Hotfoot PM – 2008 New York City Marathon Training Blog

Welcome to my NYC Marathon training blog! I’ll be tracking my training over the next few months with the ultimate goal of running the 5 boroughs in just over an 8 minute per mile pace (roughly 3 hours and 30 minutes). The goals of this blog are:

1. To capture the journey; which in my opinion is just as important (if not more so) than the actual Race itself.
2. To keep me honest; doubt there will be much of an audience, but a public site should be motivating in itself.
3. To try out this whole “blogging” thing…

It’s been 3 long years since my last marathon (which was Chicago, fall 2005). I had the worst finishing time in that marathon (3 hours 56 minutes; 9 minute mile pace) but running it with 2 great friends who are total gamers (road & trail races, triathlons, etc.) and the fact that it was in one of the best cities in the country, made it by far my favorite. My best time ever was at the Cleveland Marathon (3 hour 36 minutes; 8:15 minute pace), which I completed in the spring of 2005.

My goal for the NYC marathon is basically to have a fun, injury-fee race with a quick recovery. If I could end with a PR (figure 3 hours 30 minutes; 8 minute pace) I’ll be more than happy. Eventually I hope to run a Boston Qualifier, but being that it’s my first attempt at 26.2 in 3 years, I’m going to ease back into marathon form first, before going for the gusto.

I’ve been following one of the greats Hal Higdon, specifically his Intermediate II training schedule, but I’ve customized it based on some insight I’ve received from Eric Hodos. Eric is an ex-army ranger and colleague of mine who brought us the bizarre yet exhilarating race series known as the “Urban Gut Check Challenge”.

I’ve also incorporated a heart rate monitor and will be using the gmap peodometer to track all of my runs. This is new for me in terms of marathon training and I hope that it contributes to more efficient training.

If you want to learn more about me I have my bio posted with a volunteer organization that I’m happy to serve on the board of, the Information Technology & Telecommunications SIG, of PMI (the Project Management Institute).

Thanks for stopping by