The Goal

It's good to have a goal.

It was a pretty easy decision, actually - given the magnitude of the effort that will be required and the preparation that will be needed. Yet, in the end, it seemed so simple. Qualify for Boston.

In order to qualify for the Boston Marathon as a 40-year old - which I will be for the next one in 2011 - I need a time equal to or better than 3:20:59. No exceptions. I have two marathons left to do this year: the San Diego Marathon in June and the New York City Marathon in November. Even if Boston 2011 is not sold out by November (and it probably will be), qualifying for Boston in New York would be challenging.

That leaves San Diego...in June...less than two months from now. If I don't qualify for Boston there, then I have to look to a marathon or two in 2011 that give me the best chance to qualify for the 2012 Boston Marathon. While I am certainly okay with that, if that is the road that I have to take, I want it this year. I want the streak of improvement to continue - and I want to get to Boston while my body seems to be holding together for the most part.

So that is the goal. I have about 5 weeks of hard training left for San Diego, and I am going to make the most of it. I have had a harder time sticking to my grid this time around because of work - albeit a much harder grid than my first - and I have not maintained what I would refer to as a "champion's diet plan." However, a couple weekends ago, I blew the doors off the Platte River Trail Half Marathon with 1:34:48 (7:15 pace), which was an ENORMOUS shot in the arm. Yes - it was downhill - but I smoked that course. I had negative splits the last 6 miles, 7:00 pace for miles 10-12, and a 6:49 pace for the 13th mile before a sprint to the finish. If I can back that off to a 7:35 and sustain it for 26.2 miles, I will qualify for Boston with room to spare.

It won't be easy. I may have come as close as I am going to in my first marathon. I might not qualify...
...but I sure feel like I've got it in me.