Well actually it's not, it's a 1/2 marathon. Everytime I think about it I have to remind myself to breathe. My stomach flips and I start getting itchy. (Could this be poison ivy?)

Back in June of 2009 I graduated from CT5K with a great group of ladies. We were all so proud of ourselves and all that we had accomplished together. Our graduation was to culminate with an official 5K. The one that was chosen was an all womens race in the next town over, not to intimidating right?

Well, I was intimidated. I was nervous, I was downright scared. So much so that I rested on all the reasons I couldn't join the group that night and I chose not to run it. I still regret it to this day. That group was the happiest group I can ever remember seeing. I still have the pictures to prove it. Funny I wasn't too busy that night that I wasn't able to get to the race and watch them all. What was I afraid of? Did I think I wasn't going to be able to finish? Did I think I was going to be last? I'm pretty sure all those things crossed my mind.

Thankfully a few months later one of the girls joined me in another 5K in the same town, almost the same route. I celebrated that success, but still regreted missing the June race.

Today I line up for a 5K and tell myself "it's only a 5K", heck Sunday I lined up for a 4 mile race and thought "it's only 4 miles"

So now I sit here thinking about all the reasons why I shouldn't run this 1/2 marathon on Saturday. Will I be able to finish? Will I be dead last? Will it rain? Will my hip continue to bother me? Then I remind myself that I may never have the chance to run with this group again. After all the hard work and training we did to get to this point, I know that no matter what happens, Saturday morning will be one I'll never be able to recapture again. So I'll pack my camera and keep reminding myself to breathe and regardless of the outcome I'll show off my medal proudly, in fact I may even get one of those 13.1 stickers for my car!