This will be a rerun for lots of folks, but here's the story again for chug0lug, so bear with it.

I started running in 1997 or 1998 (can I tell you how thrilled I am that I can't keep count anymore?) after being diagnosed and treated for cancer. My older sister--now a nun--called me from Chicago and said, "Hey, there's a cancer fundraiser in Central Park the first anniversary of your surgery. Dad and I are going to run in it, and Mom and Jennifer (my other sister) have signed up to walk." A bit about my Sister sister: she too had recently lost a chunk of weight by running. The previous Christmas, she had fit into my jeans for the first time since puberty. This is needed to explain both her next words, and my response. "We signed you up for the 5k run.....but you can walk if you want to."

Yeah, I went out and bought running shoes that afternoon. Competitive much? Formerly-fat older sister throwing down the gauntlet? I think not. She recently confessed to saying that because she KNEW running would be my response.

So I went from radiation treatment to a 5k in about 18 weeks. It must also be said that I kicked her ass at the three-mile mark when she realized the race wasn't quite over yet, thank you very much.

Ran on and off for the next five years, and on my fifth anniversary flew out to Spokane to compete in Bloomsday, which is a city-wide 12k race. Loved every step. Even Doomsday Hill. My lower back gives me trouble sometimes, and it turns out I was running on really canted roads which didn't help, so I took a lot of the next three years off. In the process, met a guy, fell in love, got married.

And then got divorced. Ugh. For some bizarre reason, the reasoning process began like this: "Wow. Those are divorce papers. The SOB is quitting this thing. Chicken. Bastard. I'm not a quitter. I've always wanted to run a marathon. Wait, what?"

This was at Christmas of 2006. Like an idiot, I spoke these thoughts aloud in the presence of my parents. I hadn't run in about three years. My dad took me out the next morning and we ran about a mile and a quarter and he says now he thought I was gonna die. (that makes two of us.)

The rest is just blisters and road rash.

These are such inspiring stories that it makes me want to run a marathon!  Wait a minute - I just did and I'm signed up to do another in March!  I warn you, Chugalug, it's quite addictive.  I loved running the MCM.  It was an awesome experience and one I'll never forget, but the training was an experience that was a bonus surprise in its rewards.  The time involved forces you to share what you are up to with others.  This verbal commitment goes a long way to motivation.  Early in my training I had signed up for a 10K in Atlanta.  I was in the post office one day and one of the workers there asked about it and I responded with information.  He wanted to know if I was running it and I said that I was.  He goes, "Oh...I wish I could still run, but I'm too old."  I said, "Well, how old are you?"  He said, "53."  I said, "Well I'm 53!" and sassily added, "Get your sneakers on!"  Over the spring, summer, and fall I visited my local post office now and then and was normally dressed in some sort of running attire.  The workers there would often ask how far I'd gone that day and so on.  The seriousness of my running became apparant as my distances got more and more impressive.  The other day I went in and was sporting my powder blue long sleeved T with the beautiful embroidery on the chest and collar and MARINES down the sleeve.  My post office guy admired my shirt and said, "You know...I'm going to have to take up running...you look happier every time you come in here."  What a nice compliment and what made me feel especially good is that I hope I encouraged someone else towards a fitness goal.  I gave him some web site names with starter and novice programs to get started with.  I hope to hear about his mileages soon.  It's all so worth it.  The cheers and support of family, friends, and acquaintances keeps you going and going and going.  The long runs were amazing places to regroup, refresh, reflect, and ponder the state of your life, the universe, and whatever else needs thinking over.  They were not boring.  They were amazingly addictive and fulfilling.  Get your sneakers on!  You can't run 26.2 today, but you absolutely can in awhile if you start and work to it little by little.  Stick with this board!  These virtual running buddies are incredible!