Happy Friday!!!

I love all these first marathon stories.

Here’s one from Jessica, who’s training for Chicago.

Name:

Jessica

Blog:

Early AM Runner

Years running:

2 seriously, but I’ve always run off and on for various sports I played or for fun.

Marathon training for: Chicago

Why I decided to run a marathon: I wanted a challenge. I wanted to be able to say to myself I put in the time and effort and not only trained for weeks but completed a marathon.

How is marathon training measuring up to your expectations? What’s better or worse than you expected?

Training has been hard on me, physically and mentally. Though I’d say most of my friends have been supportive I’ve had a lonely go of it and sometimes feel like I’m missing

out on things because I have to go to bed to get up the next day to train. But I’m doing it and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and where I am going. I’m a lot stronger than I ever knew.

Number of days running per week:

3 to 4. 4 is the goal but sometimes it just doesn’t happen

What are you most excited about for the race?

I’m so irrationally excited to have a photo taken with me wrapped up in a tin foil blanket with my finisher medal.

What are you most terrified of?

Not finishing. Thankfully my family has pinky promised they’ll wait as long as it takes, but I’m worried about not being able to finish.

Do you think you’ll ever run another marathon?

I get asked this a lot given I live in Boston and people always ask why I’m not running Boston. The truth is, I don’t know, training has been hard for me and I don’t know what it’s going to feel like to do that distance, so ask me after I finish.

Number of black toenails so far:

2 black and 1 missing. But don’t look at the bottom of my feet–peeling skin and blisters like woah.

So, any advice or lovin’ for Jessica?