My journey begins !!

I will be running a marathon on October 7th !! Crazy, right? I will answer for you. Yep!! Probably most of you who are reading this will be asking why? Why would you do that to yourself? Well for a couple of reasons. The main reason I will be running a marathon is because I am using this as a way to raise money for World Vision. That's right, I am asking you for money. Shocked? Probably not. I am trying to raise $50 per mile that I run. This is a way for you to support me in this journey that I am on as well as a way to help moms, dads, teenagers, and kids in Africa to have clean water. Not only is the distance families have to walk to get clean water a long trek but it is also water that is not clean and ends up killing some of them. $50 is the amount is takes for one kid to get clean water for a lifetime. Basically, this is a good cause. World Vision is a good organization that cares about people. There are also other reasons why I am running. Not nearly as big but still important for me. IF you know me, then you know up until about three years ago I have never been a physically active person. NEVER!! Obviously God knew that would change because I got me a handsome husband who just happens to LOVE the outdoors. When we were first married he introduced me to backpacking, rock climbing etc. He had way too much confidence in my non existent abilities but he quickly learned :) Backpacking with him was soo frustrating when we were first married. It was ridiculous. Not only was he in super awesome shape his legs are like three times the length of mine. OK maybe I am exaggerating a little but I would have to jog just to keep up with him. Anyways, I am pretty sure he got discouraged as much as I did. Three years ago I met three other women who were finished having babies, like myself, and were ready to get fit. Luckily for me, one of the ladies is super woman!! She researched weight training books, printed out exercises, etc. Obviously this lady loves routine. And what do I love? Routine and someone to work out with !! It was AWE-SOME!! Community was such a big factor in why I was able to do this. Four stay at home moms talking, sweating, competing, talking about good food choices ALL while our kids were being watched by someone else. Doesn't it sound glorious? Since then, exercise has been apart of my life. I want it to stay that way and also find ways to challenge myself. Hence, running a marathon. I will be training with a group of people and more importantly my running buddy is no other than the super woman mentioned above!! So when you pair up fundraising for World Vision, community and exercise how could I possibly say no?? Whether or not you give (though I hope you will) I will be blogging about my experience. The ups, the downs, the challenges and the successes. My prayer is that by October 7th I will be ready to run 26.2 MILES or I will probably die trying!!