maintaining my loss. Well, I take that back...my inability to handle life stresses made gaining weight easy

Anyway, now I am back to running and loving every minute of it. Training for a half in November but would love to do another full next year!

I decided I needed a challenge. I will complete a marathon and two 50k's between now and January 30, 2012. Once you start--you can't quit!

I want to finish a half with no walking this time. Next goal is a full Marathon, I'm thinking June.

Why? Because I want to be that guy crying like a baby on the home stretch, as I start to realize the magnitude of what I am about to accomplish.

On long run training days, and during the early morning, 5:00 am runs, I likely ask myself this question at LEAST once every mile...

:grumble:


If I ever figure out the answer you'll be the first to know, AZ...

It has always been on my list of things to do in my lifetime.

Last year started running again after some injuries forced me away from soccer and running for 2 years. Started C25K last February to ease myself back in slowly, ran my first 5K last April and have run 29 other races since. Early this year I decided this was my year and I registered for my marathon before I even ran my first half. I have not faltered or wavered on my commitment and am looking forward to crossing that finish line in November! I think you just know when it's time to do it!

I've got a half marathon in about 5/6 weeks.
I signed up because I LOVE running and love races and also I've always been really unfit etc so I wanted to prove to myself that I'm different now.

On a serious note, I signed up for my first marathon to give myself a challenge, to have a goal to achieve, and to prove to other people that I was able and capable of doing it, regardless of how critical they were of my abilities. It's been a long summer of training but as race day gets closer I'm so glad I decided to do this for myself. The sense of accomplishment I get each time I achieve a new "first" or reach a new goal on the training plan is like nothing else I can compare it to. I certainly don't get that at my job right now (let's not go there) and the marathon training has helped keep me somewhat sane this summer. I can't wait for race day in 3 weeks !

Oh yeah to answer the question, to finish a full marathon before turning 40 AND i just lost the bulk of my weight, I lost 95 lbs. Now it is to beat my best time in a half and for a full to erase that bad memory from my first one along with that 6.5 hour time tied to my name.

I did the Warrior Dash because I thought I could. (5K with obstacles) I’m 49 & more fit than anyone I know, so I thought WTH? I placed 15th in my age class & 437 outta 7,763 other people. That’s even with all the 20-something peeps. I’m running the Indy 500 Mini next.

I have never trained, little bits but nothing much untill the last couple of years... Now I love the buzz I get from training and running... wow what a high...

I ran the Bath half this March then the Bristol half this month, never ran before in my life, then at TKD camp last year I liked the buzzz I got from running to the beach at 7am every morning only 2 and a half miles, I was so unfit then, also we trained for an hour on the beach and in the water, then jogged back to camp...

Came home and looked online for the Bath half!!

I wanted to do something my children could watch me do and cheers on others at the same time and i wanted to do a half marathon before I was 40.

Before the Bath half, I only ran about 3/5 times, twisted my ankle and had to rest for a couple of weeks, 3 miles once 6.

I do a lot of cardio have been for nearly 2 years, so that was not a problem, but I could not walk for 2 days after!! My legs where not used to it!! Lesson learnt!! xx

So for the Bristol half I trained, well ran once a week whilst still doing my cardoi workouts. But I had put on a stone in a month, so did not do so well... Did not notice until I seen the pictures on the Internet!! I thought whoooooooooo.... Hence being here...

Am looking forward to doing the next Bath half in March 2012, will train evern harder for that one and be even fitter.... And have less weight to carry, I would be able to run so much faster then! xx

I would love to jog more, but my motorvation is pants!!! I like the buzz after several miles, but getting to that point is hard, I just cant be assed, if that makes sense??

Joining a running group this Thursday and will see if that helps xx

I did my first marathon because it was on my bucket list to do a marathon before I turned 30.

Four marathons later, I'm planning on doing two marathons next year, and hope the second one will be my Boston Qualifyer.

As I always say.....The marathon begins at Mile 20.

I run marathons because you see what you are made of between miles 20 - 26.

Each race is a different experience.. different courses, different weather conditions, and your body is in different states of fitness. I've finished in elated joy with bounds of untapped energy and I've also finished in pain and relief that it's finally over.

I would rather go long than fast. I find it to be very meditative to find your gear and hold steady.

I signed up for mine because if I didn't sign up, it would always be sitting on my bucket list. There will always be races to run, time to train and other pressing priorities (or so we hope). I put my money where my mouth is because once I parted with it, I KNEW I'd train and put in the hard work necessary.

Why do I want to run one? I've never done it and I wanted a challenge and another sport I could take up. I was in a pretty bad car accident about a decade ago and was told I'd never walk again, so this is a pretty big milestone and testament to my determination. Plus, I needed something to train for...you can only do so much cardio inside a gym!

By the time I've trained for my first half-marathon in May 2012, I would be 40 years old have lost 101lbs. 2 months after my first half, I will then race my first marathon in July.

Just like the usual "flying-dreams"... I have had many dreams of running long and fast - I'm certain this is one of the things I have to accomplish in my life.

I'm not dreaming of a marathon - YET, but I am training for a half in February.

I always wanted to be able to run, but have always been the most non-coordinated, non-athletic person I know and it just seemed like an impossible dream. I love to read books about long distance running or walking (like Flanagan's Run by Tom McNab, Africa Trek by Alexandre and Sonia Poussin) and always wanted to be part of something bigger than me, something I didn't think was possible.

I met my first goal of doing something that seemed impossible by running a 12k race at the end of August- that was a bittersweet victory because I really wanted to do it for my mum who had terminal cancer -she asked me about 6 weeks before the race "are you really going to run that far?" and I said yes. So I had to do it for her. She died just two days after the race so she knew I did it and people have told me that on the day of the race, she told everyone in the hospital that I was doing it (along with the 40,000 other people who ran/walked that day!)

Now I know that I can run, I need another goal - I love the way that running keeps me grounded and focused and helps me cope when I'm upset or sad or stressed. So, the Busselton Half Marathon is my next target. That's in the town where my dad lives and the path goes past the hospital where mum passed away so I will feel as though I'm running it with her and I know my dad will be there to cheer me on too. I don't think it's going to be an easy run - although it's a flat path by the beach all the way it is in February (mid summer in Australia) so I'm going to have to do my longest training runs in the heat and will have to really focus on staying hydrated. But, I'm going to give it my best shot!

I'm loving everyone's stories, thanks for sharing.