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Marathon, T-shirts, and Painted Rocks

Just packed for the marathon! We leave at 0800 TOMORROW! I have so much compression in my bag I should be a spokesperson for CEP. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the race. Of course I'm so, so excited. But I also know it's going to be so, so painful. I read a quote about marathons:
"The only other person in the world who understand the excruciating pain of a marathon is a person who has run a marathon."
How inspirational!
Okay maybe not, but my wonderful friend Kevin sends me inspirational quotes every week and they're a tad bit more appropriate for what I'm looking for.
This weeks was:
"Somewhere along the line we seem to have confused comfort with happiness. Some believe that quite the opposite is the case. Dostoyevsky had it right: 'Suffering is the sole origin of consciousness.' Never are the senses more engaged than when pain sets in. There is magic in misery."
I suppose what he's saying is pain is what makes us fully aware of how human we are, and the ability to push past that pain is what separates the quitters from the winners. When do we ever gain anything from comfort?
This is probably comparable to me and Chris' 126 mile bike ride on the Cape - by mile 90 I realized it was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever done, but I also reached a zone I had never been in before. I was so concentrated on ignoring my throbbing back and numb, jello legs that I meditated my way out of it. I completely forgot about my body because I was so concentrated on my goal. It's that moment you chose not to be a whining brat and chose to power through it. Like giving up isn't even remotely an option. And I think anyone who cycles or runs or does any sort of race knows that zone.
Hopefully I can do that again this weekend! ....If I can't it'll be a long 4 hours.

What makes me even more excited are the shirts Dave, Nick, Chris and I spray painted last night! Nothing says winner like a red and black spray painted wifebeater with the Liberty Bell, a leaf, our names, and the BU logo printed on them. We also fulfilled one of my college goals and painted the rock with B.U.T.T, a swim/bike/runner and a giant 26.2. It was the perfect way to kick off the tri team's marathon adventures! I'm so excited that we're all going down together, this is going to be the best race I've ever ran just because I get to run it with some of my favorite people. It's impossible to fail with your teammates around you.

I guess the next time I write me and my teammates will be marathoners!

love love love,
me

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