26.2 With Donna

"Google 26.2 With Donna. This is what I want for my birthday."

That was the text that my beloved husband got around midnight one night while he was on call at the hospital. He was very confused as to who the heck "Donna" was, but googled it anyway to find out what exactly I wanted for my birthday.

I wanted to run a marathon.

Not just any marathon. THAT marathon. The National Marathon To Finish Breast Cancer. My request now made more sense to my bleary eyed husband.

"Go for it!"

That was not the response I had expected. I thought I would have to talk him into it. I had a list of arguments all ready to defend my wish. I thought he would think it was just some crazy fleeting idea that I would never see through. I had only a few weeks ago started running to get back into shape after giving birth to our son. I was sure he would think I was biting off more than I could chew. It had only been two weeks since I started getting up at 4:30 in the morning to run before he went to work. I just knew he would think I wouldn't have the discipline to keep doing that.

But I didn't have to explain a thing. I didn't even have to tell him why. He knew. That's how well he knows me. And he supported me. The decision was made.

And thus began my journey to run the 2012 National Marathon To Finish Breast Cancer.