Before the training

December 18, 2011  I have decided my goal for 2012 will be to complete a marathon. The keyword is complete. I know it will not be easy and know that I will do whatever it takes to complete this marathon. I will run, jog, walk and/or crawl if needed but I will cross that finish line. That just sounded so convincing! I really don't know for a fact that I will complete this marathon. I don't even know for a fact that I will START this marathon. Looking back on the goals set in the past tells me that this goal will end up in the box of could've should've would've but (insert any and all excuses). How do I make sure this goal does not end up a figment of my imagination? You know, I'm really not sure. I hope that putting this out there for everyone to read is a step towards the right direction. The first thing is setting the time frame and the date of completion of this goal. This is something I am still trying to decide. Completing this goal is going to be huge...after all, this would be my first marathon. I want to make sure I give myself enough time to train and fully and slowly prepare my body for this challenge. Completing a marathon is not something I have really given serious thought too. Now, my thoughts are if I am to complete a marathon, why not go big? Why not try to run the Boston Marathon? Why not try to run a marathon in New York? I have checked on line for different marathons and am leaning towards the end of 2012. I have to make one thing clear (for and to myself), it is not a requirement to complete this marathon in Boston or New York. That is not allowed to be an excuse. I really don't want any excuses.  How to stay motivated to complete this? I want to make sure this is something that I am really going to go through with and not slack off in the middle of January! Right now I'm hyped and excited and can't wait to get started. I've had that feeling many times before only to find out that when I was supposed to start as I told myself I would, I kept putting it off to the next day. The "next day" never came. How do I make sure I do not fall into that trap again? They say (and I have heard myself say it often as well) "If you really want it, you will do it." Man that is so much easier to say than to follow! My hope is that by writing every day or every other day will help to keep me motivated. I hope that seeing my progress (or lack of) will keep me in line. My friends and family will be my biggest supporters and motivators.

The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan