Only about 2% of runners will finish a marathon in less than 180 minutes (3 hours)

Six years ago, I couldn't even imagine running the distance (26.2 miles). But after working up to 3-4 mile jogs a few times a week, I set the incredible goal of running a half marathon.

After four months of intense training, well at that time (20-25 miles/wk), I ran the Houston half-marathon on January 16th, 2005. It was so grueling, I swore that was it. I'll never do another half, let alone a full.

Fortunately a running comrade pushed me to do a full marathon. Rededicated, I set a sub 4:00 hour goal for the full Houston marathon the following year. I trained harder than ever and crossed the finish in 3:59; I was hooked.

I've now run 21 marathons and this site is my journal to join that exclusive club of those who finish a marathon in under 180 minutes (3 hours).

CONTACT ME

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 2 of Fall Winter (Wk Ending December 27)


Sunday
Very Slow 5k

Saturday
Walk / jog 4 with Juliet

Friday
Off

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Jog, mostly walk 4 with Juliet

Tuesday
Jog, mostly walk 4 with Juliet

Monday
Off

Friday, December 18, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 1 of Winter Training (Wk Ending December 20)


Sunday
Off-Being lazy

Saturday
Jog slow 2, walk 2. 

Friday

Off-Being Lazy

Thursday

Off-Being Lazy

Wednesday

Off-Being Lazy

Tuesday

Off-Being Lazy

Monday
Off-Being Lazy

Monday, December 7, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 10 of Fall Training (Wk Ending December 13)

Sunday
Off-Swamped with Work

Saturday
Off-Swamped with Work

Friday
Off-Swamped with Work

Thursday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Wednesday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Tuesday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Monday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Monday, November 30, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 9 of Fall Training (Wk Ending December 6)

Sunday
Off

Saturday
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
In Mexico for work. 

Tuesday
In Mexico for work. 

Monday
In Mexico for work. 

Monday, November 23, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 8 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 29)

Sunday
In Mexico for work. 

Saturday
Hamstring to tight.  Rolled / stretched it

Friday
Hamstring to tight.  Rolled / stretched it

Thursday
Walk / run 5.  Hamstring a bit tight. 

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Did slow 5k.  No hamstring pain

Monday
Off


Monday, November 16, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 7 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 22)

Sunday
Used roller on hamstring.  Seemed to help.  Stretched, walked 4


Saturday
Used roller for first time on hamstring.  Seemed to help.  Stretched, walked 4

Friday
Off-hamstring issues 

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Tried to jog, but hamstring wouldn't take it. 

Tuesday
The last 100 yards of a slow 5k, hamstring tighten up.  Will see how it feels tomorrow. 

Monday
Off-Stretch hamstring 

Monday, November 9, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 6 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 15)

Sunday
Still dealing with hamstring issues.  Walk 4, stretching. 

Saturday
Still dealing with hamstring issues.  Walk 4, stretching. 

Friday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues.

Thursday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues. 

Wednesday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues. 

Tuesday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues. 

Monday
Damnit.  Hamstring still sore.  Just walked 3. Well, lots more stretching. 

Monday, November 2, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 5 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 8)

Sunday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Saturday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Friday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Thursday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Wednesday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Tuesday
Headed toward slow four, but pulled hamstring at 2.


Monday
Slow Four

Monday, October 26, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 4 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 1)



Sunday

Slow but smooth 7

Saturday
Very slow 4

Friday
Very very slow 4

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Off 

Monday
Very slow 5k

Monday, October 19, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 3 of Fall Training (Wk Ending October 25)


Sunday
Hit pavement for four miles

Saturday
Off-being lazy

Friday
Off-being lazy

Thursday
Off-being lazy

Wednesday
Off-being lazy

Tuesday
Off-being lazy

Monday
Hit pavement for four miles

Monday, October 12, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 2 of Fall Training (Wk Ending October 18)



Sunday
Good 4 in afternoon, slow 5k at night. 

Saturday
Slow 6 with a bit of incline work

Friday
Decent 7

Thursday
Slow 5 miles after work. Slow 5k before bed. 

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Decent 4

Monday
Decent 6

Monday, October 5, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 1 of Fall Training (Wk Ending October 11)



Sunday
Slow 5 miles in afternoon, slow 5k at night

Saturday
Slow 4

Friday
Being lazy-off

Thursday
Off-being lazy

Wednesday
Off-a bit tight

Tuesday
Slow 5k

Monday
Hit pavement for slow 4

Monday, September 28, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 22 of Summer Training (Wk Ending October 04)



Sunday

Slow 4

Saturday
Slow 5

Friday
Slow 4

Thursday
Slow 5k

Wednesday
Off-Traveling to Ecuador

Tuesday
Off-Traveling to Ecuador

Monday
Off-Traveling to Ecuador

Monday, September 21, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 21 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 27)


Sunday

Off:  Worked most the day.  Also a bit lazy.

