I am a marathoner! Unfortunately, I have been running better than I have been blogging lately. A of right now weeks 5 and 6 are in the books and we are 1/2 done with week 7! Week 5 was looking back was a great week in regards to running, but I also worked more that week than I have since I started the marathon training. The big news for week 5 was the 10 miler on Saturday. Once again that was at the time the farthest I have ever run. Of course that lasted about 7 days until week 6's 11 miler. Both double-digit runs went well. It wasn't always easy, but I finished both runs with a 10-something mile pace. Cardio-wise that is very slow for me, but I find on these long runs that if I try to run them any faster than 10/miles, the lactic acid builds up too quickly in the run. This makes the long runs very difficult physically. Therefore, I started running my weekday rune as fast as I think I can for the mileage at hand and runs the long Saturday runs slow enough to finish. So far its seems to be working as I have accomplished a 5 mile with an 8:58/mile and am averaging somewhere in the mid 9:00/mile. This Saturday is a 12 miler. Tonight "taller than me," "the starter" and I watched the movie "Spirit of the Marathon" which was awesome. I'm sure we'll be watching that one the night before the big day. I am loving this experience and am getting more excited as the big day approaches. I do wish my recovery was a little quicker but that could be because I am not stretching afterwards like I need to and am not hydrating very well after the runs. Well, I look forward to Saturday's long run and blog. For those out there that are following and running keep up your good work too! I am a marathoner and you could be too!

Week 4 Marathon Training Complete

I am a marathoner! And I finally felt like one this past Saturday. If you recall, my 7 miler was a horrible experience. Then again, so was everyone's run that day. It must have been the unusual humidity that day. Anywhoo, our 8 miler this past Saturday was an awesome run for all four of us. I felt hydrated, i hydrated throughout the run, took 800mg Motrin before the run, and all was well. I even sped up on the last lap (2.5 mile lap). It would be tough for me to describe the feeling after that run. It was perhaps the first time all four of us had a realization that we really will finish this marathon. I remember thinking during my 7 miler that there was no way I could do 8 the next week. Now, after doing the 8 miler, I cant wait for the 10 miler this Saturday. The book talks about creating two mental "video tapes." These are used during moments of weakness throughout the marathon to keep your mind off the pain when you hit "the wall." I remember coming down the straight 1/2 mile finish this past Saturday picturing the finish line of the actual marathon. I definitely cannot describe the awesome feeling as I pictured that. I realized the importance of that mental "video tape" and how awesome that real life marathon finsih will be because I am a marathoner! This week we ran 3, 5, 3, 8 for a week's total of 19 and a training total of 67 miles!

Week 3 Marathon Training In the Books

I am a marathoner! However, I probably wouldn’t have said that this past Saturday. This week's goal was 3, 4, 3, 7. The 3, 4, 3 was easy--it was the 7 that got me. However, I did finished. Up to now this has been a breeze, but this past Saturday's 7 was disproportionately harder than the 5 or 6 from previous Saturdays. From the waist up I was fine. I felt like I could have run 26.2 miles. Even my pace was fine, but from the waist down I felt like the victim of a tragic farming accident. I was hurting all over. Though it was abnormally humid Saturday, I am hopeful that my problem was that I hadn’t stretch all week after my runs. I am hopeful of that because I have to run 8 this coming Saturday. Again, the power of the group kept me/us going. *The starter,* *taller than me,* *the red headed greek,* and I finished all 7. I know at one point 15 mins was tough or the thought of a mile and a half, but now we have all completed 7. At times this is more tough than I thought it would be, but at the same time that makes it that much sweeter. Also, though I need the group to help me finish my runs, I couldnt imagine doing this without these guys. What's better than finishing your first marathon? Finishing your first marathon with great friends. Next week--8. We will finish. We are marathoners!

I am marathoner. Week 2 was successful. Ran a total of 16 miles. I am looking forward to week 3.

Week 1 Day 2

I am a marathoner. Today I woke up on time, put on my clothes, grabbed my Gatorade, and headed out the door. I was the first one there this morning, which is great considering what happened yesterday. I was excited this morning. I remembered the camera. I couldn’t wait to see the guys in order to get started. I was hydrated. I was dressed right. I was pumped. I was also in the wrong place! I went to the wrong running spot! I couldn’t believe I made two big mistakes in two days! At any rate, I finally remembered where I was supposed to be and headed there. I was still there in time for the run. Everyone was there and everyone gave their all. We ran 4 miles today, which is the farthest I have ever run. It’s hard to believe I will even top that this coming Saturday when we run 5 miles. I was also excited that I remembered to hydrate with 6-8 ounces of fluid at the 15-20 minute mark. I thought it would feel weird to drink and continue running, but after just one burp about 30 secs later, I was good. Tomorrow is a rest day and I am looking forward to it!

Week 1 Day 1

I am a marathoner. Today was the big day. Today was the day I have been waiting for for about six weeks now. Today was the culmination of a life-changing decision, three friends, new clothes, and some who laugh at what I am going to do. Today was the begining of a journey. Today was the day I was to break self-made boundaries. Today was day one of marathon training. Today was the day I overslept. I now right!?!?! The problem was that I stayed up till 2am writing a paper, set my alarm, but didnt turn it on. Not only did I wake up one minute before my run was to start, but I was supposed to bring the camera and in my dash out the door, I even forgot that. Fortunately *taller than me* texted me to wake me up. So, *the starter*, *taller than me*, *the red headed greek*, and Mike all ran there three miles today. Everyone did better than they expected. Tomorrow--four miles. I have never ran that far! thats ok--I am a marathoner.

Night Before Marathon Training

Well, here I sit at 2015 the night before I embark on perhaps the greatest physical feat I have ever tried to conquer, but I am not afraid. I am a marathoner. I will be reading and using the training guide from "The Non-runner's Marathon Trainer." The goal: fininsh the marathon. The goal is not how fast I run and not what place I come in. The goal is to complete my first marathon. I will. I am a marathoner. This will be a time consuming, life-altering challenge, but I have no fear for I am a marathoner. Additionally, I set out tomorrow with help: friends. Me and three others have been pre-training for about six weeks now. It started with one person (we'll call him the starter), who then got me started (we'll call me Mike--that's fitting.) . Then, we picked up another (taller than me we'll call him). Finally, another pal hopped on board (the red-headed greek). Together we will be marathoners. On January 11, 2010 we will complete our first marathon. We will start at 0555 and run 26.2 miles through the four kingdoms at Walt Disney World. I can already picture us all coming across the finish line with our hand sin the air. Why should you follow this blog? To watch as four ordinary men conquer self-made boundaries. We're not long distance runners, yet. Some of us don't even like running. However, liking or not liking to run has nothing to do with a marathon. "Training for and running a marathon is not a single event; rather it is an experience. It is a discovery of self that will forever change your perceptions, perspectives, priorities, and possibilities. You will meet yourself at what you thought were the boundaries of your potential and endurance and watch in awe as they evaporate to reveal only open expanse. To know that the only boundaries in life are those which we create ourselves is a discovery which can not be taught--it must experienced" That from my book. Well, tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for for six weeks. I am a marathoner. Are you? You could be. You really could be!