A deal is a deal.

Let me say this right off the bat ---- I am a die hard University of Wisconsin fan.  When I hear "Varsity" or "On Wisconsin," I might get a little bit teary (is that really so bad?).  I get tense during Badger games, to the point of stomach pains.  My best friend from college (also a die hard Badger fan) and I text during games to get out frustrations.  I have Badger socks, t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, shorts.  I even have Badger signs in my office.  My computer screen saver is Bucky Badger.  Yet, since January 2, 2011, I have been wearing Michigan clothing and hats.  Why? Because a deal is a deal. 

I hate the University of Michigan.  It's an amazing school and many of my closest friends went there, but there isn't another team I like to beat more. My friends knew that nothing would be more emotionally painful than having to train in Michigan clothing and wear a Michigan hat and t-shirt during my first half marathon because it would be a constant reminder of hating Michigan.  I'll admit, when I got back to New Orleans after the Rose Bowl I didn't really envision this whole deal.  But, waiting for me was an array of Michigan t-shirts and a Michigan hat.  When I "complained" that the hat wasn't of the quality I anticipated --- more arrived.









So the deal is that I have to train in them.  I have to run in them.  Basically, anything athletic that I do until crossing that finish line on May 29, 2011, I have to wear them.  I've been really good about it.  As I am "required to do," I have been posting the proof on Facebook.  Here are just a few examples.





So, how does this play into running?  I've caught a lot of crap from my fellow Badgers about this.  They can't believe that I'm making good on this.  They don't understand why, as a lawyer, I don't find a little bit of wiggle room.  The truth is, this whole situation is motivating me.  The harder I train and the more diligent I am, the quicker than May 29, 2011 will be here.  The harder I train and the more diligent I am the faster I will be able to cross the finish line and promptly put on a Wisconsin hat and t-shirt.  The harder I train and the more diligent I am the more I HATE Michigan and want Wisconsin to beat them at every possible opportunity.

The good news, though, is that I did find a little bit of wiggle room.  On Saturday my beloved Badgers beat former #1 Ohio State in basketball.  Michigan hates Ohio State more than just about anything, so I loved seeing the following on Facebook with the status update along the lines of, "all of my Michigan friends can thank me later."

I figured that my Michigan friends would be so happy that Ohio State went down, that they would let me have that wiggle room I needed.  After all, according to the deal I have to wear a Michigan hat and a Michigan shirt --- but what a Michigan hat and shirt are have never been defined.  I figured as long as it said Michigan and was Michigan's colors (blue and maize) that I was kosher --- so I went with it yesterday.  That little bit of wiggle room has given me that extra motivation I needed --- especially as I am coming up upon the time when training needs to kick into high gear.  It might not seem like a lot, but it has made all of the difference.



It says Michigan and it's blue and maize.

So, for the next few months I will continue to suffer and wear that ugly shade of maize.  But, it isn't the maize that will make the difference on race day --- it is going to be the wiggle room.