And so it begins...

I am a current runner, but a former competitor... Or at least I was until this past weekend.

Having developed a passion for cross-country and track while competing at both the high school and collegiate level, running is nothing new for me. Following completion of my graduate studies at Quinnipiac University and entering the working world, I soon found it difficult to get out the door for my runs.

For a decade, my motivation to train had come from a desire to earn the praise of my family, my coaches, and my teammates. No one congratulates you for fitting in a 45 minute run after work, and without a race to measure up against my peers in the future, I lost my appetite for running.

During the past two years, running has fit into my life in the same way many other pastimes do. It has served as way to relax after work and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

When I moved to Washington, DC in May '09, my runs enabled me to familiarize myself with the city and the National Monuments. It started out as just a few days a week in between bike rides and weight training sessions, but I soon found myself logging 20-25 miles/week. My fitness had started to return and it was no longer a struggle to finish a 6 miler.

While browsing through Netflix, I came across a documentary entitled The Spirit of the Marathon , which piqued my interest and I subsequently added it to my instant queue. The film chronicles the training involved in preparation for the Chicago Marathon. On a lazy Sunday morning, my brother and I decided to watch the movie. Following the movie, my brother turned to me and asked, "Do you want to run a marathon with me?" Almost reflexively I responded, "Yes."

I now have a goal and a purpose in my training. In the weeks since that lazy Sunday morning, my passion for running has quickly returned.