Feel that chill in the air friends? That can mean only one thing. The Weather Channel Half Marathon (and let's not forget about Thanksgiving Day) is about a week away!
What a wild and crazy ride this has been. It's only been about 6 months since I went out for my first run (and I really do mean ... my FIRST run.) I found about this challenge back in March, so I dragged my feet long enough by waiting until May. I guess I fell back into my college procrastination ways and waited until I realized this whole half marathon thing was REALLY happening and that I didn't want to be completely embarrassed on national television.
So here we go, I've got my running shorts (and in case you haven't noticed, I'm kind of a jeans guy even when its 120 plus degrees in Death Valley, call me crazy so the short thing in of itself took some getting used to). I've got my running shoes and its go time! So I hit this trail by The Weather Channel offices. It's a very scenic and lovely -- and most importantly flat, so I stretch like I've seen on those am morning workout shows and then I'm off. Lucky for me there are markers on the side of the trail clicking off mileage ... you know ... .25, .50, .75, 1 mile so I can track my out the gate progress. Now I realize I'm not man/womankind's gift to physical prowess but I figured even I could bang out a mile without too much difficulty, I mean high school gym class wasn't THAT long ago was it? Well let me tell you something, apparently high school gym class WAS that long ago as I was sputtering along after about a half mile wondering seriously for the first time what on earth I had gotten myself into. I figured it was only a matter of time before police dogs found me on the side of the trail and I ended up on an episode of some forensic style police show. Long story short ... Thanksgiving day was CLEARLY not far enough away!
(Fast forward 6 months)
That was then, this is now and while I'm not ready to call myself a professional runner just yet it's truly amazing what a little determination and lack of wanting to be embarrassed will get you when you put your mind to it. I can't tell you how thankful I am that The Weather Channel decided to sponsor this year's half marathon down Atlanta's most famous street (Peachtree). Because it gave me the kick in the pants I've needed for years and I hope this challenge may have even helped you out a little bit in that department as well!
Over the past 6 months I've run on the scenic beaches of Nantucket, through the oxygen light Rocky Mountains and even over the burning sand of Death Valley (where the temperature topped out at just over 120 degrees thank you very much). Each of these locations and climates provided their own unique challenges and I've met runners from all over the country who helped me to get ready to achieve my goal of finishing my first half marathon. You can check out some of the video online, but I found it incredibly interesting to hear and see first hand how these runners deal with the different situations Mother Nature throws at them throughout the year.
So, it's been an adventure -- I hope some of you have been enjoying the programming surrounding the marathon. It's not over yet, I still have to actually finish the 13.1 miles followed by a guilt free Thanksgiving feast unlike any the world has ever seen! Check back here in about two weeks and I'll let you know how everything turned out, but come heck or high water I'll be crawling over that finish line and I wish the best of luck to any of you who will be joining me for the finish of this wild ride!
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