I don’t train to beat another runner. We are out there together, competing with the marathon, and I train to run the marathon as fast as I can. – Juma Ikangaa, Marathon runner from Tanzania

As the title states, I get kicks in the bum (daily) via Runner’s World’s motivational emails and the one above is the most poignant for me.

There are people out there that believe that unless you’re finishing in the top percentile of your age group (or even top of everyone) in a marathon, finishing a marathon otherwise and then calling yourself a marathoner for that accomplishment doesn’t really count. Crazy huh? I don’t even want to get too much into it, else I’d rant on and on and I’d be needing my beauty rest soon.

But I digress… I don’t train for a marathon so that I can beat the Jane Doe in my age group (I mean, it’d be nice, though). I train to beat my previous time or that one particular finish that sucked the most. I mean, that’s what “Personal Best / Record” means, right?

Ugh, hang on. I lost my train of thought. I guess what I’m trying to say (i.e., reassure myself) is that I won’t be racing LA as fast as I can because I haven’t been training much! >_<  In fact, I’m using LA as my training run… (a very expensive, yet hopefully fun and scenic, training run.) I’ll be there to enjoy it with my big sis, who will be doing it as her 2nd marathon evar and my other big sis, who will most likely be waiting for us at the finish line, as usual, since we eat her dust every time we run anyway.

So there, LA is there to prepare me for the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.

Good night. LOL.

p.s.,
This is such a classic brain fart. I’m so proud of myself (but not really).