Grateful

Today I fly out and head to DC.  I am both excited and nervous, which is half of the fun of a marathon.  I also get to see my best friend!  I can’t wait.  Ok, now down to the reason for this post.  I mentioned in my last post that I would be creating a list of the 26 things I am most grateful for, one for each mile.  I have come up with my list and I am excited about it.  These are not in any order of importance. 

I am grateful for…

Mile 1 – Running and all of it’s challenges

Mile 2 – Kanon

Mile 3 – My high school friends and My college friends

Mile 4 – My Boos

Mile 5 – My family

Mile 6 – All of the hard times I have experienced (they made me)

Mile 7 – God

Mile 8 – My self-doubt

Mile 9 – My confidence

Mile 10 – Music and books

Mile 11 – The ability to see beauty

Mile 12 – The friends who have stuck by me and never judged me

Mile 13 – Amy

Mile 14 – The children I get to introduce Art to

Mile 15 – God making me a lesbian (and sexy)

Mile 16 – Laughter and Tears

Mile 17 – Sarra

Mile 18 – This moment

Mile 19 – Beating The Bridge!

Mile 20 – Fear (overcoming it and embracing it)

Mile 21 - Gina

Mile 22 – Understanding that I can do anything

Mile 23 – The runners beside me

Mile 24 – Sami, Fletch, and Andrew

Mile 25 – Overcoming depression and anxiety

Mile 26 – This being the Last MILE

.2 – for the people who fought for this country and gave me the freedom to run this race

There is my list.  When you run a race like this it is easy to only think about yourself and how you feel.  The race can become all about you, the miles behind, and the miles ahead.  I probably will not be able to not think about that, but I don’t want to take this experience or adventure for granted.  I am grateful for the life I have led so far and the life I am going to lead.  I don’t know if I will ever have another opportunity to do another marathon, so I want this one to mean something. 

I have set up an instagram account (kcannon6017) and you can follow me through out the weekend.  I will be posting pictures the whole weekend.  I also will post after the marathon to let everyone know how I did.  Thanks for all of the support.  See you on the other side of the BRIDGE.