April 17, 2000 -- 11:02 PM
EST
I have done a crazy thing.
Although it didn't hit me how crazy until this afternoon when the post came in
and I got the mail. There was this huge package and when I opened it up, it was
all the materials for the NF Marathons: pledge sheets, envelopes, fliers,
training manual, etc.
Oh, did I forget to mention that
I'm going to be participating in a marathon? Hoofing it for 26 miles?
I didn't? Ok.
I'm going to be in
a marathon!!!!!
It's still sinking in. So I'm
saying that in my head over and over, even though I've already mailed out the
first three pledge sheets to Becca, Donna, and LauraMich who responded to one
of my first-panic e-mails. (Thanks for the support guys!). Aren't cyberfriends
wonderful?
But I get ahead of myself.
Why NF?
I was wanting to be in a long bike
challenge but none are forthcoming so I decided to look at walking things. Of
course, I already knew about the Disney annual race because my boss ran it this
year -- he did the half marathon. But I didn't find out that it was also open
to walkers until I was poking for events at
www.active.com.
I e-mailed the contact person to
make SURE that the event was also for walkers. No way can I prep to run for 26
miles when I'm having such a hard time with 3! But it's open to walkers, so
after looking at the NF website, I
registered and I semi-forgot about it until today when all the stuff came
in.
As for why Disney -- well, I only
live less than 15 miles away. There's no travel excuse, is there?!
There might be a bike challenge I
can do in Nov. in Tampa, but the details are hazy. That one is for diabetes,
and a bit more meaningful for me since I know people with diabetes. I don't
think I know anyone with NF off hand. I'm going to have to sign up for a hero
to sponsor.
How Do I Feel?
I feel weird.
This strange mix of excited and
panicked. This is big to me. I never did anything like this. I better squish in
a 5k this summer to get a feel for what attending this kind of stuff is like so
I'm not a total virgin to the experience come January.
Me in a marathon. Marathon in me?
It's going to take me a few days
to digest the whole concept. Paul looked amused, and he said he'd walk some
with me while I'm training. I'm going to have to get a pedometer.
At the same time, apart from the
disbelief...
There is this tiny little part of
me that's feeling kind of goddesslike.
"Oh, a
marathon. Pooh! I can do that. I can do anything! Tan tada
DAAAAH!"
I have to look at the training
manual they sent me. I have to buy socks.
I Want Your Money
I want to raise $1000 in pledges.
So apart from training to walk that distance, I have to train to be a thug and
shake down my family and friends for dinero. Later this week, I'll be making my
hit list and start making the rounds.
I want your money too, gentle
reader! E-mail me your snail
mail address and I'll send you a pledge sheet. I'll take the money in your
vacuum cleaner, under the sofa cushions, anything at all! It doesn't have to be
a huge amount. Whatever you can afford.
I'm nervous about the fundraising
too. I haven't done fundraisers since high school
Well, I aim to try everything in
this life at least once. It's just time for a marathon.
Sooner or later it will be time
for hang gliding too.
~Astrophe
  
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