Am I F!@ck#$g Crazy?

This is the question I asked myself the moment I clicked the “Confirm” button to register for a half-marathon.  I am either completely crazy or this will be the best thing ever.  Right now, I’m voting for the first one.

I brought the race up to my friend because there are firemen involved.  Not in a “Help, I need to be rescued” kind of way.  They will be at the finish line, placing a necklace around our necks as reward for finishing the race.  I have always been a sucker for a man in uniform (which explains partially why I was a flight attendant and have signed up for multiple citizen police academies).  It sounded like a great idea…who wouldn’t want to have some hot fireman put a necklace on them?  Plus, if you collapse at the finish line, they will be there to catch and resuscitate you.  What could be better (besides not doing the race at all)?

I mentioned it to this particular friend thinking we could train together (she’s run a marathon before) and enjoy the race day scenery, giggling and blushing like little high school girls.  She said she’d think about it and I never heard back.  After awhile, I decided it was probably too much to handle and maybe I will wait until next year.

Then I get the email…she registered.  Nooooo!!!!  Now I can’t back out since it was my stupid idea in the first place.  Crap!  So, I gingerly signed up and then thought, “Am I f!@ck#$g crazy?  There is no way I can run 13 miles.  I can barely drive 13 miles without getting bored and tired so how on earth am I going to run/walk that distance?”

After recovering from the shock, I have decided to embrace fate and go for it.  I don’t have to run at marathon speed, I just have to finish before the street sweeper and police cars close the course.  The race is forcing me to setup a training plan and focus on a goal, which is something I haven’t been very good at in previous attempts to get fit.

I know crossing the finish line will feel great and be a huge accomplishment.  It will give me the motivation to keep on truckin’ and continue on my fitness journey.  Besides, did I mention there will be firemen at the finish line?