I registered for my first full marathon yesterday, the Bizz Johnson trail marathon near Lassen in October. I’d say I’m not sure I can do it, that what an achievement it’ll be if I do and all that jazz, but the truth is, I’m a paper girl. Show me the training schedule that will get me there and I’ll follow it religiously, and I’ll get there, just like I did with the half marathon schedule, which deposited me at the end of a very sore but euphoric 13.1 miles last month, exactly on schedule. This will be no different.

Carving out time for those long training runs will be the toughest thing, which as I get close to the end will take up four, five, six or more hours of running in a day at least once a week. I may have to break my headphones rule – I don’t wear them, now, because strengthening my mental fortitude in the face of all those quiet, monotonous hours was part of the point. But we’ll see how far I can go. Literally, figuratively.

Happy 41.