A New Ornament for the Tree

Last night Lucas and I had dinner with our friends Brandon and Linda. Linda is a serious runner.... or as I like to call her - a 'real' runner. (I'm just a 'fake' runner.... pretending to be a runner because my body is seriously just not cut out for this stuff.) Anyway, she ran cross country at our college and just recently ran in the Chicago Marathon. Her time is something like 3 hours and 40 minutes.... That is crazy!!!! Anyway, although we have just recently met she has already become an invaluable aid in this whole marathon process, giving me advice and training tips and encouragement. After we had our dinner last night she game me a present. Check it out!


I LOVE it!!! I am so excited to hang this on our tree! Linda says I have to wait til I finish to hang it up on the tree so now I have extra motivation to complete this thing! Isn't she so sweet? She is so generous and encouraging. I'm very lucky she is here to help me!!

Along with this great ornament, she wrote a letter with some more advice, motivation, and inspirational quotes.

Here is a 'real' runner's advice to a 'fake' runner like me:

I know it can be scary to think of a big run, like this marathon we are running. Any race I do, I get nervous, even if I'm just running for fun. But just remember when you are finished what you will have accomplished. Your body might not like you for a while, but you will have pushed yourself to finish something that some people only wish they could do. Is is all about having fun!

One saying that always goes through my head when I'm running is PTGF - Pain is temporary and Glory is Forever!

Isn't she great? Here are a few inspirational quotes that will hopefully keep me going!

"Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts."
Steve Prefontaine

"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon."
Emil Zatopek

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy.... It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."
Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon Winner

"Man imposes his own limitations, don't set any."
Anthony Bailey

"Few of us know what we are capable of doing... we have never pushed ourselves to find out."
Alfred A. Montapert

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?"
Peter Maher

"Big occasions and races which have been eagerly anticipated almost to the point of dread, are where great deeds can be accomplished."
Jack Lovelock

"It's unnatural for people to run around the city streets unless they are thieves or victims. It makes people nervous to see someone running. I know that when I see someone running on my street, my instincts tell me to let the dog go after him."
Mike Royko

...... I'm not sure that last one is motivational but it is pretty darn funny. Haha!

2 Days Away - I'm sorry this marathon seems to be all I can think about right now so that is probably all you are going to hear about for the next few days!