Carb Killer: Revolution

According to my race ticker I’m 2 months and 4 days away from the Marine Corps Marathon. Two years ago the idea of doing a 1 miler was crazy to me and here I’m about to go 26.2. I still haven’t fully wrapped my mind around that one but I’m thinking the plane ride to DC will help.

In other news remember when HZ did the Little Rock 5K last year? It took me over a year and six 5K races before I beat her time from that race. I’m not saying that to brag I’m telling you that because for all my half marathons (I just finished #9 and #10 will be Labor Day weekend) I’m still pretty slow.

I think it’s important to point that out.

I know a lot of you visit this page from time to time out of curiosity and maybe longing.

13.1 miles seems a LONG LONG way for the big girls. I know because the first race I ever wanted to do was this one:

That’s 13.1 miles though the Disneyland, and Disney’s California Adventure Theme Parks, through the city of Anaheim around the field at Angel’s Stadium and back to the Disneyland Resort area for the finish.
The starting line was less then a half marathon distance from the house where I grew up. It might as well have been on Mars.

So I missed out on

Note the word Inaugural. Every race only has one of those and I missed this one in 2006.

Then I missed it again in 2007 and 2008.

By 2009 HZ and I had a deal and I’d already gotten one race under my belt. So I signed up because I’m a Disney geek and I’ve ALWAYS wanted this medal.

But the closest I got to that action in 2009 was:

And boy was that really depressing.

$120 down the drain for the race (the mouse is expensive)

$8 for parking (the mouse is expensive)

And STILL NO MEDAL! It remains the only race  I never showed up for because:

1) I knew I couldn’t finish

2) My ankle and knee were alternately wonky from something stupid I’d done while training

The blogs I wrote are HERE and HERE. While I did my best to sound like a good sport about it but I was pretty angry with myself.

That being said allow me to introduce:

The 2010 Disneyland Half Marathon Medal. Why is it shaped like a 5? Because it took me five YEARS before I could register for this race knowing I can walk/jog this thing and still finish within the time limit. Granted, the first 3.5 years didn’t count because I wasn’t active but you get my point. So I’m racing for the 5th Anniversary finisher’s medal. And when they hang this thing around my neck I’m going to grin, and cheer, and try not to kick myself for missing out on the first 4 years of medals. (Oh come on you all know I’m obsessive compulsive by now).

But you know what? I will have this one. I’ll have #5 and be living proof that it’s never too late to get your ass up and active. It is never too late to talk to your doctor about starting a walking program. It’s never too late to set  a goal for yourself, even if it’s just a small one.

Disneyland half Labor Day weekend

Marine Corps Marathon on Halloween. Ooh rah!

Tags: Disneyland half marathon