I am trying to keep my training at a higher level than I normally would after the marathon in hopes that it will put me in better position to complete the next marathon in under 4 hours.  I'm perplexed why I keep hitting the wall near the end.  I've started riding my bike with my wife on the weekends hoping that would help.  It will work some other leg muscles that I don't normally work as hard.  I always hear people talk about cross training and I don't do much so hopefully this will help me break through the wall. 

I do have some races on the schedule for the next couple months.  I'll be doing a half marathon in August, running as a relay team in the Minneapolis Duathlon (my gorgeous wife will be doing the biking), and another half marathon at the end of October.  I'll also try to find a half marathon over the winter.  I think it would be fun to do a half marathon in the snow.  The longest run I've ever done in the snow is a 5k. 

So I think keeping my race schedule full will help keep me motivated and in shape and in line to finally break through the 4 hour mark on the marathon.  I won't be able to run the same marathon in 2011 because I have a trip to Europe planned in May and I don't want to have to worry about training while I'm on vacation.  The trip is to celebrate my 10 year anniversary. I'm very excited. 

I'll give you an update after the next half marathon on August 7th.

LATER GATOR!!!

Well I didn't meet my goal.  I was hoping to cross the finish line under 4:00:00 but I finished at 4:05:35.  I did take 5 minutes off of my time from last year so it wasn't all bad. 

I feel a little lost now that the marathon is over.  I work hard for 5 months following my training schedule and now that it's over I'm kind of just floating at sea.  I took the week after the marathon to rest up.  I didn't run for a couple days and when I did it was very tiring.  So I took a couple more days off and I was good to go by the weekend. 

Now I'm starting to set up my game plan.  It's a little weird looking over a year in the future when it comes to setting up my training schedule.  I'm going to add a couple half marathons this year to keep me ready and in better shape.  I'm going to run a half marathon in August and in October.  I'll see about one early next year.  I think it would be cool to run a winter half marathon.  If I can keep my race schedule full it will help me keep motivated. 

I'll keep you all updated.  Thanks for checking in. 

I just want it to be marathon day.  I want to be at the starting line ready to go.

I bought a new audio book for the run.  I don't think I can give the name on the blog but it is a famous author who has a reoccuring character that is a sports agent and his best friend it a rich debutant.  If you've read him you know what I'm talking about.  Anyway, the last couple times I ran long while listening to a book, it really helped.  It keeps the mind busy so you are not thinking about running for 4 hours straight. 

The latest forcast for Sunday morning is possible rain and thunderstorms.  I would rather have that than it being hot and humid.  The last couple runs I did when it was hot and humid really tired me out.  I was worried about that but I'm feeling better about it. 

Lastly, I feel a little lazy.  I didn't run today and I'm not scheduled to run tomorrow.  I did do pilates this morning but I think I'm going to sleep in tomorrow and be really lazy.  :-)  We'll see if I'll be able to do it or if I'll wake up anyway.  I'm thinking I'll wake up anyway.

I'll drop in again after the marathon.  Good luck to eveyone running and again a BIG THANKS to Prilosec.  Thank you for sponsoring me.

It's hard to believe the marathon is only a week and a half away.  I had my last hard workout this morning.  I had 5 one mile sprints.  I just kept telling myself it was all easy from here. I had a 14 mile run this past Sunday and the sprints today.  Now it's just 5 or 6 miles each day (not to mention 3 days off from running next week).  After 18 weeks of running 6 days a week I fell like I'm slacking.  I know it's to get me rested for the race but it still feels odd. 

I have to be honest, I'm a little nervous for the marathon.  I felt really confident last year and ended up hitting the wall.  I'm worried that might happen again or I might go out to easy and end up not making my goal time.  I keep telling myself that I hit the wall last year and still finished in 4 hours 10 minutes so I should be able to get under 4 hours if I just take it steady.  And after the last couple days of 90 degree/muggy weather I'm worried about that.  What if it's like that on race day.  THAT WOULD SUCK!!  I'd prefer 50 with a light rain. 

All I can do it keep focused and do my best.  I know that will get me to my goal.  Positive thinking.  As a Minnesota Senator used to say "I'm good enough.  I'm smart enough and dog-gone it, people like me".

"shoes too tight" Click to Enlarge