Country Music Marathon, Nashville, TN, April 29, 2006

My first marathon experience at the Chicago Marathon in October wasn't enough to turn me away from running. If anything, since the Chicago race, I've been looking for another race to motivate me to start training again in earnest. I've probably run less total in the last 6 weeks than did during the marathon itself. What a crappy way to get trained to race.

The goal in Chicago was to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which would require me to run a 3:10 marathon for my age group. Was I close? ...no. Was I stupid? ...yes. At the start of the race, I got in the opening line at the 4:45 pace group (that's 4 hours and 45 minutes for the marathon, NOT 4 minutes and 45 seconds per mile). Upside: I got to pass more than 10,000 people during the race. Downside: I finished at 3:36:55.