See Me! Hear Me!

I’m running a marathon in May!

There! I said it! Listen! Listen! Listen!

*******

People ask, “So, what’s new with you?” I pause. “Oh, not much. You know, same old, same old,” I say.

“NOT TRUE!” says my mind to myself.

Actually, I’m training for a marathon, a full one, 26.2 miles. I’m running … a lot … and I haven’t even fully amped up my miles yet. 

But I don’t talk about it much. I don’t want to have to explain. Most people don’t understand my reasons. “Because I want to,” doesn’t seem to cut it. “Because I can,” stumps them even further.

But it really is that simple. I’m doing it JUST BECAUSE I want to, and it IS simply because I can. Does there have to be more behind these reasons?

A friend said that people give runners too much credit. I now agree. I’m not doing anything that spectacular. The only difference between me and a non-runner is that I don’t stop running when it gets hard. I’m not a great runner. I’m not fast but I am steady, and I am better at the long haul. All I do is put one foot in front of the other. That’s it. That’s the secret. It’s not even a great secret. People run marathons all the time. I’ll just be another one.

On the other hand, I AM doing something pretty spectacular. It’s TWENTY SIX POINT TWO MILES, and that point two counts. I’m going to run them all at once. I’m training a lot for one day, and it’s even fun. I am proud of what I'm working for, even if it is just a race. If it’s hard ... correction ... WHEN it’s hard … even really, really, really hard, it’s only going to be five hours of my life, but damn it, be impressed! I AM!

*******

I don’t want to explain, but I do want people to listen. I want the attention, and I don’t. I want someone to get excited with me, but not too much as to overwhelm me. I want people to be impressed, but I don’t need them to be so.

For me, such nuances matter.

If this makes sense to you, we should talk. I’m looking for you.