Run a marathon in under 4 hours

4:09.

Next time I can DEFINITELY do four hours! I actually ran a split… and was passing people in the last 6 miles.

Two months until the marathon. Amazingly, I think there is a small chance I might actually reach this goal then. If not, I will be pretty close… Last weekend, I did a 17 mile training run with a 9:15 pace, without TRYING to go that fast. So, it’s possible, but I will not be unhappy with a 4:10 or 4:15 finish.

February 1, 2009. It will be my 2nd marathon. It will be awesome if I reach this goal then, but I will not be upset if I don’t. As stated before, my mini, in-between goal is 4:22 for this marathon.

Well, I just ran my first marathon in 4:34:27. I was happy with that, being as my goal was to finish in under 5 hours. I stopped at EVERY water break, used the bathroom once and waited in a line for at least 2-3 minutes, and took a few one-minute long walking breaks. I was really trying not to be one of those people who pass out or can’t finish, and I succeeded. I had enough left at the end for an all-out 1/2 mile sprint.

I’m not sure when I’ll run my next marathon, probably fall or spring, but I would love to break 4 hours. If it has to be marathon #3 before I can do under 4 hours, then so be it. I won’t be mad at myself as long as I run a 4:22:00 (10 min pace) for the next one, and THEN a 3:59:59.