On my way.... to 26.2?

I have a goal.  It's not a resolution (yes, yes it is January 1st), but a GOAL.

I plan to train for a full marathon this year.

Why?  I am not quite sure to tell you the truth.  I'll take a stab at it though.

I started my running journey in June of 2010.  I signed up for a couch to 5K program at my local independent running store, and have not stopped running on a regular basis since.  That first year was a interesting one.  I was pretty overweight, I was not very active and then on a whim I was meeting up with other newbies (and a few repeat offenders- trust me the nicest kind) twice weekly to go through the program.  We made it through and I ran the graduation 5K very slowly... but I ran the ENTIRE distance.  I am not sure I had ever been prouder of myself.

After the programs completion, a couple of the ladies I met in this program agreed to meet and continue to run together.  As with any new routine these accountability partners I gained were priceless, they kept me coming back each week.  They were also trouble (in the best way)... someone suggested we try a half marathon in May.  When you go from complete slackertude to being able to run a 5K, you begin to believe that you are a superhero... that YOU can do anything!  So, due to the peer pressure in the best possible way, I had a goal and I worked towards it.

That May, at the Cincinnati Flying Pig, I completed my first ever half marathon and I had yet to log an entire first year of running!  I was sore, proud and empowered.  But I was NEVER going to do that again.

Well, I won't bore you with the details, but I was wrong.  I did it again.  3 more times to be exact.
2nd: Cincinnati Flying Pig 1/2 May 2012
3rd: Air Force 1/2 Marathon (Dayton) September 2012
4th: Cap City 1/2 Marathon (Columbus) May 2013, followed by the first leg of the FP Marathon relay the next day in Cincy.

First half marathon, I ran and walked and suffered a ghastly time, but each time after that I have improved and since that first one I have ran each race from the start line to the finish line.  I am not saying that is what I expect out of any of you, it was a personal goal.. and a personal achievement I am very proud of.

So now why the FULL MARATHON?  I can only share that sometime late last summer/fall I began to  feel like I was finally ready.  It could be that one of my best running pals from that first group of runners, Tammy, ran her first 26.2 this past October and I think watching her train and prepare helped me to believe that I might be able to do it too.  I was so thrilled and excited for her the night before she left for the race.  All I know is the idea started to haunt me, I could not let it lie.

I started looking around for my ideal first full.  I toyed with the Glass City in Toledo... but that is in April and my weekly mileage is not where I need it to be in order to be ready for that distance in 4 months.  I found the Wineglass in New York in October and it appealed to me for many reasons.  
1) A smaller race-- (I hate crowds)
2) An area of the country I haven't seen and would like to see
3) Far enough out on the calendar that I have time to ramp up my mileage to get properly trained.
4) A point to point course.  This race does not fold back on itself!

Goal: train for my first full marathon at the Wineglass in New York.  This should be fun!