Let the Training Begin!

It is hard to believe that my 16-week training program for the Marine Corps Marathon begins tomorrow! I know how quickly the time is going to fly by remembering back to last year when I trained for the Philadelphia Marathon. I feel so much stronger and confident this year. It's amazing what a difference 1 year can make- especially when I continue to see progress with my endurance and speed.

One of the best things I did last year was to run with the Bucks County Road Runners, a local running group in my area. There was a Winter Series of about 10 races with varying distances ranging from 3.1 to 13.1 miles through Tyler State Park which has some very challenging hills! Running Tyler gave me the confidence to tackle the hills that are in my own local community and housing development. Running with a couple hundred fellow runners each Sunday through the winter in all types of conditions was a great experience!

So, here I am on the eve of my training program feeling pretty relaxed knowing that I will definitely be challenged along the way but know that I have the stamina and determination to stay committed and focused. October 28 will be here soon enough and I will be Ready!!

Best wishes to all of you out there who are also starting their training programs for the fall lineup of Marathons!

Happy and Safe Training!
John

July 4 Revolutionary Run 10K

Another holiday…. another race… and another PR! This year I participated in the 10K Revolutionary Run in Washington Crossing, PA on the 4^th of July. It was a challenging day due to the weather conditions – about 74 degrees and humid at race time (8:30am). I definitely took advantage of all of the water and Gatorade stations to keep myself hydrated and managed to achieve a new PR for a 10K: 52:36. That's an 8:28 minute mile so I was very pleased to be able to come in under 8:30 (just by a nose hair!). Overall, I placed 222^nd out of 599 runners. And, I placed 43^rd out of 94 runners in my age group (50-59).

Next up is the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on July 22^nd!

Safe Running Folks!
John

June Highlights

Reflecting on my running accomplishments each month is yet another way for me to stay motivated and inspire me to set new goals. When I look back at June, although I intentionally reduced my total mileage, I ran 5 races (2 5K's, 5 miler, 6 miler and a half marathon) and managed to achieve 2 new PRs (40:40 for a 5 Miler and 49:40 for a 6 Miler). Additionally, I placed in the Top 10 in my age group for 2 of the races, including placing 2^nd in my age group for a Half Marathon!

June was a challenge for me. I was recovering from a strained right hamstring that I injured while almost wiping out during a morning run but I stuck with it. Knowing that I had to pull back and let my body heal, I added more rest days to my schedule and I am feeling much stronger now that the healing process is over. Also, it gave me the opportunity to add strength training to my circuit which I had neglected for too many months!

Now that June is over, I will get serious about my marathon training! My 16-week program begins one week from today on July 9. This will prepare me for the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28. I haven't targeted a finish time yet but I am certain I will blast away my 4:23:46 finish in last year's Philadelphia Marathon. Based on my improved performance this past winter and spring, I am confident that I will be able to shave off at least 20 minutes on my total time. Although, it would be really sweet if I was able to come in with a sub-4 hour finish!

As I begin to prepare for my 2^nd marathon race, it still amazes me when I reflect on my accomplishments over the past 4 years. Never understanding the potential that I had hidden deep inside me, I feel truly blessed that I was able to build the self-confidence to believe in myself and go after something that I only dreamed of in the past. Making those dreams reality takes commitment, focus, stamina and confidence!

Fun Running!
John