#MyChicagoMarathon No. 19

Next month, I'll be running my first ever marathon, the Chicago Marathon. I've used this space, my blog, to document my journey and my preparation leading up to the race (this is my 19th post!). I want to thank you for following me on this journey; I hope that you are enjoying my story.

I'm running the Chicago Marathon for charity. My charity is Action for Healthy Kids. I encourage you to visit my fundraising page (linked), and if you are able/willing donate (I'm so close! I'm just over $100 shy of my goal); THANKS for considering, and THANKS to ALL who have already donated!).



I've been a "runner" for somewhere around 10 years, now. For the most part, it's always been a solitary activity for me. It was something I did to clear my head and think things through. Aside from the physical benefits that I've experienced from running, it's also been an excellent activity to support my mental well being. It still is, and I still enjoy the solitude that running provides.

But recently, I've been doing some runs (especially some of my longer runs) with other people and/or groups of people. And I've realized that running is a pretty great social activity, too. Actually, it's become pretty obvious that some of my better (and maybe even more memorable) runs have come in the company of others. Sometimes it's a further distance, and sometimes it's a faster pace; it usually feels better, probably because you're more likely to leave your thoughts and the barriers that they create when you're by yourself.

So yes, I agree with the quote in the first mage below; it remains to be something that I love about running. But the words in the second image ring true, too. Like most things, balance is key; sometimes it's beneficial to go out and log miles with no one else around, and sometimes it's just fun to go out there and run with a friend.