commitment

commitment means to pledge to something or someone. this weekend i pledged to run the 500 festival mini marathon on may 2nd, 2009. me and some 34,999 participants will brave the 13.1 mile road course at 7:30 am. this year's theme - fuel the dream. i can't say that i've ever really dreamed about running or fueling for that matter. god did not design me to run. i can do many other things, however running is not one of them. sure, if i was being chased by a bear (which happened once) but why bother otherwise. i have ran the mini marathon 3 times, however it's been a few years since i last participated. my first year went rather well... i think i averaged a 15 minute mile and threw up on myself twice. no worries. mostly gatorade and angel hair pasta from carb-loading the night before. year two... i finished the race. made it to the hospitality tent for a free apple and banana. threw up on myself and passed out. i woke up thirty minutes later on the other side of the campus after being carried via stretcher by a few standby medics. i was hydrated by needles and tubes and found my feet shortly thereafter. i set out a year. figured i had earned it. the third time i ran the mini, and for the first time kept my shirt clean. except for the bloody nipples. i layed in the grass under a tree... and tried to understand what went on in my head at the time of registration. why would i put myself through this? had i forgotten the pain and discomfort i felt the previous years? must have. must have remembered the sense of accomplishment which at the time of finishing far outweighed any foot pain, or cramped side. it's a neat thing to be a part of minus the vaseline. may 2nd i will lace up my kicks and run like the wind... i will stay focused, avoid spandex and dream of fuel.