Saturday
Slow 5k

Friday
Just lazy, no running

Thursday
Off-too much work


Wednesday
Off-too much work


Tuesday
Off-too much work


Monday
Off-too much work

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 20 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 20)


Sunday

Jogged a very slow 4.  Hamstring still a bit tender. 

Saturday
Hamstring still sore.  Walked 5

Friday
Hamstring still sore.   Off


Thursday
Hamstring still sore.   Off


Wednesday
Hamstring still sore.  Off


Tuesday
Hamstring still sore.  Walked 4 and stretched



Monday
Hamstring still sore.  Walked 4 and stretched

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 19 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 13)


Sunday
Tried a slow jog today, but hamstring still acutely tight and sore. 

Saturday
Hamstring still tight.  Taking time off. 

Friday
Hamstring still tight.  Taking time off. 

Thursday
Strained a damn hamstring while running dehydrated on Wednesday.  Now have to take 3-4 days off. 

Wednesday
Hit pavement for slow four.  Sweated like I was in a shower. 

Tuesday
Slow 5 with moderate incline work. 

Monday
Decent 5

Monday, August 31, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 18 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 6)


Sunday
Slow 5k.  Walk / jog another 4

Saturday
Slow 8 in afternoon.  Slow 5k at night.  Walk/ jog another 4

Friday
Quick 4

Thursday
Decent 4

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Decent 5

Monday
A decent 4

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 17 of Summer Training (Wk Ending August 30th)


Sunday
Solid 5 miles

Saturday
Slow 5k, walk / jog another 6 miles

Friday
Slow 4, walk / jog another 4. 

Thursday
Speedy 5k, walk / jog another 5. 

Wednesday
Slow 5k but with moderate incline work. 

Tuesday
Decent 4

Monday
Slow 5k

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 16 of Summer Training (Wk Ending August 23rd)


Sunday
Slow 5k.  Walk / jog another 7 throughout day

Saturday
In a.m., walked / jogged 5k with girls.  In afternoon, decent 4 miles.  In p.m., slow and easy four miles. 

Friday
Off

Thursday
Hit pavement for slow 5k

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Slow 5k 

Monday
Hit pavement for slow but smooth 5k

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 15 of Summer Training (Wk Ending August 16th)

Sunday
Slow 5k.  Walk / jog another 3 miles

Saturday
Off-really need full nights sleep 

Friday
Off-swamp with work.  Dead tired when I got home. 

Thursday
Off-swamp with work.  Dead tired when I got home. 

Wednesday
Off-swamp with work.  Dead tired when I got home. 

Tuesday
Off-swamp with work.  Dead tired when I got home. 

Monday
Off-swamp with work.  Dead tired when I got home. 

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 14 of Summer Training (Wk Ending August 9th)


Sunday
Slow 5k.  Walk / jog 4 more miles

Saturday
Slow 7 miles, walk 4 more

Friday
Off

Thursday
Slow 5k.  Walk 3 more

Wednesday
Very slow four miles, walk / jog anther 4

Tuesday
Decent 5k, walk / jog 4 more miles

Monday
Decent 5 miles, walked 3 more

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 13 of Summer Training (Wk Ending August 2nd)


Sunday
Walk / Job 5k with girls in the am. Slow 4 miles with a bit of incline in the pm.

Saturday
Slow 4.
Friday
decent 5k.

Thursday
Jog, mostly walk 6

Wednesday
Slow 5k

Tuesday
Slow 5 miles

Monday
Slow 5k, walk 3 miles more

Monday, July 20, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 12 of Summer Training (Wk Ending July 26th)


Sunday
Jogged slow 5k in the am.  At night, walked / jogged another 6 at night. 

Saturday
Slow 5k. Walk / jog another 5 miles

Friday
Off-being lazy. 

Thursday
Off-being lazy. 

Wednesday
Off-being lazy. 

Tuesday
Off-being lazy. 

Monday
Off-being lazy. 

Monday, July 13, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 11 of Summer Training (Wk Ending July 19th)


Sunday
Off

Saturday
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday
Jog slow 5k.  Walk 4 more miles

Wednesday
Jog 5k / walk 5 more miles

Tuesday
Off-Traveling back from Dubai

Monday
Off-Traveling back from Dubai

Monday, July 6, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 10 of Summer Training (Wk Ending July 12th)


Sunday
Walk 5 on hotel mill

Saturday
Walk 5 on hotel mill

Friday
Walk 5 on hotel mill

Thursday 
Walk/jog 5 on hotel mill

Wednesday
Off-too much work

Tuesday
Off-too much work

Monday
Walk / jog 5 on hotel mill

Monday, June 29, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 09 of Summer Training (Wk Ending July 05th)


Sunday
Walk 5 on hotel mill

Saturday
Walk 5 on hotel mill

Friday
Walk 6 on hotel mill

Thursday
Off-in Abu Dhabi

Wednesday
Off-in Abu Dhabi

Tuesday
Off-in Abu Dhabi

Monday
Off-in Abu Dhabi

Monday, June 22, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 08 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 28th)


Sunday
Walk 5 on hotel mill

Saturday
Walk 5 on hotel mill. 

