Originally pubished 5/20/2008 I woke up this morning to the sounds of the alarm clock buzzing in my ear... and in my natural routine I reach over and smack that very large button on top that says, "Leave me alone". Rinse-repeat. Four times. When I do rise from my warm, comfortable bed it's usually later than I want it to be and I rush around as if I'm late for something important (an internal mechanism considering there rarely is). I still feel like I'm asleep. As I shuffle my feet across the floor towards the shower, I feel the sting of ache in my leg and curse myself for pushing myself too hard running the day before. I've decided to train for the Chicago Marathon this October... again. This will be my second Chicago, and my third marathon overall... this is sometimes met by most people with some form of respect or a wry look and the question, "Why in the world...?". I usually don't have a good answer for that. I suppose sometimes I think it's because I want to be driven, to feel the warm feeling of accomplishment rush over me as I cross that finish line that seemed so impossible when the gun was fired to start. Or maybe it's to keep my waistline from expanding or to add a few years of fight into my heart. This year it feels like a statement. "I won't let my life be a random series of events." "I will be in control of the things I want." I am awake now. I hope I'm not dreaming.