A few weeks ago, we decided that as a family, we should take some time to reflect and spend some time at the library. They have a fantastic little program where the girls can read to service dogs. This is one of the most ridiculously cute things I have ever seen and has the added benefit of allowing us to take advantage of this whole, book borrowing craze. It's phenomenal. Instead of purchasing the book, or downloading it to my kindle, I can simply ask to "check out" books. And the price for this amazing service? Get this. Free. My mind was blown.
It was blown even further by the fact that there isn't just one book on a certain topic, but many. Like shelves of them. It's like an internet but slower and pulpier.
Flashback to a few weeks ago when I saw this guy on 20/20, touted as being a superhuman endurance athlete:
Aside from what are clearly superhuman abs, Dean Karnazes essentially makes a living by running ungodly distances that go beyond even ultra-marathons.
Just so happened that our little quaint little old library had both of his books:
The first is basically a confessional in which he describes his near lunatic obsession with running that began on his 30th birthday.
The second details his quest to run 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states.
I learned two things. First, this guy has to be one of the toughest bastards on the planet and two, I have no idea what I'm really doing and that might just be okay. I don't say that as a point of arrogance, but I started this little journey without a watch and goofy gloves on my feet. I have just enjoyed running with my heart and gut and that is where the fun has come from. I have to dance with the girl that brought me and not live and die by the gazillion downloadable marathon plans.
And so I'm thinking . . . I know the training plan is important but I don't want to be wedded to some kind of dogmatic plan for the beginner, or the intermediate marathoner. I've got a few principles in mind that I'm going to stick to but I'm not going to sweat the small stuff.
One of the first rules of running your first marathon is almost universally, don't set a time goal. Just finish.
And to that I say . . .uh no.
Because I have one.
4:29:15.
I will do everything I possible can to beat four hours, twenty nine minutes and fifteen seconds.
Because I will be damned, seriously damned, if I can't beat Oprah Winfrey's time at the Marine Corps Marathon.
Finishing will be great, but if the worst happens and I'm outside of that time, it will be because of some kind of freakish accident that will alter the course of human history along with my marathon time and not because I couldn't get enough long runs in on the weekends.
As such the plan I'm going with will be Mr. Karnazes, which is loosely outlined at the end of 50 50. It's fairly generic and that's what I like. It also has a fair amount of tempo running which is what I know I need. Endurance hasn't been an issue but I very seldom go into the top gears.
Once I get my google excel populated with the plan I will post it here. I also got a couple of new toys which I will discuss tomorrow when I cover the various devices I have strapped to my body and appendages. Pg-13 thoughts everyone. Please.
1 comments:
"Help me, Oprah Winfrey!"
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