20 Miles!

Today I finally set a new distance record, I did the long 20 mile run. It seems that if training for a marathon were a college course, the 20 mile run would be the final exam. Today I passed the final exam with a time of 2:27:22 (7:22 mile). Passing the final exam means I'm ready for graduation - the marathon!

I have come far in this journey. It was March 8, 2011 when I decided to run on our treadmill, just a few minutes a day, to get in shape and have a healthy lifestyle. Twenty-one days later, on March 29th I completed my first 5K distance in 32:58, a 10:36 mile. My wife talked me into running a 5K race on May 28th. I completed the race in 20:23 or a 6:33 mile. I  was hooked on running from that day on.

I have, to date, over the past 19 months run (I think this is accurate, I may have missed a race or two):

• 8 5Ks with a PR of 19:46 (6:21 mile)
• 2 10Ks with a PR of 40:48 (6:36 mile)
• 1 Bloomsday Run with a time of 53:24 (7:09 mile)
• 1 Relay where my 3 legs totaled over 20 miles
• 2 Half Marathons with a PR of 1:33:40 (7:09 mile)

I have had two injuries that took me out of running for a few months (bursitis in the knee was the worst, the hairline fracture in my left foot wasn't to bad)

But the one event that has eluded me over the past 19 months has been the marathon. That ends now. I don't think I'm a long term marathon runner. But I would like to have one marathon under my belt and then I'll focus on my favorite event - the half marathon (need to get that time under 1:30:00). Today I sign up for the Tricities Marathon to be run on October 28. 

Wish me luck!