I never thought I would run a marathon. When my sister Dawn had done it, I thought what a psycotic thought. She lost tons of weight from training and that did motivate me but I never thought to do it. Three years later, I found myself doing it. I met Cristine who told me how exciting it was to run a marathon abroad. She ran one in Ireland and also in Spain. When she told me this year she would be going to Prague, Czech Republic, I told her i was in. I never expected myself to follow through though. I started running my normal 20 minute run and thought how in the world would I be able to do this for five hours and a half....there is just no way.
I signed up for it on December 31st in the locotorio, the last day to sign up for it at the price of 60 euros. Otherwise, it would be 80 euros. Training took place on the paseo, next to the meditterean sea. I was supposed to run hills too but I could never pull myself away from the beautiful sight of the sea. I trained my long runs with Cristine in Malaga every weekend which was a lot easier to run because I was running with someone instead of by myself. A month before the marathon she told me she couldnt go due to funds and my confidence fell along with my desire to do it. No tenia ganas nada mas. I had a hard desicion to make...to go through with this alone or not do it. What would I regret if I did or didnt do? I had to do this. I cried through my doubts in my boyfriends arms and he kept shaking his head and saying...just dont do it then if you are so worried. I never quit..I cant just leave something and not do it when I ve been training for so long and giving up so much. I gave up salsa and going out alot, drinking socially and much more. So I bought an expensive ticket and found a place to stay through couchsurfing and put on a brave face.
I headed out to the country of my ancesters and when I got here, my confidence dropped again. It was rainy and 50 F cold. My couchsurfer dropped me off at her house at 6pm and said she needed to attend to some business...aka wanted to go out for a beer and speak her own language. I can accept that. I went to facebook and found support from Nandi, Cristine, Tomas, Amanda and Dawn. They talked to me and reassured me that I still could do this although it would rain all day and be 55F only. My self esteem slowly climbed back up. I found an american girl Jenna who is doing the same program as me who was on vacation inPrague the same time as me...a friend of mine, thanks Cat, put me in contact with her. I met her the next day and we went on a free walking tour that took us around the Jewish area, the center and near the castle. It lasted 3 hours. It was awesome...we tipped big...it was an american guide trying to make it...in Prague..we knew how that was. The culture here is amazing and there are parts of this wonderful city that reminds me of Germany, Lithuania and Switerland. Its beautiful.
Afterwards, we went to the castle and explored the beautiful Cathedral. It started to rain so we went into a museum about a family who lost their inheritance during the Wars from the Nazis. They got it all back and have a number of castles and thousands of paintings and historical momentos now in museums. It made me want to look up my family...but we dont have any family here in Prague..they are up north and south of here. Another time I guess.
So I went out today to run my last practice run. My crazy visions and dreams of finally running here in Prague is actually coming true. I ran with a huge smile on my face and when people passed me, i know they were thinking OH, there goes one of the marathon runners. Thats what Iam..a marathon runner. It was so exciting I couldnt stop smiling. Before my run, i went to the Marathon Expo and picked up my number F1006. There are over 7000 runners, 3000 from Prague and 4000 internationals. I bought an american flag tatoo and a 1st time marathon runner tatoo to wear in two days. I am ready and excited. Will head to the expo tomorrow for a pasta party. I didnt see too many americans there...maybe i will run into a few later. There is a party for us afterwards too. I got my bag and tshirt. You can track my run on live.praguemarathon.com
I signed up for it on December 31st in the locotorio, the last day to sign up for it at the price of 60 euros. Otherwise, it would be 80 euros. Training took place on the paseo, next to the meditterean sea. I was supposed to run hills too but I could never pull myself away from the beautiful sight of the sea. I trained my long runs with Cristine in Malaga every weekend which was a lot easier to run because I was running with someone instead of by myself. A month before the marathon she told me she couldnt go due to funds and my confidence fell along with my desire to do it. No tenia ganas nada mas. I had a hard desicion to make...to go through with this alone or not do it. What would I regret if I did or didnt do? I had to do this. I cried through my doubts in my boyfriends arms and he kept shaking his head and saying...just dont do it then if you are so worried. I never quit..I cant just leave something and not do it when I ve been training for so long and giving up so much. I gave up salsa and going out alot, drinking socially and much more. So I bought an expensive ticket and found a place to stay through couchsurfing and put on a brave face.
I headed out to the country of my ancesters and when I got here, my confidence dropped again. It was rainy and 50 F cold. My couchsurfer dropped me off at her house at 6pm and said she needed to attend to some business...aka wanted to go out for a beer and speak her own language. I can accept that. I went to facebook and found support from Nandi, Cristine, Tomas, Amanda and Dawn. They talked to me and reassured me that I still could do this although it would rain all day and be 55F only. My self esteem slowly climbed back up. I found an american girl Jenna who is doing the same program as me who was on vacation inPrague the same time as me...a friend of mine, thanks Cat, put me in contact with her. I met her the next day and we went on a free walking tour that took us around the Jewish area, the center and near the castle. It lasted 3 hours. It was awesome...we tipped big...it was an american guide trying to make it...in Prague..we knew how that was. The culture here is amazing and there are parts of this wonderful city that reminds me of Germany, Lithuania and Switerland. Its beautiful.
Afterwards, we went to the castle and explored the beautiful Cathedral. It started to rain so we went into a museum about a family who lost their inheritance during the Wars from the Nazis. They got it all back and have a number of castles and thousands of paintings and historical momentos now in museums. It made me want to look up my family...but we dont have any family here in Prague..they are up north and south of here. Another time I guess.
So I went out today to run my last practice run. My crazy visions and dreams of finally running here in Prague is actually coming true. I ran with a huge smile on my face and when people passed me, i know they were thinking OH, there goes one of the marathon runners. Thats what Iam..a marathon runner. It was so exciting I couldnt stop smiling. Before my run, i went to the Marathon Expo and picked up my number F1006. There are over 7000 runners, 3000 from Prague and 4000 internationals. I bought an american flag tatoo and a 1st time marathon runner tatoo to wear in two days. I am ready and excited. Will head to the expo tomorrow for a pasta party. I didnt see too many americans there...maybe i will run into a few later. There is a party for us afterwards too. I got my bag and tshirt. You can track my run on live.praguemarathon.com
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