The only thing to fear is...muscle fatigue

If you would have come to me a year ago and told me that I would be training to run a marathon I wouldn't have laughed initially. I might have smirked and said, "Yeah sure just after I win the Nobel Peace Prize for the new book I'm writing." Well I should consider writing that nonexistent book cause I'm about to run my first marathon. Though I have run off and on (more off) for the past two years I didn't become serious about running and getting healthy until November of last year. Going against what experts say, I trained for my first half marathon (and first race EVER) in two months rather than the recommended four months. My goal was to finish in 2 hours and 15 minutes; I completed the race in 2 hours and 17 minutes. Two minutes shy of my goal but I didn't care. Now I had gotten the bug and was ready for the next race.

The only two races that I was really excited to run in were the Miami half marathon and the Space Coast half marathon. Since I did the Miami race the next one to tackle was Space Coast and it was perfect since the races were nine months apart, giving me plenty of time to train. The Space cost race is unlike any other race I read about. Because the race is held in the backyard of the Kennedy Space center, the entire race has a space theme. The medals are in the shape of various space shuttles (this year is honoring the Challenger), there are space props that go along the course and the volunteers wear NASA inspired uniforms. I mean how cool does this race sound? For someone who loves science and has now found a love for running, this could not have been a better combination.

Little did I know that there were plenty of other people out there waiting for the Space Coast race as well because on the first day of registration the half marathon was SOLD OUT! I was so heartbroken you would've thought someone had run over my dog. Would I actually have to wait until November of 2015 in order to run this race?! Then my wife came up with the brilliant idea, "Just run the whole marathon." WHAT!? We're talking 26.2 miles! I did want to run a marathon eventually but that would only be after I ran a handful of half marathons. I crafted this great plan to train for a full marathon so that the half would feel like a breeze but I never intended actually do one.

I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by so I went ahead and registered for the FULL marathon. What's so funny is that the minute I registered this feeling of yeah I can do this came over me. Two weeks after my first race I got into pre-training mode. I know the race is eight months away but I've already got the eye of the tiger. Think Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, pumping his fists in the air at the top. Yeah I'm already at that point. So come with me on this fun journey and we can get pumped and run this race together. Of course I'll be doing all the training but you can do all the moral support. Whaddaya say!?