run a sub 3 hour marathon

I am ready to run a sub-3-hour marathon. I am trained up. I am mentally prepared. All of my training indicators are there. I ran a sub 1:25 marathon on a treadmill just last week.

I have busted my butt the past 15 weeks. I have been running 60-70 mile weeks in the dead of the Chicago winter. OK, a lot of these miles have been on the treadmill.

Nevertheless, I am going to crush my PR at this marathon.

This is it. I am 33 years and in the best running shape of my life. I have a 9 month old daughter and do not have much more time to devote to this sub-3-hour goal.

I need to finish out the program and be absolutely prepared on race day, which is less than 3 weeks off.

I will run a 2:59 or better in Austin on February 15th, 2009.

I could not travel to Boston. J is too close in her pregnancy. So I canceled. It was not an easy thing to do, but becoming a father is more important. While she is not due for a couple more weeks, I could not risk it. The three of us will travel back to Boston next year.

NOW, I will train up for the Green Bay Marathon on May 18, 2008 (four weeks away). I will then begin a journey throughout the summer of parenting, working and running as my top three priorities.

I am in the lottery for the St George Marathon to be held on October 2nd. I will make my next sub-3 attempt there with my family cheering me on.

Once you run one (especially a poor one), you’ll understand.

I ran a 3:07 just last week at the LCFB in Dublin, OH with what I consided fairly basic training. Meaning, I didn’t kill myself. I ran to Pfitzinger’s schedule all winter with no tune-up races and knocked out a 3:07. I am convinced if I work hard this summer, intensify my speed work and take my mileage to a peak of 70, I can get to sub-3. I am going to go for it.

In the meantime, I hope rock the Boston Marathon on April 21st, then come home to celebrate the miraculous birth of my daughter in May. I cannot wait!

...otherwise, I won’t have a chance. I am position to run a 3:06 or so later this month.

With my daughter on the way in May, it will be interesting to see how I am able to combine running and parenting.

I’m not sure if it is realistic to try to go for sub-3 this fall. I am thinking I will have a better shot in the Fall of 2009. However, I will be 34 at that point. Will my race time begin to decline?