Tuesday, June 27, 2006

First Day!

There's something in the air on the first day of marathon training, even if it is cloudy and oppressively humid. You can get your shoes, you can do your base-building, but that's just like getting pencils and pens and Trapper-Keepers to get ready for school, it's all just anticipation. The first day has excitement and possibility that will last, well, until the tedium sets in around the time of mid-term exams.

For those of you that aren't regular readers (which would be all of you), the purpose of this blog is for me to have some laughs while trying to qualify for Boston at the Marine Corp Marathon on October 29. The tenative goal is to hit about 3:05 for the race, beat all but about 250 people in the field, and then have a grand time in Hopkinton, Mass. in April. But Today! Today is the official start to training. We are 18 weeks away.

Today's workout was a 5 mile run across the Williamsburg Bridge with an add-on trip to the McCarren Park (yes, that's the park that Francie always takes the baby to at the end of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) track for ten stride-outs, for at total of 7 miles in 52:05 (7:26 pace). This was followed by stretching, scorpion-kicks, push-ups, etc. Great run, aside from my knee still being a little tender from my fall last week.

On the way back across the Williamsburg Bridge, I passed an Orthodox Jewish man, which isn't at all unusual in Williamsburg. This particluar fellow was an older gentleman, with a prolific, bushy white beard and similar hair. He was wearing dark, aviator sunglasses and the black yamaka and trousers and long-sleeve, white button-up shirt that it seems most of the Williamsburg Orthodox Jewish men wear. So, seeing this guy wouldn't have even given me pause, but for the facts that he was also wearing an IPod and SPRINTING down the Bridge! I felt so bad for the guy, but, I have to admit, was definitely impressed. I mean, I was out in a tank and shorty-shorts and I was sweltering in the humidity. He's out in long-sleeves, pants and a beard and is jogging along like it's nothing. He was good to see the first day of training. If he can get out and exercise in full regalia, then I should have no excuses for those 20 mile runs in August. It's good to be inspired!

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