Marathon Thoughts and Am I Superwoman?

I’m seriously considering running a marathon, but I’m also seriously scared. I sketched out a training schedule that has me running a 5k next month (easy!) then starting a half marathon training program (concluding in November or so), then starting a full marathon training program concluding March 1st, the LA marathon. Yikes. I do not want to lose my toenails.

Budget considerations:

• New running shoes, $70 x 2 = $140 (I figure I’ll go through my current pair and up to two more. Realistic?)
• L.A. Race Fee: $105
• Fees for other planned races: $165 (a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and $50 extra in case I want to add another one.)
• Paid Training Program: $0 – $125 (Any thoughts on these?)
• Total: $410-$535 (Am I forgetting anything?)

This takes me from today until the beginning of March, roughly 8 moths of commitment (mostly of time, but also money). It comes out to roughly $50-$65/month. If I’m going to do this, I need to make a Marathon category in my budget, because that is how I like to do things. Where can I steal $50/mo from? I can get $30 by canceling cable, which I probably should just do anyway. I’m reluctant, because I think I get a lot for that $30: DVR service and a lot of channels. In the fall, I will not have a student loan payment. I wanted to save the difference, but I suppose I could divert a small portion to this project.

And what about time? Could I really accomplish all of the following:

• Work full time (40 hrs/week)
• Grad student part time (15 hrs/week)
• Work part time for start-up (10 hrs/week. This is not certain, still considering.)
• Train for a marathon 6 hrs/week
• Plan a wedding (Also not certain, but there is a good probability.) ? hrs/week.
• Sleep (3 hrs/week) Kidding. Much much more than that…
• Have a life

That is about 71 hours a week in committed time (work, part time work, marathon, and grad school). Ten hours a day, including weekends. What are my priorities? My full time job is first, and grad school is second. After that, I’m just not sure. That is what I need to answer for myself.

I’m quite torn about the new opportunity. On one hand, it sounds interesting. I’m not completely sold that the company will be a success, but I think it’ll be viable in the short term and might have long term potential. It would benefit my career even if it fails by diversifying my background. I really feel like turning it away would be a mistake, that I’m young and this is an opportunity I should seize. I know that I absolutely can’t promise any more than 10 hours/week, and I’m not sure he would be interested in that little commitment. If not, I understand, and my choices is made for me… On the other hand… I have a lot of other stuff I want to do now. Could I even manage work + school + part time gig? Am I superwoman?

No, I am probably not superwoman. (But maybe? Possibly?)

(I was up until almost 1 a.m. writing this, thinking, and casually surfing the internet for marathon training info. Sigh. Definitely NOT superwoman.)