I have a big weekend ahead of me. I'm doing something I've never done before. I will be running my first-ever half marathon. Yes, that's 13.1 miles. To date, my longest run was 10 miles.

So, why am I doing it? It's not because I have any fantasies about placing in my age group or starting a serious running career. Until last spring, my longest race distance was 5 kilometers (3.1) miles. I'm not fast. I should be able to meet the pace requirement of the race I've chosen, but I'll almost certainly finish in the bottom quarter of the race.

So, why I am doing this?

Because on April 15, 2013, two cowards blew up the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Terrorists really have one goal. They want to make you afraid, to get in your head so that you constrain your actions and second guess your choices. They take away your freedom of action and your peace of mind.

My ability to fight terrorism in any real sense is quite limited. I can't stop them, but I can steal their success. I steal their success by refusing to live in fear, to react with prejudice, and to focus on my limitations. So, I'm facing my fears and pushing beyond my limitations. I'll put one foot after another and keep going until I've covered 13.1 miles. It won't be fast and it won't be pretty. But I'll keep going.

And when this Yankees fan wants to stop halfway up the huge hill I know is waiting at mile 8, I'll whisper to myself: Boston Strong. Elf Strong.