Posted by I finished a half marathon this fall (my second), which gave me satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. However, after seeing Al Roker and Meredith Vieira of the Today’s show finished the recent New York City marathon, I am seriously considering trying the full marathon next time. Even Oprah finished the marathon few years back. If they can do it, surely I can do it too.
People asked me what is the toughest part of my run, and here is my answer……….
It may be difficult when you stand there at the starting line with all the thousands of runners, and all the jitters and excitement in the air, and you feel anxious before you start your formidable run……….
It surely may be tough when you are grueling on your 11th mile but you know you still have more miles to go while other runners pass by you and the spectators are witnessing your struggle……….
It may be really hard that you can finally see the finish line but your legs are so heavy that you can barely lift them and your body is numb from the pain, yet the cheers of the crowd makes you go on……….
Yes, these may be tough moments but they are nothing.
It is more difficult when it’s 5:30 in the morning, and its dark and cold outside, and your bed is warm and comfortable, and the race day is still 3 months away, and you fight yourself to get up and do your morning run……….
It is far more tough when you are huffing and puffing on your 7th mile while you are running alone in a deserted and lonely road, and you are battling if you will continue or just stop, during one of your training runs……….
It is most difficult when after a long trial run, you feel so exhausted, your body aches all over, and you cannot walk straight from cramps, and you start to question why do you even want to do this, and your resolve starts to fade……….
If you endure all of these, then when you step on the starting line on the day of the race, you have already finished the toughest part of your run.
Now, for the tougher question: Why do I want to run a marathon? Because I can!
Pinoy Transplant in Iowa 
That’s what I admire most about you: your perseverance. I understand exactly what you mean when you say that getting up early and training on your own is the toughest part of this game. That’s why most of us don’t run a marathon like you do. Most of us dont have your perseverance: we want the “gain” but we dont want the pain. So I congratulate you and cheer you: run the full marathon because i am sure you can! Way to go!
Thanks Georgia for your kind comment. I’m just psyching myself right now. Ask me again next summer once I begin my training if I still up for it. By the way Amelyn did finish the 5K and she said she did better this year than last.