10/19/2009

I don't know what made me think of the Nike Women's Marathon this morning, but I decided to look it up. Carissa choose this marathon to be her first one in her life back in 2007. I thought she was crazy and was surprised she was going to run the full 26.2 miles! This was her first marathon, so I thought she'd start with the half marathon, which is only 13.1 miles. (Not sure if I could even do the half!)I was so proud of her when I saw her cross that finish line and achieve a life goal for herself!


(Carissa is in this picture about to cross the finish line, she's behind the girls wearing white shirts!)

I followed in her footsteps about a year later, and even though it wasn't even close to being a full or half marathon, I ran in the 2008 Bay To Breakers. (Well, I ran the first mile and the last 2 miles...I walked the rest!)

Well anyways...The point of this posting is that the Nike Women's Marathon is in October every year. I wanted to do it last year, but I missed the registration deadline. And it's very hard to do. You have to sign up to be chosen by RANDOM DRAWING to become a participant. They only select 20,000 runners so to be chosen is only the beginning of the excitement that happens on race weekend! Over the past 5 years of this race, runners in partnership with Team In Training have raised over $80 million dollars, which makes it the LARGEST beneficiary race in the WORLD!

So, as of today I have only 4 days till March 4Th which is the day of registration to be chosen. I'm going to do it! I will go for the full marathon as well, so that I can feel that achievement that Carissa did...even though I'm sure she wasn't able to walk for a couple days!

And when I cross that finish line, I will be the proud owner of a Tiffany & Co. necklace that I will cherish forever and know that no one can tell me again that I would never be able to run a marathon! Cause I will have proof that I can and I DID!