Thanks for visiting my running blog. I started writing this blog for two reasons: 1) to help keep me motivated to run my first marathon and 2) to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. My hope is that visitors like you will encourage me as I train and support me and the children at St. Jude Hospital through your donation.
Why Run a Marathon? When I was 20 years old, I set five goals that I wanted to fulfill in my life. All but one of those goals were achieved before I was 30. You guessed it, I have yet to finish a marathon.
Running used to be a regular activity for me. But as I got older, I quit running and started gaining weight. Come on, I know a few of you can relate to that. Ten years ago I decided it was time that I finish that marathon and complete my final goal. I started running in the fall of 2001, increasing my mileage with a long run each weekend. On February 13, 2002, I finished a half marathon in Davis, California and had completed a 16 mile long run during training.
Only a couple weeks after finishing the half marathon I injured my eye in a workshop accident. The doctor said no physical exercise for two months. Two months later I was a couch potato with no desire to start running again. I was frustrated with the injury and the interruption to my training. Looking back on this, I realize I had given up as soon as there was a bump in the road.
Now I’m 48 years old and living with my wife in Chickamauga, Georgia. The marathon goal has continued to haunt me for the past couple years. This time it’s no excuses (and I’m staying away from the workshop). I started training on October 10th for the Nashville Country Music Marathon on April 28, 2012. My goal is to finish, but I’m sure as I get closer I will set an expected finishing time. I expect it will be somewhere between 4.5 and 5 hours.
To keep me motivated and to bring about some good from this effort, I have chosen to run in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The hospital, located in Memphis, provides treatment and research for a number of catastrophic childhood diseases. And families are never charged for any treatment no covered by insurance. I’ve set a goal of raising $3000 in donations. If 118 people give one dollar for each mile I run, then we will meet that goal. Please consider giving by visiting my St. Jude fundraising website.
