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In the past few months, you've likely run on your treadmill until the belt broke, rented “Without Limits” I've times, and read “Once A Runner” over and over while you waited for the snow to melt. And while the first storm may have seemed fun at the time, by the sixth storm in six consecutive weeks, I know the cabin fever was reaching a peak at my house. I had endured more than enough snow, but the snow didn't seem to want to stop.

Marc Witkes, a member of the Colorado Runner magazine staff, died suddenly in the last mile of the Tucson Marathon on Sunday, December 10. He was 40 years old.

I will be the first to admit that I take my running for granted. I had been injured for the better part of a year, but slowly I have started to get back into shape. I live for my running. It’s my way to get out into the nature that I love so much. It is also a way for me to relieve the tension and stress that might have built up during the work day.

Running your first marathon can be challenging. You have to slog through arduous hours of training and keep a commitment no matter what curves life throws your way. But here’s good news. If you’ve signed up for a fall marathon because you love to run and the sport brings you personal satisfaction, it’s likely that you’ll stick with your training schedule and see the finish line soon. However, if you’re hoping to run a marathon so you can lose weight or brag about it to a coworker, you probably won’t stick with it.