The 2013 Chicago Marathon is tomorrow. There are those who made the registration process, which was just the first little hurdle. You have made sacrifices that most will never understand. You have trained, trained and trained more than you have in your life. You have adjusted how you eat. Your social life and your family life have been set aside. You have built up to your long runs, conquering them with no fear. The excitement that has built up inside you would have most shaking in their shoes. But not you, you are a runner, you are a marathoner. You are ready to take on the world. You are going to kick some Chicago Marathon tail.
That being said, I have a few motivating words I would like to share with you. Unless you puke, faint or die, you will keep going. You will hit that famous wall, but when you hit that wall you will go over it. You will conquer that wall. You own this race, it does not own you. There will be a point during the marathon that you will want to stop, but you will not stop, all of your training has prepared you for this, so suck it up buttercup. Don’t stop, push harder and keep going. This is your race, you own it. You are a marathon runner!
I have had the pleasure of training with some of you during your journey, and some of the conversations that I have had and have seen on the social sites along with a few of the run groups has been an adventure for all of us. It has been just as big of an adventure and just as exciting for me as it is for you. Thank you all for sharing and allowing me to train with you. I wish you all well and you guys are going to rock the 2013 Chicago Marathon. God Speed