400 Miles

This past week I've gotten lots of encouragement from well-wishers who apparently read this blog and are rooting for me to do well in this weekend's marathon. It's good to know people are behind me. Most of my training over the past 4 months has been alone. I've enjoyed the solitude as well as the mental & physical challenge of it. Who knew there were so many others with me in spirit?!

By the time I finish the Flying Pig on Sunday, I will have logged 400 miles this year. If I'd been trying to get somewhere, I could have walked to St. Louis or been just shy of Atlanta or Buffalo, NY. That's quite a ways. But this journey isn't about the destination. It's about the process. Pushing my limits. Not being afraid to fail. Refusing to give up.

The weather forecast for race day is terrible. I don't care. I'm walking no matter what. Every step of that 400 miles I have envisioned what that finish line will look like. I've imagined how it would feel to hear the cheers of folks along the race. My wife and family are plotting their strategy to meet me at various points. They may even walk with me for a mile or two. Do you think I'd miss this moment?

I'm ready. And I'm still learning from the process. After I heard another, "Good luck, Andy -- you can do it," it struck me how much encouragement can mean when you're up against impossible odds. When I get done with this race, I'm going to become a cheerleader for people who might be going it alone. I want to put fuel in their tanks or just be there to remind them failure isn't fatal. Being on that side of the ropes is bound to be more fun... and I'm convinced it's the most valuable role I could play.

I'm never going to walk a marathon again. Been there, done that. For me, it's not about goals or times or metals. It's all about the experience. Thanks for taking this journey with me. See you at the finish line!