Friday
Walk 5 on hotel mill

Thursday
Walk/jog 5 on hotel Treadmil.   Almost impossible to run. Even on mill, so warm in gym, I look like I step out of a swimming pool after 30 mins of jogging. 

Wednesday
Walk/jog 5 on hotel Treadmil. 

Tuesday
off-traveling to Dubai

Monday
Off-traveling to Dubai

Monday, June 15, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 07 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 21st)


Sunday
5k

Saturday
5k

Friday
Off-Lazy

Thursday
Off-Just returned from Mexico. 

Wednesday
Off-In Mexico

Tuesday
Off-in Mexico

Monday
Off-Hamstring really bothering me. 

Monday, June 8, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 06 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 14th)


Sunday
Walk /jog 3 miles

Saturday
Decent 5k

Friday
Off-lazy, but also resting hamstring

Thursday
Off-lazy, but also resting hamstring

Wednesday
Off-lazy, but also resting hamstring 

Tuesday
Slow 4

Monday
Slow four, but a bump in elavation

Monday, June 1, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 05 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 07th)


Sunday
5k with bump in speed and elevation

Saturday
Off

Friday
5k-hamstring still tight

Thursday
5k-hamstring still tight

Wednesday
5k-hamstring still tight 

Tuesday
Off-tight hamstring

Monday 
Off-tight hamstring


Monday, May 25, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 04 of Summer Training (Wk Ending May 31st)


Sunday
Standard 5 miler

Saturday
5k

Friday
Off 

Thursday 
Decent 4

Wednesday 
Off

Tuesday
Slow 5k

Monday
Treadmill fixed!

Slow 5k, walk / jog another 6

Monday, May 18, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 03 of Summer Training (Wk Ending May 24th)


Sunday 
Off-treadmill broken 

Saturday
Off-treadmill broken 

Friday
Off-treadmill broken 

Thursday
Off-Out of country

Wednesday
Off-Out of country

Tuesday
Off-Out of country

Monday
Off-Out of country

Monday, May 11, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 02 of Summer Training (Wk Ending May 17th)


Sunday
Off 

Saturday
On Thursday got last min request to fill in for Beach to Bay leg 3.  Dangerously hot as always.  Did a pitiful 39 mins. 

Friday
Off 

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Off 

Tuesday
Off-bad case of food poisoning

Monday
Off-bad case of food poisoning. 

Monday, May 4, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 01 of Summer Training (Wk Ending May 10th)

Sunday
Off-treadmill broken

Saturday
Walk 4-Treadmill broken 

Friday
Off-treadmill broken.  

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Hit pavement for slow 5k

Tuesday
Slow 10. Walk / jog 3 more

Monday 
5k


Monday, April 27, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 9 of Spring Training (Wk Ending May 03rd)


Sunday
Slow 4. 

Saturday
5 miles on am.  Hit pave for 4 at night

Friday
Decent 5k, walk / jog another 5 miles

Thursday
Decent 5 miles 

Wednesday
Off 
Tuesday
Slow 5k

Monday
Slow 7

Monday, April 20, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 8 of Spring Training (Wk Ending Apr 26th)


Sunday
Off

Saturday
Slow 4, walk / jog another 4

Friday
5k, walk / jog 4 more

Thursday
5 miler

Wednesday
5 miles, still slow but getting faster.  walked one more

Tuesday
Off, out of town

Monday
Slow 5k, walk 1 more in am 

Monday, April 13, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 7 of Spring Training (Wk Ending Apr 19th)


Sunday
Walk / jog 4.  Just burning calories. 

Saturday
In the. am, Decent 5k, walk four more 

Friday
Slow 5, walked / jogged 5 more. 
Thursday
Slow 6.5 walked 1.5 more

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Walk / jog 5

Monday
Slow 5k, walk 2 more

Monday, April 6, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 6 of Spring Training (Wk Ending Apr 12th)


Sunday
5k in after noon, walked / jogged another 4 at night

Saturday
Slow 4. 

