Tossing the fat girl clothes

This Sunday, I'm running my second Disney Marathon.

I ran my first one on January 8, 2012. That marathon had so many high-points and so many interesting memories. One interesting memory occurred right before the start of the race. Racers all around me were bundled up in thermal blankets and throw-away sweatshirts and jackets. As the minutes counted down before the fireworks went off to signify the start, thousands of runners took off and wadded up their throw-away clothes and blankets and tossed them over to the sidelines. There were so many people doing this that it looked and sounded like like a scene from a movie where battle arrows fly across the night sky. I think my eyes got as big as saucers and I quietly squeaked, "Wow!"

I was so very cold before the start of that race.

I just had on my running clothes. No sweatshirt, no blanket.

So this year, I am determined to be better prepared.

I bought hand warmers for myself, Karen and Kylie (who will be cheering for me). I have a thermal blanket.

And I picked out a jacket. But this jacket has such a history. I have loved it. It is the perfect weight and proportion of softness and ruggedness. I have worn this jacket so many times.

Here is me and the jacket at Niagara Falls in 2004.


And me and the jacket at the Grand Canyon in 2005.


And as you can tell, I was quite a bit heavier then.

It took me a while to work up the nerve but back in 2011, after losing 70 pounds, I took almost all my former fat girl clothes to Goodwill. There are only a few pieces left. And this jacket is one of them.

But it is time to let it go. It doesn't fit and hopefully it never will again.

This Sunday, I will thank it for it's many years of providing me with warmth. I will thank it for warming me on Sunday's race morning. And then I will happily chuck that jacket away and go run a marathon.