For the last several years Milestones Jewelry has done the Marathon and half marathon Expo circuit. We have had the pleasure of meeting and talking to so many wonderful people. People of all walks of life, all sizes, shapes and all running for a different reason. One of the most common comments I hear is I'm JUST running the Half marathon". "JUST"!!....Are you kidding me? 13.1 miles or 21.1 Kilometers is a LONG way! It takes the same training, Endurance, the same sacrifices, the same Passion and commitment and joy of running as the Marathon. I always tell these people that they should be proud of their accomplishment and not feel like it's only a stepping stone to the marathon. Running a marathon is great if that's what your goal is. But running a half marathon is a Milestone Endurance Accomplishment!
The half marathon is the fastest growing running distance race in the past several years. Don't ever feel less for running a half as a friend or co-worker that runs a full marathon.
As a matter of fact my two fastest running friends (sub 6 minute milers) ONLY run half marathons. That's their passion. All my running Buddies in North Carolina could easily run a full marathon and several of us do. But the majority of them LIVE for the HALF! They train so much harder than most of the marathon runners I know. Speed work, Intervals, running in any kind of weather, Snow, rain, wind, nothing stops them. Oh and hills? Just the mention of a route that involves the most difficult hills puts a huge smile on their face.
They are currently Training for the Nashville Half marathon and I hear they are more focused and are training harder than ever. Everyone wants a PR and I'm sure they'll all get it. Me? I'm in Florida still on the marathon circuit trying to get in enough training to do "JUST" a SPRINT Triathlon.....We'll save that one for another post.
So I'll close by saying Take the word "JUST" out of your vocabulary. Proudly proclaim when asked "I AM A Runner and I run HALF Marathons". Remember It's not just a half marathon it's a Milestone Endurance Accomplishment! If it was easy everyone would be doing it!!
I am in Awe of everyone that has trained for a half marathon and crossed that finish line. No one can ever take that feeling of accomplishment away from you.
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
-John Bingham
