Tomorrow is Race Day! Monument Avenue 10K

I will be running the Ukrop's Monument Ave 10k tomorrow, Saturday, March 31, 2007. The weather forecast for race time is about 52 degrees. Last year it was much warmer and my time was 55:00, so I am really glad to know it will be much cooler. My personal record for the 10k is 50:00 set last year at the CaryTown 10k. My goal is to finish in 46:00 minutes, a pace of about a 07:30 minute mile. What's interesting is that my goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and to do so, I will have to run at a pace of 07:30 the entire 26.2 miles. This will be good practice running that pace.

I will post my race results a few days after the race.

Shamrock Marathon Results! Mission Accomplished?

Well, I ran the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 18, 2007. My personal goal was 3:45:00 and I finished at 3:45:40. Just 40 seconds off my goal. I couldn't be happier with my effort and results. I ran my first marathon at age 36 in 4:24:12 and I was able to shave 39 mintues off my second marathon. It was pretty cold at the start of the race and the gusty wind was a major factor for me for the first 13 miles. At the half way point, we made a turn towards the finish and the wind was at my back, what a relief! I was really suprised that I felt as good as I did during the whole race. My leg muscles held up really well. My shoulders and arms were pretty sore, though. I was a little nervous that I wasn't going to be able to keep up the pace to finish in 3:45:00, but the Shamrock Marathon is a flat, fast course and the wheather in Virginia Beach in March is ideal for running a marathon. I recommend the Shamrock Marathon to anyone looking for a race that is fun and fast.
I will be running the Monument Avenue 10k on March 31, 2007 and I will run the Charlottesville, Virginia Marathon on April 21, 2007.

Race Day is Almost Here!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Tomorrow is the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Virginia. My goal is to finish at 03:45:00, which is 39 minutes faster than what I ran at the Richmond Marathon back in November 2006. The running conditions are expected to be pretty good (sunny, high 48, low 34 and no wind). I'm feeling really good and confident that I will be able to meet my goal. I'll post race highlights and my results in a few days.

Two weeks until the Shamrock Marathon.

Wow! Just two more weeks until the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The last four months of training has gone very well and is really paying off. Last Sunday I ran 13.1 miles in 1:47:00. Despite being a little under the weather (with a cold) I kept up a good pace and even had some left at the end. I also incorporated some tempo runs, invervals and uphill running and/or walking into my training. The next two weeks I am tapering down and taking it easy. I am excited about the upcoming race and I am feeling good about meeting my goal of 03:45:00. I tried to join a 3:45:00 pace group, but the group was full. So, if anyone is running the Shamrock Marathon in 3:45:00 or better and wants some company, send me an e-mail.