Day 001

Before getting into the nitty-gritty I want to introduce this blog. As the title surely gives away, this is a marathon blog. Several times I have attempted to participate in a marathon, and several times I have failed before getting to the starting line. In early 2005 I began training for the Maine Marathon which would take place in October of that year. By May I had gotten to 20+ miles per week and started adding intervals in order to get more out of my workouts. I blew my knees and was unable to do the Marathon that year. Each attempt at training for a marathon after that resulted in extreme knee pain by the time I got to around 24 miles a week. In 2009 I was able to successfully train and complete a half-marathon in May and once again set my sight on the Maine Marathon. Once again I stopped my training due to knee pain.


This blog represents my latest attempt to train and complete a marathon. What is different this time (besides cataloging the attempt in blog-form) that will lead to success? Sheer determination perhaps. Most likely the knowledge that my body is slowly deteriorating and with each passing year the chance of success significantly decreases. Also, as I keep telling those who I try to convince to participate with me, it's just one day, just one run. If I can suffer through those 26.2 miles just one time then I can accomplish a life-long personal goal of mine and move on to the next without regret. Maybe that mentality will push my mind further than my body wants to go.


So, today marks day number one. The goal is the Sugarloaf Marathon. I chose this marathon because it is local and because it is one of the fastest marathons in the country, which to me translates as relatively easy on my knees. I've used my trusted source of marathon training info, Hal Higdon, to create my training calendar. Starting with the marathon's date and working backwards I inputted the Novice 1 Training and Spring Training schedules, which brought me to October 24, 2011. I know, people think I'm crazy to run through the winter, especially in Maine. With the right gear (STABILicers, Under Armor, and some biking gloves) it's not bad after a few minutes of warming up.


So, why a blog? Mostly for my own record keeping and inspiration to keep running. I hope that seeing how much time and distance I have put into my goal will make me hit the pavement (or snow drifts) on those early mornings when my knees ache and I just want to go back to bed. If a few people happen across it, that's cool. If you happen to be a marathon runner or training for your first marathon, that's even cooler. I'd love any input on what you're doing or have done to prep for your first marathon.


Start: 5:39am
Weather: Clear and Cool
Time/Distance/Pace: 0:15:15 - 1.51 miles - 10:08
RunKeeper: http://runkeeper.com/user/cadebro/activity/57347902

Thoughts: It was a nearly pitch black morning with just a sliver of a moon peaking over the trees to the east. The temperature was near freezing as my lungs were tight but I was not wheezing (below freezing and I start to wheeze). Rounding the Harbor de Grace I anticipated the thud of a beaver slapping its tail off the surface of the marsh, as it startles me every time I run by. But, my pass was free of the mammal's warning. Upon reaching the top of the New Hill (Long Island's largest, rising 75 feet over the distance of a quarter mile) I was greeted by the constellation of Orion just above the trees directly in front of me. I tried to view it as some sort of omen for conquering my marathon but could not remember the myth surrounding Orion besides he is battling another constellation in the sky (hopefully the one that represents sore joints). Rounding the marsh on my return trip (still no beavers) my left knee began to throb. Just enough to remind me of its issues but not enough hinder my progress. The rest of the run was event-less, I had reached the one mile mark and fallen into the cadence of my pace, paying no mind to where my mind wandered.


Total Training Distance: 1.51 miles
Total Training Time: 0D 0:15:15