ORN: 12.4 miles, 2:04:30, R6/W1, 10:03/mile
It’s gonna be a busy fall, so much so it makes my head spin a bit. Here’s the rundown.
Today was the last long-ish run before the USAF Marathon. I looped through the Purdue campus again. The first home football game of the year had a noon kickoff, so the campus was quite alive. The route gave me one lap around the Purdue Band, formed up, getting ready to perform. The drum cadence and brass sound from a 300-person Big Ten marching band is pulse pounding.
The Marathon is on September 20. I’m really looking forward to it. I settled on the plan for that race this week, thanks to some long email discussions with my nephew John. I’ll run a 3/1 run/walk ratio, seeking to carry that through the entire race. I’ll make the decision on pace at the last minute, depending on weather. The aim of three marathons this fall, though, is to educate myself on just how to finish a marathon. I do not yet understand that fact.
Four weeks later, I run the Indianapolis Marathon on October 18. A fall-foliage spectacular with segments through a state park on the outskirts of Indy, it presents a hilly final 3 miles which will be a further challenge. I ran it last year; can I improve this year? How will it finish?
Seven weeks after that, it is the St. Jude Hospital Marathon in Memphis. With hopefully very cool temperatures on December 6, I will see if I can apply what I’ve learned during the fall.
Just for grins, there’s another “event” this fall which really adds to the busy-ness. On September 30, Gretchen and I leave for 11 days in Italy on vacation! My three sisters and I, along with our spouses, will spend a week together at a rented place 90 minutes west of Florence, just 18 km north of Pisa, the city associated with the word “Leaning.” October in central Italy should be awesome. We can’t wait. I’ll be recovering from USAFM. The Indy marathon is only 6 days after we get off the plane in return. My thinking is I just get in some semi-regular runs in Italy and it will have to be OK.
Yeah, it’ll be hectic. Blogging and commenting may be sporadic. But, man, does it sound like fun.
And we’ll persevere right through all the craziness.
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8 comments:
Yea crazy :-)
Three marathons from Sept to Dec sounded like fun. But now that I see it in writing with the actual times between, whew, what a whirlwind.
Italy! My wife will be so envious. Getting the whole generation along for the trip is, as they say - priceless. Enjoy!
Italy? That's some persevering I could enjoy. Have fun!
Looks good to me. I need to get some event planning going on.
What a great marathon line-up you have in store. I love fall marathons!
Wow, Joe! It sounds like a wonderful fall in all respects: beautiful marathons and a trip to Italy with family. I don't think you are going to have to persevere to get through that - instead, you'll glide along, enjoying life to the fullest!
The USAF Marathon has always been a temptation for me as a former AF brat.
From what I've heard of the drivers in Italy I'd stick to trails or the track. Sounds like a very very fun time!
Have a safe trip and fun marathons!
Eric
I know that you will love the USAF marathon!! I am so excited to hear your race report.
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