Yes, it's true.......... the countdown is on! I can't wait for my very favorite race of the year - the Cleveland Half Marathon!!!
Have I properly trained? um...no.
Have I run 13 miles since I hurt my knee back in February? um...no.
Will I PR? um....obviously no.
WIll they assign me the job of picking up the cones? um... I hope not.
Will I have a blast? HECK, YEAH!
I get excited for this race every year because (1) it's my HOMETOWN, YAY!!!!!! (2) I get to visit with my favorite one and only grandson, Dylan - oh and my son and daughter-in-law of course, and other family and friends, (3) I get to run past all my old "haunts" from "back in the day, and (4) I have already received some cool SWAG as a result of being a Race Ambassador for the event!
I usually like doing this race because the temperature in May is much lower in Ohio than it is here in "sunny Florida". In fact, last year at the start of the Cleveland Half Marathon, it was somewhere around 33 degrees which was crazy cold for me. This year, unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be another hot one for me. Maybe without the humidity of Florida it won't feel as bad though (*fingers crossed*).
This year the race will mean a little bit more to me because it will begin my training for a full marathon at the end of November this year, which will be my first full marathon. I have already made some arrangements to meet with someone to go over proper nutrition, and I'm talking to a personal trainer I know for some tips to stay on track. I'd like to finally get on track for proper race training instead of the "hit or miss" training I've done for all past races. I trained for my first half marathon and to date, it is my PR for a half marathon - 2:31:09.
I think if I am able to stay on track, maybe, just maybe, I'll come back to my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and do the full Cleveland Marathon next year! I'm not making any commitments to that idea yet - just swirling it around right now, but definitely a possibility. (Keeping in mind Philippians 4:13 NIV, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.")
Okay so hey - are YOU signed up for the race? It's not too late to register for the 5k, the 10k, the half marathon or the full marathon. You can even sign your kids up for the Kid's Race. The Cleveland Marathon has so much to offer and it is always a great course! Heck, you can even walk every one of the races being offered and they offer a generous amount of time for completion. I just saw that the 5k even has a finisher's medal for all of you bling collectors - can't beat that!
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