And, so it begins again ...

A new year of Marathon training has begun.

I look at this photo from the morning of February 15, 2009 and remember.

It was early.

It was dark.

It was raining.

It was cold.

And, I was injured. I had been having IT Band trouble and had a lateral meniscus tear on my left knee. I had stopped running 4 weeks prior to the marathon in an effort to heal. I had worn a lidocaine patch on my knee the night before the marathon, and was wearing a brace that morning.

I had every reason in the World not to get on that bus that morning. But, I did it anyway.

Remembering that bus ride gives me chills. I had no idea how far I would be able to go before my knee gave out completely. I knew that if I crossed the Start line, I had to cross the Finish line. Under my own power. I would NOT take a ride in.

It turns out that 15 miles was my limit of pain tolerance. After that, it was excruciating. But, I finished on my own. I watched others go past me as they took a ride in over the bridge. They jumped out of the golf cart, ran in the last few feet, finishing before me. They received a time and a medal. But, they know they didn't run a marathon.

I did.

And, this year I am starting training again as a Pace Group leader. And, this year I am taking the time to enjoy the journey.