Marathon, revisited

To give you some perspective: This was a brief philosophical piece about my thoughts on a second marathon, which I eventually did run in October 2002. That one was the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton PA. Not exactly what I was planning on, but great still. I think, though, that you might find some truth in this marathon stuff, again.

Here we go......

Please do not misunderstand, crossing the finish line was fantastic. But what made that part fantastic was all the time and energy and effort that allowed me to cross that finish line. It is these collective experiences that make the culmination of anything - be it a marathon or a college degree - that much sweeter. If we simply walked across a stage and received a degree without putting in the required years the degree itself would be valueless. This is what I use to frame most of my goals and, while it may not be right for everyone, I've come to appreciate this perspective.

And it is with this spirit that I contemplate my second marathon. So why so much thought? Because it is a process; a long one - at least for me. If I could simply strut across the finish line without a care then I'd do them all the time. Ahh, but it's that process that makes the entire experience so attractive.

This one is in New Jersey - my home state. In fact, it's in one of the best parts of NJ: the beach. Or if you're from NJ you would call it the shore, not the beach. Starts in Sandy Hook and goes south for 26.2 miles right along the ocean. I've driven the route many times and it's quite scenic and flat, both of which are good qualities for a four hour run.

Regardless of whether I do this run or another, I feel fairly confident that this is a process I want to experience again. Stay tuned for more details...