Marathon Training

Talks of marathons have been in the air for months now.  After backing out of the Marine Corps Marathon just weeks ago, Josh was giving me a lot of grief.  Although I was disappointed with not following through; life just got in the way and my training was weeks behind, I knew that I was making the right decision by not forcing the race.  However, over and over I have heard Josh say anyone could be a marathoner and that it wouldn't take much training to hold a 14 min mile (most course minimums) for 26.2 miles.   After spending a great deal of my life over the last year and a half dedicated to training (over 1000 miles logged) I was a little offended by his statements.  Not that I am a marathoner, nor do I think I am ready now.  But a lot of hard work, sweat and time go into conquering this large goal and it isn't going to be for anyone.  Yet, he persists that most anyone under 35 in moderate health could knock out a race like this on any given day .

And so the challenge began.  He found a marathon, that is now 5 weeks away, and signed us up.  His training plan doesn't exists, crazy I know, and mine was already in a few weeks (from the previous marathon training and multiple half marathons on my list) so it is building quickly now.  I am close to 40 miles a week now (this week will fall short a bit due to a 10 miler this morning being cut to 5...my body just wasn't having it) and really determined to keep this going so that I can no only finish this race but kick Josh's butt.

Tomorrow I will be running the Baldwin Park Half Marathon as part of my training program.  Paying for a race is practically insurance that I will get in a long run and be aggressive with my pace.  Not to mention it comes with a pretty medal at the end to add to the collection.  This race will mark my 6th half marathon for this year and coupled with a 2 mile warm up will give me a 15 mile long run this weekend.  I still feel like I am a little behind building my mileage for the full but at least I will be better off those who aren't training for the full (boy will I be eating my words if he finishes this thing).