Running a Marathon (Checking off a Bucket List Item)

My friend asked if I was interested in training for a marathon.

“Nope, but I’ll do it anyway.”

Was I interested in running a marathon?

Nope.

Why did I respond with that?

Running a Marathon – Bucket List Item, check.

I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.

I wanted to conquer that mountain.

I wanted to strike this marathon off my bucket list.

Three of us were planning to run it.

So I looked up a marathon training guide online.

Three months of consistent, methodical training.

And I trained.

It was winter.

It was cold.

I trained.

And then…

My roommate snapped his ankle on a curb while training.

No marathon bucket list item for him.

He’s out.

I kept training.

6 mile runs, 3 mile runs, breaks, 7 mile runs.

My friend told me that a great goal was to get my time under 4 hours.

I kept training.

My longest training run was approximately 20 miles.

A month before the race, my other friend informed me that she hadn’t been training like she should.

She wasn’t running.

I wasn’t backing out now – this is a bucket list marathon.

I was running the full 26.2 miles baby!

Training For a Marathon

I ran it.
With this guy (who had apparently run something like 800+ marathons)
<<<<——————–

My time?

3 hours 58 minutes 27 seconds.

Approximately 2 minutes under my goal.

Boom!

Running a Marathon

Because I trained well and ate a nice carb-filled meal the night before, I wasn’t even sore after the race!

So if you have a desire, pick a marathon race.

Not 3 years later.

Pick one six months out.

Pick it now.

Sign up.

Pay.

Put your money out there.

Have a friend sign up.

Nobody you know want to run?

Put an ad on Craigslist.

Get on the interwebs.

Find a running buddy.

Get accountable.

Find a training regiment and do it.

Train.

Train hard.

And knock it off your bucket list.

When I finished running the race, my friends asked how I liked my first marathon.

I said, “Oh, you mean my first and last? It was all good.”

In 15 years, I haven’t run another marathon.

Although I did train for something bigger.  

A trail run that was a 50k.

But that’s another story…

Disclosure:  this article might contain links to the resources discussed.
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Brooks Conkle

Brooks is an entrepreneur, father, husband, & follower of the golden rule. He has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur after graduating with a Finance degree from Auburn University. Addicted to starting new business projects, he believes in creating multiple income streams and a life of flexibility. Business should work around your life, not the other way around. He creates content on his website, sharing his projects to help other hustlers in marketing, personal finance, and online business. 

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