Eyes Locked In ...

A couple weeks ago my social media timelines were FLOODED with posts from the St. George Marathon. Picture after picture after picture absolutely flooded me with this intense and insatiable sense of FOMO.

The beyond cool drone pre-race show, the on-course pictures and then, of course, the race medal pictures. I am not exaggerating when I am saying I ached to be there. I wanted to be there. No, I needed to be there. I haven't felt this way in a long time. 

But, as I sat on this emotion the past couple of weeks it hasn't gone away. In fact, quite the opposite. It's gotten worse. That's why I decided that I just need to do it, because I need it. I need this long time goal. I need this destination goal and there are many reasons for that. 

Not only because I've STRUGGLED over the past 3-4 years with injury recovery, my health and my weight. I might not be exactly where I'd like to be with my running, but my health has vastly improved over the past 5-6 months. I'm down 75lbs., have more energy and am starting to feel more like the "me" I was in 2016-18, probably even earlier. I couldn't be happier.

Even though there are a plethora of marathons here in the Salt Lake area that I could run, I love the idea of doing the St. George Marathon for many reasons. The scenery alone is amazing. It's also a destination race in a part of the state that I absolutely LOVE, I mean who doesn't love red rock backdrops? But, the timing on the calendar feels and looks great in relationship to other races and training long runs. 

This goal is speaking to me. Sure my long term goal is to do that elusive 100 miler, but where I have been and where I am now both mentally and physically I just feel that I can't cast my eyes on that yet. I need to not only make the proper stepping stones toward that goal, but more than anything I just need to fall in love again with running. And, this is where that adventure begins. I feel it. 

I will post a tentative training schedule later, but I am working on it already (surprise). 

But, October 5, 2024 is circled in red. It's St. George or bust, baby!