Countdown!

Okay, so I have 26 days, 16 hours and 26 minutes until the starting gun goes off at the San Diego Rock-n-Roll Marathon and just writing about it is sending my nerves into “frantic” mode.

I was just checking up on the marathon Web site and found out that I get a free beer after the race. Quite the incentive!

My training has been going well. I ran a 19-miler two weeks ago and will run 21 miles this weekend! Surprisingly, 19 miles was rather enjoyable…well, maybe not for my knees.

For my birthday in April, I got a watch that tracks your pace per mile, distance, time and a lot of other stuff that I haven’t quite figured out yet. It’s nice to not have to drive a distance before my run. I just strap on the watch, head out and keep running until the watch tells me to stop. I also got some running clothes, Asics running shoes and something to hold my key. No more key blisters!

During the 19-mile run, I discovered a cool hidden trail that was shaded by trees. Unfortunately, since it’s getting hotter it’s becoming more difficult to control my runner’s tan line. Maybe tan lines mid-arm and mid-leg will be fashionable this summer? Eh, probably not, but I’ll definitely be rockin’ the look.

Also, my weight training couldn’t be better! Honestly, lifting weights has helped me keep my endurance during my long runs. I’ve seen a huge difference in my stamina since my first training experience in 2005 when I only ran. And, I’m starting to get muscles that I never knew existed.

I was talking with a co-worker the other day who ran a few marathons when he was my age. His best time was about 2 hours and 36 minutes and his worst time was just over three hours. That’s less than six minutes per mile! Yeah, wow! I’m hoping to come in somewhere between 4 and 4.5 hours with a pace between eight and nine minutes per mile.

So, being the competitive person I am, one evening I decided I’d pick up my pace to determine if I could run a quicker marathon. The first mile I ran in an exhausting 6:30 minutes. I felt like “The Flash” during that first mile. However, the second mile I had to slow down to a seven-minute pace. I then had to take a break before I finished the last two miles at my normal speed.

I’m hoping that I will eventually be able to run a marathon in three hours or less. And by eventually, I mean in a few years. But, that’s not going to happen for this marathon. My goal is to finish the race — and finish without injuring myself.