Let It BEGIN...

   So my friends it's finally here, the start of the 26.2 training season eve. All week I typed, calculated, fussed and tweaked this year's 19 week training program. I both love and hate this time of year. I love it because as I look at this schedule I'm filled with excitement! Excitement that this year will be better than the last. So much potential can be found within those silly little tables, it makes me giddy. But, as I gaze upon the increasing numbers I'm also filled with a sense of dread. Will I be able to get the mileage done? Will I be able to hold those paces over those distances? Will my always ever aging body be able to handle the workload?

   I'm no expert. Oh, don't get me wrong. The program looks great on paper. But I really don't have a clue what I'm doing. This year's program is a cobbled together mess of the Hanson's Brothers plan, mixed with the 366 Project demands, mixed with Matt Fitgerald's Racing Weight plan and then finally mixed with things that have worked for me in the past. It's different than last year's because with the addition of the 366 Project, I'm now running all seven days of the week. It's also different in that during week's 12, 14 and 16 I'll be shooting for long runs of 22 miles or longer (if I can stand it). The addition of working more overtime at my job will also make this more challenging than ever. 

   Ever since the Flower City Half Marathon I've been taking it easy. Not stressing myself out with a scheduled running plan. Enjoying too much adult beverage. Not caring a lot about what I eat. But tomorrow all that changes. Strict adherence to the plan will be enforced. The only adult beverage I'll be drinking is coffee. And my iPhone's My Fitness Pal app will be working overload as I count calories like a madman.

   Scary to say the least! But, then again not really. I love the punishment of asking my body to be better than it was a year ago. Within all of us lies that potential. As I talked with a friend tonight I was reminded that I am blessed to still be able to do this, to be healthy and to have support of my family and friends as I try to discover my potential. After you run for awhile you realize that the PR's and faster times are great. But they're not what it's all about. You see, that running is a all about the journey, NOT the destination. As I crossed the finish line of last year's marathon breaking the four hour mark after 10 years of trying, it wasn't the  3:57 time that I was thinking about. It was about all the sacrifice, all the long miles, all the heartaches and small triumphs. In the end, the race is just with yourself. I want to run that good race and someday, when you're driving down that country road and see some incredibly old man with a silly little faded "26.2" tattoo huffing and puffing as he gets his miles in, do him a favor and flash the old bugger a thumbs up. Each of us has our own races to run. I hope you enjoy your's as much as I continue to. Run for your lives my friends...