Dear Mom

So a year ago I ran a marathon which is 26.2 miles. My training for this race was built on cockyness, I believed my high school cross country training was enough. Month's before this race I ran around, but I didn't prepare for what the race really was. 26.2 miles doesn't sound far on paper, so I didn't train. 3 weeks before the race I did some runs in the hot middle of the day, a week before the race I passed out doing 12 miles. I remember telling my mom"I don't think I can do this, if I can't run a long run of 13 miles how am I supposed to 26" and she told me I have to train for it, I can't just go out and run a marathon. My mom is a huge roll model, she's ran 14 marathons and 2 iron man's. She might not be the fastest athlete, but she's the reason why I run. I finished that marathon with heart. My mom inspired me a week before a marathon to kick it into overdrive, she told me I could finish and reminded me of my running ability. If it wasn't for I would've quite. So with very little training, but a whole lot of experience running I finished that race with a time of 3 hours and 29 minutes. My goal was 3 hours and 30 minutes. I achieved my goal pushing through pain I would and will gladly take again just to cross that finish line. It's an unbelievable feeling to achieve such a feet by yourself, no one can help you but your own will power.

Lance Armstrong ran a marathon with 3, 4 mile training for a marathon. I think he ran a max of 6 miles and if he ran more it wasn't by much. He ran his race in sub 3 hours, now I'm not putting a comparison on our abilities, but I pulled a Lance. That's how I think of it anyway. And it's funny this Sunday I am running the Livestrong Austin Marathon and guess who else is running? Lance Armstrong. Ohhhhh Yes! And this time I trained, I've put in so many miles and times that I just stopped keeping track. I just go running and to turn on the fire I think of who I'm running this race for. Thanks mom, this race is for you. Lance's ass is grass.