Participating but Not Registering for the Chicago Marathon

I decided not register for the Chicago Marathon this year. I need time away from the distance and look at the bigger picture.  It takes a lot of time and energy invested in one race. A series of minor setbacks (here and here) derailed my progress the past two years.  This year I need to address these issues. Despite all this, I’m still participating in the Chicago Marathon.

If I’m not registering to run the Chicago Marathon in 2014, how am I still participating? There are many opportunities to be involved.  This is what I want to do in 2014:

• CARA Summer Marathon Training Pace Group Leader-  CARA offers a great marathon training program each summer. The training program relies on dedicated volunteers. After coming back from my minor knee strain, I became the run-walk group leader at the Busse Woods location.  I came back to discover the original group leader felt it wasn’t the right fit.  I loved the challenge of leading a group and camaraderie that I’m coming back to help new marathoners.
• Volunteering- I have volunteered for the Chicago Marathon and Shamrock Shuffle in the past and would like to be more involved.  Key Volunteers fill leadership and management roles on race weekend.  It’s a few steps up from the responsibilities I had as a general volunteer.
• Sharing My Experience – I learned a great deal in the five years of training and attempting the marathon.  I hope to share my experience with my training group and those finding my website.  I hope people can learn from my mistakes, struggles, and successes so they can put together a great year of marathon training.

I came to this sport six years ago to find a challenge and to prove something to myself. I ended falling in love with the run. I’m looking forward to my new role in running.

To all the new and experienced runners finding this post, what motivated you to sign up for your first marathon?  If you’re not running the marathon, what do you do for the love of running?

I wish everyone good luck and safe training for your race. I’ll see you at the finish line.