Friday
Walk / mostly job 8.  Burning calories 

Thursday
Walk / mostly jogged three.  Just burning calories

Wednesday
Slow 4

Tuesday
Walk  / mostly jog 4

Monday
Slow 4.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 5 of Spring Training (Wk Ending Apr 05th)


Sunday
a 5k

Saturday
slow 4

Friday
Slow 5k

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Off

Monday
Slow 5k

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 4 of Spring Training (Wk Ending Mar 29th)

Sunday
Walk / jog 4

Saturday
Walk / jog 4

Friday 
Off

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Off

Monday
Off

Friday, March 13, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 3 of SpringTraining (Wk Ending Mar 22th)

Sunday
Off-on vacation

Saturday
Off-on vacation

Friday
Off-on vacation

Thursday
Off-on vacation

Wednesday
Off-on vacation

Tuesday
Off-on vacation



Monday
Off-on vacation

Weekly Recap-Week 2 of SpringTraining (Wk Ending Mar 15th)

Sunday
Off

Saturday
5k with Cate in am

Friday
Off
Thursday
Slow 5k

Wednesday
Off-in Ecuador

Tuesday
Off-in Ecuador

Monday
Off-in Ecuador

Monday, March 2, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 1 of SpringTraining (Wk Ending Mar 8th)

Sunday
Decent 4

Saturday
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday
Walk / mostly jog 5

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Off

Monday
Off

Monday, February 23, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 15 of Winter Training (Wk Ending Mar 1st)

Sunday
Off

Saturday
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday
Off-Traveling back to USA

Wednesday
Off-Traveling back to USA

Tuesday
Walk / jog 5 hotel treadmill

Monday
Walk / jog 5 hotel treadmill

Monday, February 16, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 14 of Winter Training (Wk Ending Feb 22th)



Sunday
Off-In Ecuador

Saturday
Off-traveling to Ecuador

Friday
Off

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Slow 5k on mill. Ribs still sore.  

Monday
Jogged two with Cate



Monday, February 9, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 13 of Winter Training (Wk Ending Feb 15th)

Sunday
Off 

Saturday
Ran 5k with Cate

Friday
Walk / jog 4

Thursday
Walk / jog 4

Wednesday
Ribs still quite sore. No running yet

Tuesday
Ribs still quite sore. No running yet

Monday
Ribs still quite sore. No running yet


Monday, February 2, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 12 of Winter Training (Wk Ending Feb 8th)


Sunday
Rib still bruised.


Saturday
Girls did Yorktown 5k run.   I ran with them, but it hurt.   They walked quite a bit.


Friday
Bruised Rib-felling a bit better after taking ibuprofen


Thursday
Bruised Rib-Very painful

Wednesday
Bruised Rib-Very painful

Tuesday
Bruised Rib-Very painful


Monday
When jogging a mile with Cate, tripped and fell-Bruising Rib.  Very very painful.



Monday, January 26, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 11 of Winter Training


Sunday
Off-Feeling lazy this week.

Saturday
Off-Feeling lazy this week.

Friday
Off-Feeling lazy this week.

Thursday
Off-Feeling lazy this week.

Wednesday
Slow slow four.


Tuesday
Not good. Tried to do 5k and after 12 minutes, felt like I had been running for 20.  I quit and took a shower.

But no worries, I had been traveling all night and day from Quito.


Monday
Traveling back to USA

Monday, January 19, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 10 of Winter Training


Sunday
Off-to much work here on Quito

Saturday
Off-to much work here on Quito

Friday
Off-to much work here on Quito

Thursday
Off-to much work here on Quito

Wednesday
Off-to much work here on Quito

Tuesday
Off-to much work here on Quito

Monday
Walked / jogged 5 at Quito hotel.   Being at 9,000 feet, not easy.

Weekly Recap-Week 9 of Winter Training


Sunday
Off-traveling to Ecuador



Saturday
Slow 4



Friday
Slow 5k


Thursday
Did one-mile outside with Cate. Then hit the bill for another quick 5K



Wednesday 
Cold weather and drizzling.  Hit pavement for  4 miles at night

Tuesday
Off



Monday
Cold weather. Hit pavement for 5k at night 

Monday, January 12, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 8 of Winter Training


Sunday
Did 4 miles very slow, but with decent incline work.  Jogged / walked two more

Saturday
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday
Quick 5k

Wednesday
Returned from long day in Mexico. Took Jules to math tutor, and ran 5 at night around Kings Crossing.  Weather cold.

Tuesday
Off-In Mexico

Monday
Off-In Mexico

Friday, January 9, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 7 of Winter Training


Sunday
Jogged 4 walked one more.

That gives me 30 miles of running for the week. Most I've run in over year and a half. 

Saturday
Slow 5. Walk / jog another 4

Friday
Very Slow 4

Thursday
Slow 7.  Farthest non stop run I've done in 18 months. 

Wednesday
Quite cold, northern blew through.  I needed a 5k and asked Cate if she wanted to go. 

We strapped on winter gear and went out about dusk.  Did a slow but non stop 5k.  

Tuesday
Decent 5k

Monday
Slow 4 but with some slight incline work.