Just Do It.



My marathon running buddy and I
in the last leg of the Tri-U-Mah.



Monday morning my alarm went off at 5 a.m. Not because I had to get to work early or take a friend to the airport, but because I voluntarily signed myself up for Twin Cities Marathon.  In efforts to have a social life this time around I have been trying to embrace the idea of early morning runs.  About half way through my hour-long run, I was struggling with the motivation to continue these early morning jaunts. And then I finally understood what Nike was trying say all these years.

Just do it.

How fricking brilliant is that?  JUST DO IT.  Quit your whining/procrastinating and get out there!

Most people think I am a runner- but I most definitely am not.  I used to work out once every other week and then one day I had the “brilliant” idea to go on a 16 mile run with my sister.  It ran 12 miles with her before I decided to pull over- we ran by my grandma’s house and I couldn’t resist joining her on the shaded patio with a beer.  Sitting there with grandma I realized I COULD be a runner- I just had to lace up my shoes and go.

That being said, I don’t want to wake up at 5 a.m. And sometimes, most times, I don’t even want to run. But I know that I need it.  My body has started to crave it they same way I crave buffalo chicken sandwhiches with extra blue cheese (which I can now eat guilt-free). I like the silence it offers my mind, the way it makes my legs feel a little tighter and the accomplishment I feel when I'm done.

My training for Twin Cities Marathon is already in full swing, I have woken up at 5 a.m. twice this week and have had double workouts.  And it’s only Wednesday.  I have no one to prove myself to but myself and my own determination.

I am not saying that all of you need to come and join me in TC Marathon… registration is already full.  But I would be more than happy to have anyone run alongside me and share the sport together.  Because it has the power to make you feel great in the end- but it kinda sucks in the beginning and middle and its way more fun with a buddy.

I watched the marathon runners at Grandma’s last week and was cheesily overcome with emotion and inspired.  It was amazing watching all sorts of people running just for themselves.  I saw on the twitter a quote from an Olympic runner while I was up there, maybe you will find it as motivating as I did.

“Don’t wait for your dreams to come true. Run them down.”

Come on. Just do it.