THE MARATHON IS HERE...7 Days and Counting!!!!
So I will try to restrain my desire to use my keyboard's exclamation point character too liberally, but.....Can you believe it?!!!! It's here!!!!!The Los Angeles Marathon is NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 4th, 2007!!!!
And I, Rebekah am doing it!!!! I'll admit the holidays got me off track, all the food (and drink), going to Mexico, moving, working (um, like 4 jobs), then there was the flu I caught last month. Not pretty at all that flu. But here I am, a week away. And I'm gonna do it!!!
First I want to thank you for your generous donations. I am so grateful for all your support. I, through your compassionate giving, have raised $1550 for people living with AIDS in Los Angeles. (Insert Fireworks Here, do a Happy Dance). I remember 6 months ago when we started. Yes, it was 6 months ago. For those of you who know me and my fear of commitment, aren't you impressed? Does this mean I am growing up? Ha! But 6 months ago, the idea of fundraising was just as daunting to me as the marathon itself. But we did it.
And so it is, the marathon is 7 days away. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I am terrified. Like horror movie, scared. But I am also excited. And I know that I will meet the challenge. If I have to crawl over that finish line, I will cross it.
What an undertaking though. Sometimes I wonder, what was I thinking?? I'm not a runner!! But I have met some wonderful people, had lots of laughs, a few tears, many aches and pains, and an all around good time training for this. And I have learned a lot about what we think we are capable of. And how so many of our perceived obstacles are just that, perceived. Mental. Sometimes nothing is stopping us but ourselves. Fear is a powerful thing. I'll paraphrase one of my favorite quotes ever: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important."
And I've decided that improving the lives of people with AIDS, and challenging my own personal and physical boundaries, is more important than being afraid. As far as I know, I've got this one life. So why not try new things? Why not brave new territory? Why not run the freaking marathon? And why not help other people in the process?
Okay, so this week we have to take it easy in terms of our training program. We have to eat lots and lots of carbs (yay!) and we have to also drink lots of water and gatorade. Gatorade is a funny thing. I used to think it taste like bland Koolade. Why bother having different flavors when they all suck? But somewhere in my delirium during and after the long runs, I became a convert. I swear it did replenish me a bit. So big up to Gatorade, you're alright by me.
This weekend in downtown L.A. is the big Marathon Expo. This is where I go to get my official running bib and timing chip. (!) This is how amazing technology is. This little chip goes on my running shoe and tracks my time. You'll even be able to track me online. I'll write again when I get the chip with the details for how to do that. You should be able to go the Los Angeles Marathon Website and either type in my bib number or my runner name (Rebekah Jordan) and find me on the course. Crazy right? A note of caution: don't be alarmed if you see the little computerized dot that is me veer off to the side or stop/stall on the course, I'm just working it out. I'll start moving
again ;-)
Well I'm exhausted, long week. We did 8 miles today. It was bittersweet because today was our last run of the training program. But it was also great because they made pancakes (and sausage!) for everyone at the end of it. Seriously, the Aids Marathon Training Program is amazing. They have taken such great care of us and told us all along that we can do it. But you can't hear that enough. And as the days get closer to Sunday, I'm sure my fear will get stronger some times, so I'd love it if some of you could just send me an email, or a message on Myspace. Just something encouraging. I will think of you all at some point during the marathon (probably when I see my life flash before me at around mile 24). And I will think of your messages, your donations, your encouragement, and it will motivate me to keep going.
So like I mentioned, I'll write again with the details on how to track me next Sunday. And then I'll write again after the marathon to let you all know how great it was. (positive thinking, positive thinking) Thank you all for sharing this with me. Truly.
Love,
Rebekah
