I am going to die

So this may be the last time you hear from me since I am going to die in less than a week. I will become part of the Chicago highway and be embedded permanently into a yellow line…what a way to go.

At the beginning of this madness one of my main initiatives was to lost weight. One would think that training for a marathon it would be an easy accomplishment but in my case…not so much. I have successfully managed not to lose a single pound. Yes….a little discouraging but who cares right when I can eat chocolate cake and wine all day and not gain anything. That actually might be the “runners high” that these motherfuckas have been talking about. Anyways, I know deep down I needed to make a lifestyle change and even though I didn’t really STOP my lifestyle, I have cut out a lot!!!!!! (That deserved 6 explanation points).

Since starting this I looked at my schedule with disbelief. Not realizing my own limits and not really doing any sort of major physical activity that involved more than reaching reeeeeaaaaaly far for my pack of cigarettes and now being able to look at 8 miles and think of it as a “short run” is bananas. I have been focused on running the marathon this whole time feel like I haven’t really shared all the little moments that make up this huge milestone. It’s not about just running 1 long race but it was about getting there. Challenging my mind, body, liver and lungs in ways they have never really been tested!

It was about tying my shoes laces when my body was screaming
It was about treating various rashes caused by irritating sports bras
It was about Mother Nature testing me through the rain, the wind and the piles of dog shit
It was about waking up @ 5:00 in the morning, alone, only to hear the pounding of my steps, my emphysema kicking in and the leaves that seem to just gracefully sweep out of my way.
It was inspiring people like me to run
It was learning about myself, the average girl, who hopefully will feel like
Lance Armstrong and do something extraordinary.
It was about my attitude and the belief that if I ran 26.2 miles, everything else will seem easy.
It made me prioritize what’s important.

SO the most I have run is 18 miles. I know. I know. I know what you are thinking. To be honest I am scratching my head too. I don’t know why my schedule doesn’t have me training the whole 26.2. In fact I can’t even think of another sport that trains this way! For example, the “triple jump”, they don’t just take 2 jumps and hope the by shear adrenaline they will make the 3 jump?!!! So why is it that marathons only have me training up to 20 miles! My mind cannot come up with any explanation except I think it might be a cruel joke someone played on me, or maybe I didn’t print out the second page of my schedule.

I just found out recently the people that couldn’t make it to Chicago can sign up via the website, enter your cell phone or email and receive updates every couple of miles to see where I am at! If by chance on Saturday you don’t receive any updates for a couple of miles I have either fell into a ditch somewhere- playing dead or in a bar using my bib number as a fuckin coaster, Eitherway.....you can track my ass. You can sign up below. Just copy and paste this link into a new window. http://www.doitsports.com/results/MSG-signup.tcl?sub_event_id=2161

The question I keep getting asked is “Are you ready” Hell fucking no am I ready. I am TERRIFIED but I have to believe IN MYSELF and BELIEVE that I trained hard enough to conquer this. I could get really hurt at mile 2. Start freaking out at mile 3 and think of how I have 23 miles left to go or at mile 16 when my body just starts to say “fuck you Liss” there is a good chance I might not finish but again, I am as ready as I am going to be. I worked my ass off, well…not really my ass per say but I did as well I could.

So with that said I just wanted to give a little shout out to my Whitney Houston entourage that is making the trip to Chicago
1. My sister Kerri: who will be doing her usual song and dance which consists of pots and pans…mixed in with a little Capoeira
2. My girl Stephanie: who will be chain smoking the whole way with a bottle of tequila in her hands.
3. My girl Georgianna: who recently asked me to look into fire safe flares that I could carry on the marathon route to notify them where I am. She also introduced me to my first pair of spandex (She is 3 sizes smaller than me but figured I’d try….I mean there spandex!)
4. My Charlie’s Angels (Marjorie, Jill and Erika) who have supported me this WHOLE time, never complaining and always understanding the importance this marathon was to me. I missed you guys this summer.
5. My girl Fang, you always made me wonder how I was accomplishing all the mileage I did. You were so intrigued by it all and always the first one to ask how training was going. Thanks girl

Without these girls, my friends and my family in my life I think my training would have been a lot harder. Everyone has been soooooo supportive and I am really blessed to have such a great support group. I couldn’t ask for anything else. So with that said I am not only running for me….but for you as well. Don’t ever think you can’t accomplish something….its only your mind that sets limitations. Anything is possible. Shit…..if I can do it…..I know y’all can do it.

Wish me luck!!!