October Challenge!

Marathon Maniac Running Man Logo

You know how you "accidentally" do things?  Like for instance, you accidentally bump into someone, or you accidentally spill something?  October is kind of like that for me...I accidentally signed up for the Portland Marathon and Pt. Defiance 50k without thinking about them being one week apart.

This is a clue into my running psyche.  Normal people would take some time to look at a calendar before signing up for a race, ANY race.  Abnormal...Awesome people like me see a new local race on the calendar and sign up during early registration to save a few pennies.  Then we look at the calendar.

The Portland Marathon is a road race, and if you didn't know it already, it's 26.2 miles.  Yep, again.

The Pt. Defiance 50k Pt. Defiance 50k Website is 50 kilometers of trail running, not $50,000 in prize money.  That's 31 miles for us Americans. 

Am I intimidated?  If I think about it for more than a minute, yes.  So I try not to think about it all at once.  First I'll run Portland, and then I can start thinking about the next weekend, right?

 Many Marathon Maniacs run double and triple marathons over a weekend, and even a "Quadzilla" is in the works!  That would be four marathons in four days.  Other "ultra"marathon runners are out there for 12 -24 hours (and longer!), 50 miles, 100 miles, 150 miles...you get the picture.  As long as there is a road or a trail, we keep running and extending the boundaries. 

Just when I thought I had my October Challenge all set, another Marathon Maniac mentioned a marathon Poulsbo Marathon set for the 17th of October...the day after the Point Defiance 50k (again, not $50,000!).  

My brain began playing tricks on me telling me that if I did the trail and then the marathon, I could get 4 spinning stars!  Maniacs know this is your "rank" in the club.  It represents a level of marathons you have achieved in a certain amount of time.  The stars don't get me an award or financial gain.  It's status.  It's meaningful to the person who gets to see the stars illuminated on the computer monitor.  Two marathons in two days equals four stars.  DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A MARATHON MANIAC? HERE'S THE SCOOP!

It seems that my challenge is all set!  Or is it? 

On August 7th, I finished the Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon.  On September 26th, I finished the You Go Girl Half Marathon and was egged on (Thank you, Betsy!) about wearing a Marathon Maniac tank and not the Half-Fanatic shirt.  Okay...the Half-Fanatics are crazy about half marathons!  I am not a member...but if I can finish 3 half-marathons within 90 days, I could join the elusive club.  2 down...looking for number 3 before the end of October.  There are 2 available choices for me but both have reached their capacity of runners.  I am currently on both waiting lists.  I'm hoping the Salty's Half Marathon set for October 23rd opens up a slot for me as it is cheaper closer.   Salty's Half Marathon

One week from today will be Part One of my October Challenge!  Let the games begin!