Motivation

I have officially been training for my first and second marathons for two weeks. I am not going to lie, I have been struggling to find motivation. I loved the 12 week training program that I did for my first half marathon. 12 weeks seemed doable, and it was, my half marathon was amazing! Knowing that I have 18 weeks of training until my first marathon and then 7 weeks after that until the New York Marathon just seems like too big of a commitment. The thought of running a marathon is scary enough let alone knowing that I have 2 ahead of me. I have to admit that I am having nightmares similar o the one I used to have before the first day of school. But yesterday as I was 4 miles in to a 5 mile run I had a light bulb moment. It was raining, my feet were wet, (a huge pet peeve) and I was ready to call for a ride home. Before I could fish my phone out I remembered something that had happened last week, while I was running with my daughter in the jogging stroller, two pretty white butterflies flew right my us. I pointed it out to her and didn't think much of. Remembering those butterflies made me remember why I am running. I am running for my own butterfly, my 8 year old son Zack who was born with a rare skin disorder, Epidermolysis Bullosa, or EB. Some people like to call people with EB butterflies because their skin is as fragile as butterfly wings. I started running to loose weight and to start a healthier life, we have lost several extended family members whose life could have been prolonged if they had adapted healthier life styles and I did not want my kids to grow up with out a mom. My second reason for running is that I will be raising money for research for EB. That research will not only benefit my Zack, but the hundreds of people we know living with Eb and the generations of those who will still be born with EB. I feel like it is also paying tribute to the EB angels that have gone before us. We have learned so much from them and been inspired by so many who fought hard to improve wound care and quality of life for others.