Running for a reason

My brain is on overdrive.

Just yesterday someone asked me "why" I was running a marathon in February 2012.  The question was not like the "Whys?" that I usually get (as in "WHY are you running a MARATHON?? Have you lost your MIND?" - Well, yes, but that's besides the point.) She was wondering for what purpose I was running the marathon.

I have to say, I was speechless for a minute. (And those of you who know me, know I'm rarely speechLESS.)

To do something on my bucket list?  To do something cool?  To do something I don't think I can really do? (Ok, scratch that one as it's not positive.) To celebrate my 50th birthday with something only a small percentage of the world population does?  To burn so many calories I can eat the entire German Chocolate Birthday Cake by myself and not gain an ounce?  (Ok, that one is totally legit.)

I. Don't. Know.

But I've been thinking about this question even before I was asked.  When I went to the last health expo for the half marathon I ran, I noticed several groups there who represented charities that ran on behalf of fundraising for that group.  Some groups have training available if you run with them, some have free tech shirts or running groups to help motivate you.

So I started thinking about what charities I might be interested in raising money and awareness for if I were to do the Cowtown Marathon as a fundraiser.

One charity came to mind immediately.  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  See, I happen to live with a diabetic.  My amazing 19 year old was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes when he was only 12.  As of September 9th, he will have had diabetes for 7 years.  That's 7 years of needles, finger pricks, shots, multiple daily blood sugar checks, not always being able to eat what he wanted and 6 long years of being tethered to an insulin pump that serves as his pancreas.

I can't think of a better reason to run a marathon.

So I'm going to check into this a bit more and pray about it.  I did find out from the fundraising site on JDRF that they use Jeff Galloway as their cyber trainer.  What a cool coincidence! I also love their motto:

Train. Inspire. Cure.

The difference between try and triumph is a little bit of umph.  (Anonymous)

I got plenty of UMPH.