I did it!

If you recall my previous thread (sore/ tight muscles - can't complete training,) I was in bad shape 1 month ago & I never completed my training. Nor did I ever run more than 29 miles in a week. Yet I was able to accomplish 2 of my 3 goals. 1st, was to complete the 26.2. 2nd, was to do it under 4 hrs (my time: 3:58.) 3rd goal was to get under 3:45, but I really didn't count on that one because of the major setbacks during training. I was so over come with joy crossing the finish line I was literally at the verge of tears. Today, being the day after, I'm walking awkward, but the soreness has already started to decrease from yesterday. It's a dull soreness & tightness involving all muscles on both legs - nothing like the sharp pain in my left quads that I had a month ago.

Now I'm really excited & encouraged for next year. I'm planning on entering the Marine marathon in Wash DC, so I have just over 1 year to prepare. I calculate (from lots of data collected over the Internet & my good 8 to 8.5 pace for 2/3 of this race) that I can knock off 20 min. by being better trained, and another 10 min. by loosing another 10 lbs. This will get me over the finish line under 3:30, which will qualify me for Boston in 2010 at age 45. I'm convinced that if I do everything perfect (as humanly possible) over the next year, this goal is possible. What do you all think?