Mad to Live…Er, Run!

We have two choices in life – constantly strive to be better than we were the day before OR be content with life as it is and just let it pass us by.

I’m working towards the first. Always striving to be a better version of myself, better person than I was the day before, better friend, sister, daughter, and employee, better physically, mentally, and emotionally. Just all around better – every single day.

If you follow me on Instagram or if you happen to be my family, you were graced with this picture Monday evening. I apologize but it captures the moment perfectly. It probably also helps the case of why I’m not married, but that’s neither here nor there.

If you follow me on Instagram, that picture may have made more sense if you first saw this one…

A few weeks ago, I entered the lottery for the Chicago Marathon. Not sure whether I would get picked, not sure if I would register if I did, quite honestly, just not sure of anything, but I had this little pin poking me in the side that was telling me to enter. So I did.

I waited with extreme anticipation for Monday, knowing they would be informing people if they were selected for the lottery. By 4pm, I surprisingly forgot all about it. Work was busy and therefore a very good distraction. But when I gave myself a much needed break and checked Instagram, I saw a few posts from people all excited about being picked for the lottery. I figured by that point, that meant I didn’t get it.

I was feeling pretty bummed and texted Becky to let her know. Girl was going to train for this thing on her own. I kept hitting refresh on my email. Nothing. I checked one of the lottery emails they’d be sending preparing us for today and saw emails would be going out in waves until 8pm. There was still time, but quite honestly, I was losing hope.

It was in that exact moment (I’m NOT even kidding!) when an email came in congratulating me on being picked for the 2014 Chicago Marathon. Holy crap! I started tearing up. I sent Becky a retracted text…she had herself a training buddy! I texted a few other friends and I sat in shock for a brief moment.

I forced myself to put it out of my mind, to get a little more work done, and then allow myself to think about what my decision was going to be. But truth be told, just as everyone congratulated me on putting my name in the lottery, I was getting cheers for being picked, they knew my decision was made, even if I felt like I was still deciding. But even though I didn’t know it, I wasn’t still deciding. I’ve been bit by the running bug pretty hard and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

So let the countdown to October 12th begin…