I remember more now the two reason why I started keeping a blog like this. First, I enjoy sharing the experiences of what an average ‘not-even-close-to-being-elite’ guy goes through when training for a marathon in the hopes that it motivates someone (even just one person out there) to make that commitment to challenge themselves to do something they never saw themselves doing … The second reason, is that I can use what i’ve written to look back at my own struggles and to find strength at moments in my training when I feel like i’m getting off course.

I came to these conclusions today as I looked back at my posts from February 2007 when I last ran the Ocean Drive marathon. I read back about the training mainly and how i felt it was going … then I got into March of 2007. Then ultimately the post race report, which clearly stated:

It really is a hurdle that you have to work hard to accomplish, you can’t pussy-foot around like I did with the training. People who come out of the gate, thinking that this is easy, should think again, its far from being easy and takes dedication and discipline, which I didn’t have this time …. if done properly, it is a great personal accomplishment.

Hmm.. I feel myself starting to try and pussyfoot around … whining about the weather, about being sick and somehow thinking that a 6-miler is a “good run” like I did today. I find myself making excuses, and although some might be warranted, there really are NO EXCUSES to not do this.

So how do I get back on track? Well, we’ll get 20 miles in tomorrow and also head out for new shoes sometime in the afternoon. Another thing I did was to finally call for the hotel reservation in Wildwood for the race (by the way, I do highly suggest the Montego Bay resort if you’re running this race or staying in North Wildwood). This really seemed to have picked up my spirits.. there is nothing like spending 2 nights at the beach at the end of March, its a whole different world than during the summer. I think another motivator is that there are no snowy days in the forecast the next 10 days.. that doesn’t mean it won’t change .. but its hopeful that the weather might be turning the right way finally.

And the biggest motivator is a look back at a post from last January stating that there are NO EXCUSES to not work out! By reading through that post and using that phrase when I felt myself straying, it got me out of the rut and into running again when I really felt that my marathon days were over.. It reminds me that there are NO excuses to not train and get my workouts in .. if I stick to that like I did last year, things can only get better.

Ok, i’ll get off my soap box now, but its funny how it all kind of hit me today… so anyway, my cold is slowly getting better, I have yet to land in a doctors office. Its moved from my head to my chest now, but not killing me like it was, i’m living with it. I still managed to get 6 miles in today, yesterday and Tuesday along with a normal 3 miler on Monday .. so although i’m down 10 miles due to stepping back, i’m not out of it yet. The weekend should make up for it…

Hopefully we can keep up this motivation since we’re just 6 weeks out .. I can’t even believe its only 6 weeks until the race, it’ll be here before I know it.