Point of No Return

"Ah, well you're screwed now. You paid your money. Now you've gotta run it, you nut."
                                                          - my best friend about 4 hours ago

Yep. I just paid out what to me is a small fortune to run in the Long Branch Half Marathon.  I'm not sure what hurts more: the $95 fee, the 6:50am start time or my legs after the 6 miles today.

I'm starting to realize that I am running out of time to work my way up to that grueling 13 mile mark. I have to admit 6 wasn't too bad, not at the time. Now that the day is over and I've stopped moving, I've gotten a little wobbly.

There are moments when I say, "What was I thinking?' Even my father commented, "13 miles...do you think you really should?"  I do. I really think I should. We all have something we need to prove and this is the only way I can think of to prove that I can accomplish great things until I write the great American novel. We all have something lacking in our lives and I think this is my way of trying to fill that void.

Maybe I am crazy, maybe I will blow my knees out, or maybe I should take my car and drive the 13.1 miles.


Past the point of no return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return...
                        -The Phantom of the Opera

Something's Gotta Give

STRETCH!   I've received this advice from everyone - teachers, friends, would-be lovers. I know it's all kindly meant but I never can seem to find the time. I've been told 10 minutes for every mile you run. 40 minutes is not a feasible option. 25 is pushing it.  If I get in 10 minutes overall, I'm doing well.

And so, as ever, karma is a bitch - I popped my knee 2 weeks ago at the start of my run to Sea Girt. (Warning: Endorphins are very dangerous, natural pain killers. Sometimes you don't realize you have a problem until it's all over.) As a result I'm a little behind in my mileage build up. 13 miles in 3 months. Current mileage:  4-5

So what do you do when you fall down? You pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start over again. 4 days a week instead of 7 days. 5 mph instead of 6. 4 miles a day instead of 6.

Let me tell you, and anyone who knows me can say this: determination has never been one of my strong suits. I go the way the wind blows and the prevailing wind happens to be from Long Branch, NJ this upcoming May. And if something's gotta give, this time it will be my knees before it's me.


When an irresistible force such as you
Meets an old immovable object like me
You can bet just as sure as you live
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give
Something's gotta give

                       - from the motion picture "Daddy Long Legs"