Merry Christmas all who are celebrating today! And a Happy Hannukah to all celebrating this week! Unfortuantely, this is a countdown to New Year’s and since Christmas is exactly one week from New Year’s Day, today we will be focusing on June. It’s also quite unfortuante because I had a Christmas in July party this year. *sigh* these days just don’t make it easy for me. Oh well, moving on!
I told my parents over dinner at Applebee’s that I was planning on running a marathon in the next year or so. I still haven’t committed to this yet, but I have been actively trying to nail down a location. It was actually kind of chance, I told them I was running further and faster and I don’t remember who said it, but one asked me, “what are you planning to run a marathon or something?” Somewhat sarcastically, and I said, “actually, yes.” Running that far takes as much mental strength as it does physical strength, and to be perfectly honest before this year I did not think I had it. Now, I cannot imagine losing it.
I believe it was also in June that I posted An Open Letter to my Running Shoes. That was the first post that I started learning I have friends who “secretly follow and love” my blog. Those were their exact words, and more than one person said it. I’m not making this up. If you don’t believe me, figure out who they are and ask them. At any rate, June was all about going further for me. I had done a lot of great things in the beginning of the year, but I wasn’t ready to quit. I wasn’t ready to back down. I was just getting started.
The funny thing is, I think this happens every June for me. School is ending, summer is starting, things are chaging and I’m just like LOOK AT ME, I’M FREE! (I feel a lot like Allie in this scene from The Notebook, in fact).
I just want to fly, and I feel like I finally have the time to fly and let myself fly. So, you know, as much as I have continuously debated it, the likelihood that I will run the Kansas City Marathon next fall is pretty high. The momentum that started in June with me just wanting to fly has only increased this year, which I wish I could say always happens, but if that were the case I would be in a much different place in my life right now.
Just like the waves in the ocean move up and down, so does the momentum and the ability to spread your wings and fly. Sometimes you have to try a little bit harder to go the same distance. What I have learned is that it is always worth it if you are doing something you love.
She’s Got a Whole PhD 