RunningFool

I don't know about you but unless I have goals to work towards, I'm not a happy camper. Having just completed a major running goal of running the 2012 Disneyland Half Marathon as my 50th half marathon event, it's time to turn to an even bigger goal. The marathon. A full marathon. 26.2 miles of challenge. And what better marathon event to shoot for than the 20th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Marathon in January 2013.

Although I have completed hundreds of running events in the 20+ years I've been on the road, one thing I've not done well with in the past few years is training. Like many of you, I'm balancing work, school (a Masters program), and a hectic home life. I'm a consultant and I currently travel each week from my home on the west coast to support my client in Chicago so I'm at the airport and on planes for hours each week not to mention living at hotels Sunday thru Thursday. With this schedule, it's easy to shove training for a run to the side. While I've so far managed to get away with this for half marathons, there is no way I can do so for a full marathon without risking major damage.

So, I'm starting an official 18-week training program (a modified beginner/ intermediate schedule from Hal Higdon) on Monday September 10th. Each Sunday I'll post my training schedule for the week here in this blog as well as provide commentary on how the previous week's training went. By going public with my training, I'm hopeful that I will have a better chance of keeping on schedule and task as most of us tend to become more accountable when others are watching. I'm also hoping that many of you will join along with me in training for your first (or your 50th) marathon and will share your successes, suggestions, and setbacks here as well.

I may be a running fool but hopefully by the end of this challenge I will no longer be a foolish runner! The fun starts here Sunday September 9th.

Foolishly yours,

The RunningFool