Like many, many others, the seed was planted 20 years ago, when Oprah finished the Marine Corps Marathon.  (Holy crap, talk about the missing decade! 1994 was 20 years ago!)  I had joined the Marine Corps Reserve just two years prior so I thought it was some sort of fate for me to run the MCM one day.  Although I DETESTED running, this marathon business appealed to me solely because of the physical and mental challenges it presented.  Even as an immature, undisciplined, 20-something year old, I knew that this would be good for me.

NOW I remember why that decade went missing!  I married and divorced twice, birthed 4 babies over a span of 8 years and opened and closed several businesses while doing so.  I believe it was 2009, when I was still operating my dance studio in White Plains, NY, a student of mine egged me on to register for the MCM.  Back then it was pretty easy to get in.  Just pay and boom, you’re in.  I immediately went to Westchester Road Runner and bought my first pair of Glycerins, a pair of running tights, bra, and shirt.  I was ready!  HA!

I had no idea what it meant to train.  I was delusional.  I had no idea how to fit in teaching Zumba 10-15 times a week, train for a marathon, and take care of 4 kids and run a dance studio.  I think I ripped out some jive schedule out of a magazine and probably ran a total of 3 times, if that!  My reasons for wanting to complete a marathon were superficial.  Not saying that there ever has to be some noble reason to run a marathon, but for me, if I don’t have a burning desire, I don’t usually follow through with that initial motivation.

The best accomplishments are fueled by desire and  carried out with integrity and a smart action plan.

I was missing a few components.  My first official DNS.  Lame.  But, luckily, the story doesn’t end there…