Day 1...but technically Day 2

I decided to run a marathon.  My first marathon.

And I'm going to be totally up front with you: I don't know if I'll be able to do it.

I've never run a marathon before, I haven't been running consistently recently, and I hate running in the heat.

Needless to say, deciding to train for my first marathon ever during the dead of summer may not up my chances of actually making it to race day.

But I've always wanted to run a marathon.

It's one of the very few things I can think of off the top of my head that I would, without a doubt, put on my "Bucket List", were I to make one.

I've always enjoyed running and I've always been motivated by distance rather than speed.  In the world of distance running for the average person, what could be more of an ultimate goal than the 26.2 miles of a marathon?

I have this feeling that this is my chance.  This is the time in my life when the stars and moons have aligned and it's time to make an attempt to achieve that goal.  Why?

1) I want to run a marathon in the fall so that the temperatures are not so brutally hot and it just so happens that the Grand Rapids Marathon takes place in October.  I live just outside of Grand Rapids so I wouldn't have to travel.
2) Although I hate running in hot weather, July and August are the least busy times for me at work and I think that gives me the best chances at sticking with a training program.
3) Right now I have a generous amount of "me" time where I can really focus on training and not feel like I'm neglecting other life responsibilities

So I feel like now is my time!  I'll be using this blog to write about my experiences in training as a first time marathoner- and I guarantee I'll be keeping it real.  Like I said, I don't know if I'll be able to make it.  But a big motivation for sharing my training experience through this blog is for accountability.  Even if I'm not really sure that anyone is reading this blog aside from my mother and my husband, just the fact that I'm throwing my declaration to run a marathon out there to the World Wide Web makes me feel like it's something that I have to try my best to follow through with now.  That being said, here's the deal:

If you know me in real life and you're not an immediate family member, please don't talk to be about this marathon business in person.  I know that sounds weird.  Here's why though: if for some reason I can't finish the training and do the marathon, (even if it's a totally legit reason like a health condition) I'm going to feel bad about it.  And the shy, cowardly part of me is already squirming at the thought of that conversation happening in person.  SO- for now at least- all marathon chit chat happens here, on this blog.  Maybe when I gain some confidence about this endeavor I'll change the rules, but that's it for now.  So if you are friends with me on Facebook and want to stay friends- no mentioning the marathon!

And with that my friends (if there are any of you out there!), I begin my Confessions of a First Time Marathoner.  Yesterday was the official first day of the 18-week training program I've chosen, but Mondays are always rest days, so today felt more the like the first official day.  And I'm happy to report that I ran successfully ran 3 miles.  2 days down, 123 to go.