No marathon, one marathon, two.

Three years ago I ran my first half marathon on my 29^th birthday. I said I’d never run a full marathon.

Over the last two years, I have run about 5 or 6 more half marathons. I said I’d never run a full marathon.

I even bought a shirt at a race expo that read: “13.1 because I am only half crazy.” Again, I affirmed that I am not crazy enough to run a full marathon.

Last year, I made a bucket list. I decided 2012 would be the year I’d run a marathon.

I picked a race in mid November to give myself plenty of time to procrastinate build base mileage.

I haven’t wrapped my head around the fact that I am actually going to do this.

In July, I met a Chicago high school track coach while out on a training run.

 He has worked with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for over a decade. He said that he could get me a guaranteed entry.

Como?

I smiled, nodded and gave him my work email address. Surely he won’t call. The race sold out in 5 days and clearly I am not ready for such high caliber event.

He called. He faxed an entry form and a letter.

I stared at my guaranteed entry form for two hours at work. Am I really about to do this?

I posted it on Facebook and Instagram. Surely, one of the runners will talk some sense into me.

I have not run enough miles.  The Chicago Marathon is a full month earlier than the race I am training for. That weekend is supposed to be my 20-miler.

I justified it by telling myself that I could use it as a training run for the real marathon I’ll be running in November.

I filled out the form as fast as I could before I came to my senses changed my mind.

Three years ago, I said I’d never run a marathon.

Last year, I said I’d run it only once.

This year... I’m running two.

-Run.