Philadelphia Marathon Update: 23 Days

Things are really moving quickly, I've only got about 3 more weeks to go. Last update I was full of doubt, but I've had some good runs and slowly my confidence is building up. On Saturday I ran 10 miles, and this Saturday I'm shooting for 15 miles. Though I'm still left wondering just how accurate Google Maps are when it comes to short distances. I think for the longer runs, like the 15 miles, I may head to a local high school track for something a little more precise. Part of me is hoping that my normal routine is longer than the advertised 2.5 miles, and a little part of me is scared that it's shorter.

The big news is, however, that apparently no headphones are allowed at the marathon. That just doesn't seem right. Don't listening to music and running go hand in hand? I'm gonna go ahead and guess this is a rule that everyone breaks, because I'm not sure how I'd do without my mp3 player. Like I've said before, running is incredibly boring.

At this point my goal is to hit 20 miles by the 6th of November, that should give me almost two weeks to slow things down and recoup before the marathon. I'm now confident I will finish, the only question is at what pace. Currently the over-under is looking like somewhere around 5 hours, but I'd really like to drop that to 4 1/2.

I think sometime this week I'm gonna actually make the plunge and submit my application and payment. Which along with buying a pair of running shoes, will probably clear me out. I guess it's time I start filling out some applications of the job variety.

Philadelphia Marathon Update: 34 days

When I first decided I was going to run the Philadelphia Marathon (all of five days ago) I just thought it would be something to do, you know, a nice challenge, while also providing some interesting material to write about. I thought it would be kind of funny and offbeat to write about the adventure of preparing for a marathon in just over a month. But I really don't think I ever really thought about how much work it is. This is because, while I may sit for time on end and debate whom should be the 6th defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins, weighing all the options, comparing and contrasting, I am constantly not putting enough thought into the big decisions that are actually part of my life. It's a horrible habit.

And by the way, I don't care what they tell you, it's Alain Nasreddine.

So I ran 2.5 miles on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Then I ran 5 miles on Saturday and Sunday. And besides a lot of sore muscles, I've also got some interesting observations out of all of it.

First, running is boring. Dear Lord, it really is. I mean, the first few times, it was alright. I was excited about getting started, and it was nice to be out doing something. But the novelty was exhausted pretty quickly. And so was I.

Also, I may want to consider cutting this ridiculous Richie Tennenbaum hair. Keeping my hair this long for a marathon may be just too much. Or it might just be awesome. Who knows, juries still out.

I'm also thinking I'll probably have to pick up the pace this week. Last week I ran 17.5 miles, at about 9 minutes a mile. I'm taking today off, but I think I'll try 5 miles of Tuesday and Thursday, 2.5 miles on Wednesday and Friday, and then go for 10 miles on Saturday. The goal is to get up to running 20 miles on the 3rd of November, and then slowly tapering off as I prepare for the marathon on the 18th.

I should also state at this point that I have no idea how this is going to work out. I've tried to gauge my time, and right now it's not looking too great. If I can somehow keep up pace as I increase the length on my runs, it'd probably take somewhere between 4 and 4.5 hours. This seems kind of long and I can't help imaging myself collapsed on the street as I'm passed by soccer-moms and senior citizens. Which at this point, is probably my major motivation.

Anywho, I put a nice little poll on the left over there, where you can vote on the likely outcome of this absurd endeavor. Anyone know where I can find a Segway?

Philadelphia Marathon In Five Weeks. Yeah, Why Not?

Yesterday I decided I was going to run in the Philadelphia Marathon. A little research advised me I should run for a year, and then adhere to a strict 18-week training regiment before attempting to run a 26.2 mile marathon. I have 39 days. This should be fun.

I wouldn't say I'm the most unhealthy person in the world. I played some soccer in high school. There was a time when I rode my bike a couple miles to work. I was on a softball team a couple years back. But I certainly don't regularly exercise. I mean, who does? It's like flossing.

At first I considered the half-marathon, which true to it's name, is only 13.1 miles. This is whats recommended for first timers. But I figure if I'm gonna do this, I might as well do it right. Oh, and also, the mental image of me jogging with a bunch of seniors citizens didn't look .

Registration is over a hundred dollars, at least this late it is. It's not like I'm poor (actually, it's exactly like that), but paying that much to run the streets of Philadelphia seems a little overpriced. I could run in Philadelphia any day. Granted I'd probably get ran over, stabbed, and/or shot. But whose to say that's not gonna happen at the marathon.

With a little help from Google Maps I've selected a nice jogging route thats just a little under two and a half miles. I figure that's a good starting point. Eventually I'll kick it up, maybe run run two laps for about five miles.

Seems easy enough. I can do this. I don't even know what I'd do with the other 13 weeks.