Last Chance Saloon

On December 11, 2011, I finished the Honolulu Marathon.  I posted about it here.

On May 8, 2013, I posted that I would run another marathon.  I posted about it here.  In fact, it's easy to find if you want to read it, because it's literally the next post down.  That was nearly eight and a half years ago and although I've finished quite a few races since then - seventeen 5Ks, four 4-milers, a 5-miler, thirteen 10Ks (including two virtually), and even a 10-miler - I have yet to run another marathon.  Or even a half marathon.  At one point, I announced the intention to run a marathon during the week of my 35th birthday.  That was in 2017, and suffice to say it did not happen.

Which brings us to now.  I turn 40 in less than a year.  I wouldn't intend to suggest that the age of 40 is some sort of death sentence, but I do know that I feel like I am rapidly aging beyond the point at which I can just have some zany idea like "do a marathon" and then get myself somewhat quickly into acceptable shape for it.  40 is also an obvious milestone age and going into my 40s without being in terrible shape doesn't sound like the worst idea.  So maybe this isn't truly "last chance saloon," but if I'm ever going to run another marathon, at the very least I ought to start working on it now.

This morning I did the first running day of the Hal Higdon "base training" program to try and get into basic running shape.  That's 12 weeks.  Then, there's a 12-week half marathon training program that culminates in early April.  After that, it's the 18-week marathon training program.  And then, with any luck, a marathon - before my 40th birthday.

I doubt anyone is even reading this, but it's helpful to have some sort of accountability.  I'm thinking weekly recaps.  Whatever works.