The Year in Review

I recently came across an advertisement that really hit home with me. In the ad, Nike is advertising its 25th year of making the Air Pegasus shoe. Although I don't wear Nike running shoes (I do like their tempo training shorts, though), I thought this ad really spoke to the last year of my life:

"You pretended the snooze button didn't exist. You dragged your butt out of bed while others slept. While others ate their pancakes. You had a feast of protein, glucose and electrolytes. You double-knotted. You left the porch light on and locked the door behind you. You ran. 5Ks, 10Ks, 26.2 miles. Some days more, some days less. You rewarded a long run with a short run. And a short run with a long run. Rain tried to slow you. Sun tried to microwave you. Snow made you feel like a warrior. You cramped. You bonked. You paid no mind to comfort. On weekends. On holidays. You made excuses to keep going. Questioned yourself. Played mind games. Put your heart before your knees. Listened to your breathing. Sweat sunscreen into your eyes. Worked on your farmer's tan. You hit the wall. You went through it. You decided to be a man about it. You decided to be a woman about it. Finished what you started. Proved what you were made of. Just kept putting mile after mile on your internal odometer. For [1 year], you ran. And we ran with you. How much farther will we go? As far as you will."

After a year of training, in only four days, I will be a marathoner...