August 1st - The Goal

Two things should be noted in this introduction.  1.  I've never "blogged" before and I'm not entirely sure I know what I'm doing.  And 2. I do not actually believe my goal is achievable.  Not an admirable starting point.

I am writing this blog to inspire myself and possibly others to achieve goals they may not believe possible.  

My goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  For my age group that requires finishing another marathon in under 3 hours and 5 minutes.  For 26.2 miles I must average around a 7:03 minute mile.  I just laughed as I typed that.  Today I completed 5 miles and averaging an 8:00 mile was challenging.

I started training a few months ago.  I can now run a half marathon averaging around a 7:45 mile.  I'm laughing again.  I have 3 months until my next marathon and I still have a lot of work to do.

I do not come into marathon training completely unaware of the task ahead of me.  In 2008 I finished the Steamtown Marathon in 3 hours and 21 minutes, which is around 7:40 per mile.  Back then I was 5 years younger and in the best shape of my life.  Today I am a little older, a lot slower, I have a 4 year old with a penchant for 3am nightmares, and oh yeah I have to be ready to teach 5 classes of teenagers every weekday morning.

My goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  I need to keep reminding myself of the goal.  At my school we focus on the importance of mindsets.  I ask my students to believe in themselves and their ability to succeed in spite of failure - and sometimes as a result of failure.  And I need to have this growth mindset.  I can run a 7:04 mile.  I did it once for 5 whole miles.  I can run a marathon.  I did it once.  I have 3 months to put those abilities together.

My goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  You (if anyone besides me is reading this) are all my witnesses.  I vow to do everything in my power to see this sight:

I have set a training schedule - beyond my usual "run as much as you can every day as fast as you can and make sure you do one long run on the weekend."  I will do tempo runs, hills training, and speed drills.  I will wake up at 4:30 in the morning when necessary.  I will sacrifice delicious breakfasts for protein shakes.  I will go to sleep an hour earlier to get a full night's sleep every single night.  On November 3rd, I will cross the finish line of the Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Marathon.

And so today I mark Day 1 of this blog and a promise to myself.  Come h*ll or high water, I will cross that finish line and the race clock will say something under 3 hours and 5 minutes.

When I feel failure coming I will remind myself of this quote:

Day 1: 5 miles, 40:20, 8:04 pace.