26.2 miles. Who would ever want to run that?
Almost every cross-country runner dreams of one day running a marathon (or should I say every cross-country runner who enjoys running), but few go through the required four or more months of training, dieting, and exhaustion. So why have I randomly decided I want to run a marathon after not running for almost two years? The answer is simple: I want to.
The last thing most college students ever think about is waking up at 5:30 AM to go run before morning classes. So why have I decided to? Why do I like running so much to convince myself to start a training program for a marathon? Waking up and spending my mornings running is rough. But running makes the rest of my day as easy as my run was hard. It is a form of confidence in myself. I know that if I can spend my Saturday mornings running 5 miles, I can easily do a five-page essay. If my body is capable of running 26.2 miles, I am capable of speaking up in class. If I can push myself to do good when I am in my running shoes, then I can push myself to do good anywhere.
It’s rewarding to know that you can run miles on end. Knowing what my body is capable of has helped me excel in my academic and personal life. Maybe I will reach my goal of racing in the Austin Marathon and maybe I won’t. But no matter what happens in the coming months of my training, I am happy with the progress I’ve made while in my running shoes.