"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable."
-- Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile
Chicago in 2001 motivated (or cursed?) me to do another marathon. Why? Because I ended up 26 seconds over the 4-hour mark. San Diego in 2003 gifted another beautiful race day. It felt good. And I beat the 4-hour mark! Time: 3:57:46. When one starts a race deep in the midst of thousands, it takes time to get to the start line. Therefore, the finish line clock generally never displays actual running time. Having met the goal of a sub-4-hour marathon, I should have said adios to marathons for good. But the Dallas Marathon, almost literally in my backyard, seemed too convenient to pass up. So, 18 months later, I went for marathon number three. Big mistake.
"Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right."
-- Henry Ford
