There is no turning back now...

I did it! By the click of one button or rather two buttons, I signed up to participate both in a half marathon and a marathon this year. Last year I was still under the impression that a marathon would be several years in the future, but after deciding to only sign up for two more races this year- after the Winter Series I am participating in right now ends-, I felt like I had to go big in order to stay motivated. The half marathon will be my very first race on trails. I am enjoying it tremendously to run on trails rather than roads. It gives me the feeling of going for a hike. And I have to admit sometimes I'd rather run the trails than hike them, because as anybody who has ever hiked with me can attest to, I am a very slow walker.
I decided on the marathon I am now signed up for, because my friend Erin decided to run her first marathon this year as well. And I can't imagine any better motivation than wanting to finish it together. I am looking forward to celebrating our success together as well!
I think I have to get on board with this season's Biggest Loser theme of "no excuses" and get out there no matter what is trying to hold me back.

I think I made a pretty good start yesterday, when the snow on the ground was trying to tell me that it would be better to run inside, but the motivation to run on a treadmill kept me sitting on the couch. I finally decided to not let the snow defeat me and instead get excited about using my never before worn strap on contraptions for my shoes to better run on snow and ice. Out I went and besides being totally fashionable (see image above) and maybe upsetting a few cross-country skiers, by running on the side of the perfectly groomed trail, I got the best workout I have gotten in a long time.

Marathon here I come!