"Man imposes his own limitations, don't set any"

In less than a week, the 2009 Salt Lake City Marathon will be underway. If you've never run it, you should participate by cheering the runners on and letting yourself be INSPIRED as you watch thousands cross the finish line 26.2 miles later. You can do this at any marathon race, of course, but the Salt Lake City Marathon (starting at the University of Utah, ending at The Gateway Mall) draws an ElEvAtiNg crowd like no other.

I'm only speaking from partial experience. I've never run a marathon, though I hope to sooner than later. Last year I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon -- such a high! I've never felt so sore and so accomplished in a matter of two hours. I absolutely loved the entire experience and wanted to do it again the second I crossed the 13.1 mile-marker finish line.

I don't deserve the title "runner," but I dream of being worthy of such a label. I won't even allow the words "recreational runner" to fall in the same sentence as my name, because I believe I am capable of so much more than that. Reaching goals that are set with every mile reached in training, is part of the exhilaration that comes on race day. Putting in the time and balancing impatience with excitement makes every struggle along the way entirely worth the enduring process.

Last fall I set my sights on the 2009 Maui Marathon (a chance to return "home" to the place of my dreams). Discouragement set in early, with the start of a new semester in my undergrad endeavors, and I quit running altogether to pursue accomplishments with more pressing deadlines - August graduation and a real job afterwards.

For now, as I watch others around me grow from pushing themselves toward reaching this common goal, patience comforts me, knowing I will have my chance soon. Feeling held back, this desire to exceed the limitations I've set for myself will feed the flames at my tail when the chains of restraint are let loose. --Okay, it might not be quite as elaborate as I've described it, but I'm simply saying, I can't wait to start training, I can't wait to run MY 26.2 miles and truly remove any/all limitations I have imposed upon myself. I have no doubts I CAN and WILL do it.

Pre said it best, "Life's battles don't always go to the strongest or fastest man, but sooner or later the man who wins is the fellow who thinks he can."