“RS” sent us a comment that sums us quite nicely the sentiment around marathons and especially the Reggae Marathon.  It inspires me to keep going through this nagging foot injury.  I hope it does the same for you:

I think my primary running resolution for 2011 is to convince myself that I still have one marathon left in my tank. And if I do have one left, I can’t think of a better way to finish out my marathoning career at the ’11 Reggae Marathon, and then after crossing the finish line in Negril, simply “retire” to running races no greater than the half-marathon distance, without ever entertaining the thought of finishing a full marathon again.

I’m at the age where my best running days are clearly behind me. I’m a former sub-3 marathoner who, due to the toll running has taken on my knees, now has a hard time breaking the 4 hour mark for the 26.2 mile distance. I’ve run the Boston, New York, Chicago, and Honolulu Marathons many, many times over. I even managed to run a sub 3 Boston “back in the day” when I was a fairly decent runner. But like I mentioned, I’m now struggling to run marathons well anymore. What used to be easy for me has become a challenge I’m no longer finding as fun as I used to. Marathoning has almost become a “been there, done that” kind of thing for me now, and the thrill I once enjoyed in crossing a marathon finish line just isn’t there anymore. I attribute this to my increasing times and overall lack of enthusiasm (being brought on by age) in the marathon distance.

But running and marathoning have been such a great part of my life. Being involved with running has done wonders for my body…other than my knees, of course. It still is pleasing to me to be able to fit into a pair of size 28 jeans at this stage of my life and occasionally get the comment that I’m so much younger looking than my true age. Running, to me, is a fountain of youth pill that I will never entirely not be involved with.

But even as Brett Favre must retire someday (at least I think), so must I. I’m at the stage where I think it’s time not to give up running in its entirety. Just scale back on the full marathoning. And in doing so, I can’t think of a better place to finish out my marathoning hobby, by entering this 26.2 mile long running party in Jamaica. I’m looking forward to running the Reggae Marathon, which to me sounds like a marathon without all the pressures and hype that I’ve experienced with big-city runs. I just want to one time run a marathon with no expectations and no concerns about qualifying for anything…I just want to run the Reggae Marathon to enjoy running for what it is…the superb pleasure of running for the sake of running…and when the race is over, join the party with other runners on the beach in Jamaica.

I can’t think of a better way to finish up one’s marathoning! See you in December ’11!

Thanks ‘RS’.  We’ll see you at Reggae Marathon 2011 for sure.

Until next time…

Reggae Marathon RunninGuy

(NOTE:  Feature photo is courtesy of Karen Fuchs )