No, it wasn’t the Martha’s Vineyard half marathon that I signed up for - that’s next week.

No, it was my own half marathon. Today I ran 13.1 miles to prove to myself, and my body, that I could.

No cheering spectators on the side of the road.

No closed off roads; I had to share it with cars.

No other runners with the same goal.

No finish line.

No medal at the end.

Just me.

I did this because my nearly year long training has taken me from couch potato to running the longest distance I have ever ran in my life.

I did this because who knows what might happen between now and 5/19 (the date of the vineyard half).

I did this because who knows that might happen during the actual race on the vineyard itself.

My body wanted to quit at mile 10. My mind started to quit at mile 11. But my heart pushed forward.

And I finished. In my mind, I won and nothing can defeat me today.

Except going up and down stairs... stairs are evil...

Man, 13.1 miles is far...