462.1 Until the Big 26.2

So I am running a Marathon. Yep, I have finally caved and signed up for a FULL MARATHON. That's 26.2 miles. That's twice as long as the longest single distance that I have ever run (Half Marathon, 13.1 miles, I have run 4 of them, including the VA Beach Shamrock Half Marathon that I ran the day after the photograph at left.)

The Marathon I have chosen to run is the Reggae Marathon (www.reggaemarathon.com) on December 3, 2011 in Negril, Jamaica. I figure, if I am going to recover from training for and running 26.2 miles, I should do it on the beach in the Caribbean with a rum punch in one hand, a beef patty in the other, clad in only a bikini, stretched out in a lounge chair next to my girls while Jamaican men trip over themselves trying to holler at us and give me my groove back. This makes so much sense it's crazy.

In a few hours, I take the first run of my training plan. I am all ready with new running shoes, a fully charged iPod with a newly created playlist, and a 3-mile path already charted. I feel like I used to on Christmas Eve as a child. I'm so ready to open this gift.

As an organized, logical, and mathematical person, I like lists, goals, and numbers. So, as I organize and plan for this journey to 26.2, here are some fun numbers to consider... and conquer.

462.1: total miles I will have run before the Marathon, assuming I complete every scheduled run in my training program

$179.99: amount of money I have spent on race registration so far, for the Reggae Marathon itself and also the Baltimore Running Festival Half Marathon as part of my training (I still have a few smaller races that I have not yet registered for, including my traditional Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot AND Race for the Cure)

123: number of days until the Reggae Marathon

1455: number of miles between Baltimore, MD and Negril, Jamaica (If I start today, I could probably walk there... oh wait, water...)

30.5288: exact age I will be on race day (I am in a whole new age bracket, lol.)

$106: cost of new pair of my fave brand of running shoes at Falls Road Running Store (the shoes and the store are awesome)

just 1: number of my friends who have already registered for a race in the Reggae Marathon (Yay Nico! And thanks for suggesting this!)

5 or more: number of additional friends/family members who are considering it

5:30am: the time I will have to wake up some mornings to complete my run for that day

5:15am: start time on race day

04:22:02: estimated time (hours:minutes:seconds) it will take me to complete the Marathon at my current fitness/running level/speed (On the beach, cocktail in hand by noon? Dead asleep under the hot Jamaican sun before 1pm.)

10: minute/mile pace I have to keep to finish the race in the above time (Yipes!)

4 or 5: number of nights I intend to stay in Jamaica surrounding the race day (Vacation, ya'll!)

$453: current cost of a roundtrip flight to Jamaica for the dates I will be there

85: average high temperature in Negril in early December (It'll be such a beautiful run!)

1550: number of calories I intend to consume each day

110: number of calories I burn for every 1 mile I complete (walking or running)

1%: percent of the U.S. population who has completed a full marathon (I'm about to join an exclusive club. Won't be the first time.)

70835: my level of excitement (on a scale of 1 to 100) about this race and my training process

Today was my first day of training. My schedule said to "Rest" so I slept in this morning and then went and grilled red snapper at JP & CG's house for dinner. Successful first day, I'd say. :o) Tomorrow (Tuesday) I wake up and run 3 miles. Piece of cake.

Off I go...

I LOVE RUNNING!!