As some of you may already know, I am a sucker for challenges. I like trying new things, especially when there’s a stake behind it. For me, it’s great fun to beat something previously thought to be unbeatable, or at least very difficult. When someone throws me a bone, I’m going to pick it up.
This year seems to be the year of challenges for me. January, I was challenged to watch at least 52 movies in a month’s time. I did that, and more, and you can read about my various adventures in the realm of cinematic “bum paralysis” here, if you wish. February, I didn’t really have a challenge, but my March challenge is to finish my film Doppelganger. Haven’t started yet, but if you know me, I do all my best work under pressure (Cue Queen).
April, I think will have to be either a mini-challenge or part of my May challenge. For you see, I have decided to run a marathon.
Yes, a marathon. Except, I will be racing against myself, and the challenge is even more extreme than that. Beginning May 1, I will run 1 mile. Day 2, I will run 2 miles. Day 3, three miles. Day 4, four miles. And so on and so forth. Except every 7 days I will take a rest from running. I will continue this trend until the end of May. The last day of which will comprise a total of 26 miles. I’ll tack on a .2 to make it an even marathon distance.
Impossible? No. Unlikely. Yes. I doubt I’ll even get halfway. But why shouldn’t I try? David Blaine starved himself in a glass box for 40 days. A Greek courier ran 26.2 miles to report a battle to the king. And that was without training. So why shouldn’t I go for it?
Exactly. Besides, it makes for brilliant copy. “Man Decides to Run Himself to Death” run the headlines.
Which is why I’m using March and April to train. I’m beginning today, in fact. Running is a discipline. I hate it, I really do, but I’ll have to train myself to run extreme distances. I’m also going for an average no greater than 9 minutes per mile. But that’s a subsidiary goal, which I won’t hold myself to if I don’t think I can make it.
Here’s my caveat. Everything I report on this website is true and factual. So if I say I made it, that means I made it. I’ll post my daily stats once I start the actual challenge in May, and I will probably keep you posted on my training habits.
Wish me luck. I’m going running.