Turtle Training : 2008 : January

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I'm training for my third marathon, the B&A on March 2, 2008 (still trying to type that the first time!). The first was the B&A a year ago. I ran it in a long time -- almost 5:30. Had to walk a bit. The second was the Marine Corp in 2007, basically 7 months later. Ran that in just over 4:39. I was thrilled. It definately helps that the weather is cooler. My goal for the B&A this year is under 4:30. But a great thing is happening -- I'm actually getting faster. I think the tempo and interval runs are beginning to pay off.

I ran a 10 mile tempo run last night. Temps were in the low 50s. Great running weather. And I ran fast (for a turtle, that is). Completed the run in 1:28:20 -- averaging 8:50 per mile. Now, mind you, there is no way I could keep that up for a full marathon. Not yet anyway. But not too long ago I could not have run a 10k that fast. In fact, I was running 10ks in about that total time.

So, I'm beginning to think the unthinkable -- maybe a turtle can break 4 hours in a marathon. Probably not this Spring. But, maybe in the fall.

Strutting onward, chest out!

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2008 Marathon Schedule

Posted by Steve Carton Jan 4, 2008

I've cast my die and registered for three marathons in 2008. Now I have to get kickin with the training again. I signed up for the Baltimore-Annapolis (B&A) marathon on March 2, the Frederick marathon on May 4 and the Baltimore marathon on October 11.

I had pretty much committed to doing Frederick with my RB -- he lives close to that area, and it turns out there is a "special" (as in "rode the short bus"?) deal called the "Maryland Double" -- register for and complete the Frederick and Baltimore marathons in 2008 and get a discount on the entry fee and also a special double-finisher medal. So that seemed like a reasonable thing to do. I was planning to run something in the fall, and I think the Marine Corp is just too big.

So I had two. And then I started remembering how much I loved the B&A marathon, which was my first one (spring 2007). I couldn't resist. And, since I'm a member of the Annapolis Striders anyway, it's pretty much a requirement to run that race, isn't it?

So let the training begin...