Not this year ... but next.

If you've been to my website that accompanies this blog, you may have noticed a never-before-mentioned link in the left sidebar: MBTS 5-Miler Training Schedule. It has been just sitting there quietly, not being too conspicuous. If you noticed it, you might have wondered why it was there, when I never, ever mention it. Well, there's a reason.

First, a little background ...

For many years, I was a walking tour guide for my city's tourism department, and because of my experience and overall success doing it, I was usually the one chosen to show various members of the media around our small, historic city. It was something I absolutely loved every minute of, and I got to meet some really great people that way.

In August of 2001, I was asked by the city to conduct a tour for writer John Hanc, who was not only covering the Marathon By The Sea for Runners World magazine, but running in it, as well. I have always had the utmost respect for people who can push themselves to exceed their limits, and this was the first time I had actually spent some time talking to someone who runs marathons.

So I asked him some questions. As it turned out, he had co-written a book with Florence Griffith-Joyner called, appropriately enough, Running for Dummies, so was well-equipped to answer my questions on the most easy-to-understand level. What I remember most about him, besides his love for New York City and his great sense of humour, was that he looked past the fact that I was clearly a 275-plus-pound woman (in a period costume, no less!), and answered each and every question I had as if I were about to bid him farewell and head straight to training.

That morning, and the experience of talking with him about running, has never really left me. When I was a kid, I used to love to run, and the desire to try to get that back has always been in the back of my mind. So when I first set up this website, and I was making it clear to myself that I would be successful this time, I put the 5-Miler training schedule in the sidebar to remind me of where I wanted to go.

A few months ago, I had decided that I would do the 5-Miler this year. I'd lost enough weight that I thought my knees could handle it, even if I just walked it. (After all, how many two-hour walking tours had I done over the years?) But part of me really, really wanted to try to run it as much as possible, just to see if I could. All of this was, of course, before Mr. Gallbladder got cranky, and now I'm sitting here with four (very small, mind you) holes that remind me I shouldn't be out there bouncing my innards up and down. June 18 (the beginning of the training schedule) is probably too soon to try.

The other day, I was talking to Dr. Munchkin about my desire to start running, and I don't think she had any idea that any of this was in the back of my mind. When I mention it to Hubby, I'm sure I'll get a look of total disbelief. And, to be honest, it only became a real possibility to me a few months ago. But it's something I've been thinking about -- more and more as the weight comes off.

So, although the Marathon By the Sea is not in the cards for me this year, it's on my to-do list for next year. And I think, after I finish, I'll send John Hanc a thank-you note and include a copy of the race results.