Are you crazy?

"Are you crazy?"
That's the question I get most often when people find out I'm going to run a marathon. Though, to be honest, I've noticed most people have foregone the politeness of posing this as a question and instead stated it as fact: "You are crazy." Why would I want to do such a crazy thing? Well, if you don't know what fartlek is, have never run until you've thrown up and then run some more, or subsisted on a diet made up partially of Goo, then you'll never understand so you can stop trying. But I do have reasons.

Ever since I've known what a marathon is, I've admired the people that could run one. Eventually, I started to think that I'd like to do that. Later I decided that it was my goal to run a marathon. Anyone who knows me knows that at that point, there's no going back. I would run a marathon. So in 2002 I trained for, and successfully completed, the Chicago Marathon in 4 hours, 57 minutes and 30 seconds - not fast, but in the vertical position so all went well. Despite losing my free time, my toenail, and on some occasions, my lunch - I felt it was time well spent.

After I finished the marathon, people started asking if I was going to do it again. I didn't think I would, but my answer was pretty standard: "Never say never." Shortly thereafter, I learned of the Disney Marathon and the coveted Mickey Medal that finishers received. Being a Mickey fan for most of my life, I decided that I wanted that medal, but the marathon training took so long that I thought I'd just do the half marathon. Apparently, finishers of the half marathon earn a Donald Duck medal. Upon learning this, I believe my response was, "I don't want no duck." So the marathon it is.

My official training schedule begins on September 7, 2009. I'm gonna need all the help I can get so I am enlisting my friends and family to join Team Raegan. My plan is to record my efforts, trials and victories for myself and the people that think I'm crazy but love me anyway. Join me as I test my determination, my physical limits and my sanity. It should be a crazy ride!

Oh, and just for the sake of full disclosure, here's another marathon fact: this will be my 2nd marathon. My dad, who has and will always run faster and better than me, has only run one marathon. That's not to say there's any connection between that and me running this marathon. I'm just sayin'....