C'mon, blog, light my fire!

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." --Steve Prefontaine.

I am starting this blog because I have hit a mental plateau with my running. Over the past month, after finishing the Minneapolis Marathon on June 6th, I have failed to keep myself in running shape and have lost focus of some of my long-term goals. Hopefully, if I know that a few extra eyes are watching my progress (or lack thereof) from afar, I will scare myself into going the extra mile--pun definitely intended--and get myself back on track.

After finishing the marathon last month, I started eating progressively worse, maintaining a piss-poor sleeping schedule, and running shorter distances and at a slower pace. The 26.2 took a little out of me, and my body still isn't 100% recovered. Still, I believe most of my problems are mental, not physical. I don't really have the drive, and I view my nightly run as a nuisance instead of a pleasure. There is a deep, overwhelming passion that can take over a runner. I have felt it before. I just can't now.

I caught a glimpse of that passion through the ghost of a dead man. Steve Prefontaine, the man credited with the opening quote of this blog, was a standout distance runner at the University of Oregon and for the U.S. Olympic Team. I read his biography a couple of weeks ago after my roommate recommended it. Just looking at pictures of the man running, with his mustache and wild hair, ignited a flame (although not an all-out bonfire) in me. Has that ever happened to you? Where you're drawn to a picture of someone or something? His story, his photos, his quote--they all convinced me to give my best a shot.

So with that thought in mind, let the bloggin' and joggin' begin.

Here are three running goals that I have in mind:

1. As of July 11th (today), I have an active streak of running at least a mile every day for 923 days. My New Year's resolution for 2008 was to run a mile every single day. I did it, and then some. This streak is non-negotiable to me. I have run with a 103 degree body temperature, through tornado warnings and blizzards, on mountains and in the Vegas heat, and through breakups and the death of a loved one. No matter where this blog or my progress take me, keeping this streak alive and well is my primary goal.
2. I have run two marathons: Chicago (2009) and Minneapolis (2010). I am scheduled to run the Chicago Marathon again this year, and one of my goals is to lower my time. Finishing is always good, too.
3. To be faster.

I have included a picture of Pre. Stare into those eyes. Try and tell me you're not a little freaked out.