I did my first -- and only -- marathon in Erie in '99. This was back when it was still run around through the city (now it's two loops of Presque Isle).

I trained for months and months -- all by my lonesome. I realized later that I had probably overtrained because by the time the race came - I was sick to death of running.

The course started at the Avalon, wound around the city, went out to Presque Isle, looped the park and finished at Perry Square. I can point to the exact spot on West 6th Street where I fell apart. I hit the proverbial wall when I thought we were going to have to run through the entire Frontier neighborhood (like we did for the Hamot 10K course) and I started to walk (and cry).

I soon realized it was just one small loop through Frontier, but it didn't matter -- the psychological damage was done & it was all I could do to finish those last couple of miles. All that kept running through my head was -- "Let me stop running. Let me stop running. Let me stop running. Let me stop running. Dear God, please let me stop running."

I did stop -- when I crossed the finish line -- and I was never so grateful for anything to be over in my entire life. I was however shocked to feel absolutely no euphoric sense of accomplishment. In fact, I dare say it was even sort of let down after all of that training and running (and running and running and running).

I finished in 4 hours and 15 minutes. I was hoping for 4 hours and I'd probably have made it if not for the walking and crying jag in Frontier.

I said I'd never do another one. It's hard, it's long, it's a selfish pursuit (you're running for hours and hours on weekends) and I was happy with my 1/2 marathons.

Until now.

For some reason I've been thinking I really want to do another marathon.

Saw an ad in Runner's World Magazine this morning for the Cleveland Rite Aid Marathon on May 20 and I'm thinking this is the one.

I need a challenge -- something to keep me motivated during another loooooooongggg, dark, cold Erie winter. A reason to get on that stupid treadmill every morning -- an attainable goal to strive for.

I'm scared though -- scared to do all that training alone again (boring!), scared to travel to a race (yep, I've done almost all of my races in the Erie area) and I'm scared that I'll fall apart at mile 24 again.

May 20.

Can I be ready by then?

ERC vets -- chime in. Have you done Cleveland? Would you reccomend it? Can I be ready by then? Will I lose it at mile 24 again? Will I get lost in Cleveland?