After I completed my first marathon in Chicago, I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever sign up for another one. Every inch of my body hurt from my head, down to the tip of my toenails. At least the ones that didn’t bruise or fall off. But after all my soreness wore off, I started to think about which marathon would be my next.
The following year in 2001, I set my eyes on New York, but I didn’t get in through the lottery and ended up not doing any big races that year. So when 2002 rolled around, I tried again for New York and this time, I got in.
When I bookended my 25th marathon with Chicago again in 2016, I knew that if I was going to do another marathon, I wanted it to be just as special as New York was for my second. This race needed to be worthy of being my number 26.
It was around 2008 or so when I was talking to a fellow LA Leggers runner Alvin and I remember he was wearing a long-sleeved race shirt. I asked him about the race and he had nothing but great things to say about it, so I immediately put it on my bucket list.
Well since that time, other races, other destinations, other running goals, and distances were made more of a priority and I never made it to that marathon, but in 10+ years it’s never left my race bucket list.
This year, life has had its share of wonderful happy times and I cherish those greatly, but overall it hasn’t been a great year for me. Days have had their set of challenges, stress, emotional ups and downs, grieving moments, and stars not aligning for things I would’ve liked to have done.
I wasn’t going to try and force anything that just wasn’t meant to happen for me this year. I accepted it and surrendered when plans fell through. And they fell through alright. But then, the stars were aligning.
Last October and November, the fall marathons were all happening and I was itching for another marathon since I had already decided I wasn’t going to return to Javelina Jundred this year. I thought maybe I’d apply for Chicago again, or perhaps New York. But deep down I wanted something different. I’ve already done those races and as great as they are, I wanted something new.
And then the marathon I placed on my bucket list all those years ago caught up to me. It was an idea, a possible option. Let me check this one out, you know, just in case.
Turns out this year, marks the 26th anniversary which would mark my 26th marathon and I knew right then, that THIS was going to be my next marathon!
The Universe kept sending me signs. I saw the Eagles! Ok, not actual eagles, but the word EAGLES. And I would hear Hall & Oates all the time.
So on November 26, 2018, I registered for the Philadelphia Marathon! 26 seems to be the magic number!
I’m signed up for the half, 8K, and marathon in the Freedom Challenge, and all I want to do is finish since I’m going into these undertrained.
But finish, and enjoy every single step in a city I’m so excited to visit! I mean, ROCKY!!! Rocky Balboa is one of my favorite characters and that entire series is my favorite (except for Rocky V of course) so you bet I’m excited!
All I can say is the stars are aligning for this one and I’m grateful.
Thanks for reading!
p.s. Side note, I have a running joke with my sister that I want to visit the Hall & Oates Museum in Philly. When I walk in, I’ll hear, “Whoa oh here she comes…” and then when I leave, “She’s gone.” Sadly, there is no Hall & Oates Museum.
There totally should be a Hall and Oats museum. Hope the races go well!
Christina, it does seem like the stars aligned for you just for this race. I’ve only done the half there. Still, the course is lovely and the city has so much history to take in. I hope all goes well and you have a great time!