And why exactly did I agree to do this???

If you had asked me even a few years ago if I would ever run a marathon, the answer would have been "NO!!" I was perfectly content with the occasional 5k and 10k, maybe even a half marathon, but never in a million years was I aching to run a marathon. I kind of thought most marathoners were a little crazy (still think they are and question my own sanity on most days). This is coming from the girl that absolutely hated track meets (although I loved going to practice), and that was only to run a mile or two.

So how did I get here?

It all comes down to sibling rivalry.

Last year, when I announced to my mom that I was training for my first half marathon, my mom told me that my little brother was running one too. When I asked him about it, he told me he had signed up to run the 1/2 marathon Grandma's weekend. I thought about running it with him, since it was about a month after my half, but registration was already full. So I told him I'd run with him next year. Fast forward to Christmas this year. I brought up running it together this year and he said that he wanted to do the full marathon instead. I've got 7 years on him and way more miles under my belt. He quit track after junior high. There was no way I was going to let him out run me. So I told him I'd see where I was with my mileage this spring and if I was feeling nice and fit, I'd join him. I revved up the training, braved the cold, and here I am. This might be the worst reason in the history of marathons to run one, but, hey, it works for me.