Marathon (Blog#6)

Since the seventh grade, i was in a program named SRLA(Students Run Los Angeles). The title fits perfectly. In SRLA we literally ran the streets of Los Angeles. In between seasons, which usually started in  september and went on to the beginning/end of march,  we attended running events that started at a  measly 3 miles and slowly worked its way up the big 26.2 L.A. marathon. My first year  running the L.A. marathon was a huge accomplishment and a dangerous addiction. I loved running! I couldn't stop! I would not only attend the mandatory practices, but also run on my own. When i ran on my own, i would "run" out of the house at 5 p.m. and sometimes not comeback until 8 p.m. My mom always thought i was doing bad things, but i never did. I ran and ran and ran, until i thought i should start heading back home. I would say, on my own, i would sometimes run 12-15 miles a day plus the 3-5 mile mandatory practice runs. I felt myself become faster and faster and i would run longer and longer. I was very active in middle school. Whenever i stepped foot onto the street to prepare myself to run that marathon, i always felt like vomiting, every time! I have no idea why. I have ran 5 marathons, and completed four, but for some reason i always want to vomit. I always ended up finishing, except for my senior year marathon, but always felt sick to my stomach. Eventually i would overcome my temporary sickness and finish the marathon.  The last marathon i ran during my senior year (2011) went down as an "incomplete". If you weren't watching, but during 85% of the L.A. marathon it was pouring rain! I ran but began to slow down because my ankles tensed up and my chest seemed to cave in. i would say i walked 10-15 miles on a bad  ankle and horrible chest pain. At mile 25, with only 1.2 miles to go i quit. I just couldn't go on. The cold wet, windy rain was making me hypothermic.  I was picked up by a bus and was taken to the finish line. I was embarrassed, ashamed and very disappointed in myself. To this day i think i should have kept running, but i don't know what would have happened if i did. I'm glad i made it that far, but sadly not far enough. I was told to never quit or give up. But i let myself down. But i can say i fully completed 4 marathons and proud of it. Call me crazy for being so addictive to running, but its good for my health. I love running, what can i say?I haven't ran in  while and i know i need to. I feel gravity pulling me by these newly formed "love-handles". As i slowly regain my will to run again, i will sign up for the next marathon and finish it no matter rain or shine!