"The Holidays are over, Friendsgivings, Christmas lights, and that midnight kiss at the stroke of midnight are all but faint memories. The cozy Holiday chill, has morphed into dreary days as we impatiently await the arrival of spring. The days are shorter, school is back in session , and many of us are 1 or two months into our marathon training. The crisp fall air and the Christmas lights lighting up our neighborhood blocks, have evolved into wet shoes and long runs on the treadmill. With roughly 10 weeks of training left many of us will begin to feel burnt out or defeated. As we close in on the bulk of our training, Don’t forget why.

Don’t forget why you signed up for the Marathon in the first place. Maybe it was a bucket list item, maybe to honor a loved one, or maybe you are chasing that coveted Boston Qualifier time, but don’t forget why. It’s easy to lose focus as the weather turns cold and the next mark on the calendar is seemingly a forever away. These next few weeks are where the bulk of the work is done, it is where your goals and dreams will be earned or lost. Unfortunately marathons aren’t like high school history, we can’t cram the day before and squeak by with a passing grade. Remember the feeling of the journey is just as important as the feeling of the finish. There is much to be earned and learned over the next few weeks. So the next time you start feeling a little burnt out or dreading the weekend long run, take a minute to breath in the cool air and splash through a puddle , enjoy the solitude of the River Walk on a cold day, or maybe just pump up the music and sing along on the treadmill. Just don’t forget why." - Matthew Wallace