I have done some races and have done well in some of them, but my lack of training enthusiasm keeps me a mid-pack (sometimes back-of-the-pack) finisher.
This time it's different. Over the next several months I will be training to run a marathon. I'm no runner, in fact, I've never run more than 8k in one sitting! But, for several years now I've had this idea that I have put off many times, mainly due to my laziness and lack of enthusiasm for training, and running a marathon requires training...there is no way around it.
The idea goes like this.
Several years ago, I had an aneurysm in my spine that left me mostly paralyzed. Since then I have mostly recovered and have taken up cycling, hiking and occasionally, running. Many of my doctors tell me that they never expected me to walk again without the assistance of a walker and I've always thought that there are bigger reasons for my recovery besides the human body's natural ability to heal itself. Since this life-changing event six years ago, there have been many people in my life that have not had my same fortune.
My wife, Amanda, since my spinal problems, has had two uncles pass away as a result of cancer and one aunt living with the disease. One of my college friends passed away from cancer several years ago and another friend whose wife passed from cancer only six months after they were married. The father of one of my co-workers is currently undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer diagnosis. I have an uncle who is living with the disease, and most recently (this past Monday), a cousin who passed away from cancer, she was only 30 years old.
That's quite a list and unfortunately, I have probably left someone out, and as I grow older, that list will grow.
The plan.
As I said, I'm not a runner, I'm a cyclist...a lazy cyclist, but nonetheless. So, I have created a PayPal account and a training plan for running a marathon. My PayPal account is for sponsorship donations. When I finish my marathon, I will donate all of the money to a cancer research fund or some other worthwhile cancer initiative. I haven't decided which organization I am donating to just yet, but over the next several weeks, I will be researching my best options and if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section.
This blog will be my public journal for my marathon training so all of the donors and curious folks can track my progress with me. Running 26.2 miles is no easy task, but nothing in life worth doing is.
Before I end this entry, I want to thank Nate Stalnaker and Chris Dillow for being my coaches and running partners for my training. I am also going to pre-thank my wife Amanda for putting up with my absences while I am running.
If you would like to donate, please click the donate button below. I am asking for donations in the increments of $13.10 and $26.20 or multiples of (13.1 being a half marathon distance and 26.2 full distance).
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