Stephanie is Ready to take on the Mount Desert Marathon in ME!

I'm inspired by Meggy (who I've known since we were little on Star Island), and all of you. I registered to run the Mount Desert Island Marathon on October 18th. I've been jogging for fitness much of my life, but never raced more than a 5K. I am 44 and have grey hair, but I am strong. I get obsessive about activities that combine art and science - glasswork, baking and now running seems to fit into this too. I have gone and back and forth in my mind - thinking this is an awesome year or the worst year to run a marathon. But my kids are finally old enough to leave while I run, and running has been my little escape during the crazy. I feel ready to take this on, and I start my official training today.

The challenge for me will be a bad hip. I broke my pelvic bone in college and the Psoas on my right side has never been the same. I have been strength training my core like crazy and it's only a minor sensation (trying to not use the word "pain"), but I fear that it will start to act up as I increase milage.

MDI is one of the few races that hasn't been cancelled. Anyone want to join me? Even if it's just to gather before or after the race to celebrate Our Common Thread? It is an award winning course - in autumn on an island in Maine. (There's a 1/2 marathon too.)