Lessons (so far) from a second go-around

After I finished my first marathon–actually, evenbefore I finished it–I swore up and down to anyone who would listen that I would never do another one. That sentiment lasted all of twenty minutes or so after crossing the finish line. Standing there, surrounded by friends and family, with my space blanket wrapped around myself for warmth, I said, “So… maybe [the Napa Marathon] wouldn’t be so bad…”

Four and a half months later, I ran marathon #2 (of what would eventually become 7).

After finishin...