Focus on the journey, not the destination.
Joy is found not in finishing an activity but doing it.
Greg Anderson
So after some deep consideration, I opted out of my marathon on Sunday. I was a totally schizo about making the decision. There is a quote somewhere that indecision in time becomes the decision. I think I knew deep down I didn't want to run the marathon, but I had peer pressured myself into thinking if I didn't I would be the biggest loser of all time. This pressure was horrible and totally stressed me out. I didn't realize how stressed I was about this event until I decided not to do it. Well actually not to bail on the event completely, but to complete the half distance only. On Saturday morning I called the 800# on the website and with only 1 ring I got through to a live person. Kudos Nike! She said it was fine to bail early. She said I would get my Tiffany's necklace, a marathon shirt since the orders were placed back in April I couldn't have a half finishers shirt, and a finish time on the website. The only downside was not being listed as an official finisher since I did not complete the distance I registered for. D.N.F. This was my 2nd DNF, my first was at a TRI back in 2009 where my bike crank fell off and I couldn't do the ride. The Tiffany's swag for a DNF at the NWM was way better than the oreos & fruit at the TRI.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not that easy on myself that I would let myself off the hook for making a decision to do the half only. Nope, I thought at miles 3, 6, 9 and even 12 that I could totally rock 26.2. Good thing my body reminded me it wasn't the best idea. I had a little right knee bursitis that threatened to to flare up on the uphills between miles 6-8. On the downhills of 10 and 12 my left IT decided to protest, but not enough to sideline me.
On Saturday before I headed to the city my 4-yr old son gave me a penny for good luck and since I wasn't planning to win any races I snapped a few photos of me and my lucky penny. Ignore the slow time in the background. My unofficial half time was 2:44 and change. Lots of walking. Lots.
The Big Picture: If I was that relieved deciding I was going to do half vs. full, can you imagine how happy I could have been for the weeks leading up to the race when I knew I was not only under trained, but not on track to be even remotely ready. Making decisions equals a happier me.
Thankful Three
- For my brother-in-law and future S-I-L's couch the night before the race
- For my hubby who put up with my procrastination and drove to the race to pick me up
- For my mom who babysat last minute
2 comments:
You definitely, DEFINITELY made the right choice. As we say in our circle of runners: "Friends don't let friends run the full Nike Marathon." I hope you at least had an enjoyable time out there on the half, all crammed up with 29837109283 others. :) Great shots with the penny, too, by the way; so cute!
xoxo
A
Great decision!
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