Why a Marathon?

I wanted to remind myself why I want to run a marathon. Here are a couple of quotes I've run across that have described it nicely:

"Training for and running a marathon is not a single event; rather, it is an experience. It is a discovery of self that will forever change our perceptions, perspectives, priorities and possibilities. You will meet yourself at what you thought were the boundaries of your potential and endurance and watch in awe as they evaporate to reveal only open expanse. To know that the only boundaries in life are those which we create ourselves in a discovery which can not be taught - it must be experienced. For once you have seen the view from the mountain top, living a life of voluntary blindness is no longer an option."

"The act of standing at a start line 26.2 miles from a finish line is the purest metaphor for living an active life. If you keep moving forward, if you keep putting one foot in front of the other - in the marathon and in life - you will see yourself through to the end."

And last but not least . . . an Adidas ad I saw in Runner's World this month pretty well summed it up for me . . .

"Because I'm loving every wonderful, horrible minute of this!"