Put Up, or Shut Up!!!

In case you haven't heard on November 7 I'm scheduled to run my fifth marathon, the ING New York City Marathon. Ironically, I've been told the marathon actually takes place along the streets of New York City. Imagine that. In fact, it runs through all five boroughs Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. It looks to be the most challenge marathon of my tiny marathon career, but don't take my word for it. While perusing the NYC marathon web site I came along an article on course strategy by Bob Glover. He says... "No marathon is easy, but the ING NYC Marathon can be tougher than most because of the course. It's not fast-don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You need to be realistic with your time goals or you will be setting yourself up for disappointment." Well...isn't that special, disappointment happens to be my middle name.

I mean this in the most respectable way to both Mr. Glover and the ING NYC Marathon, "Suck It", cause it's on like Donkey Kong!!! As the title says, it's time for me to put up, or shut up. This marathon will be the one where I conquer my "White Whale", of a sub-four hour marathon. No more excuses. No more chalking it up to a bad day. Hell, I've had four of them already...

There was the 100% humidity followed by dehydration and cramping during my first attempt in Sarasota... Followed by my cocky and rookie mistake of starting out way too fast to later die on the hills in Philly... Then I took on the sleet and iced over streets of Disney. It probably didn't help that I ran the half the day before, but none the less it was fucking cold. In fact, the only thing colder was the reception I got from my wife when she finally found me after the marathon. But, that's a whole other post... My fourth and final attempt, disappointment, was the A1A marathon in Ft.Lauderdale where I hit the wall at mile 20, zapped of all energy. I don't think I fully recovered from the "Disney Freeze Fest" and this played into my crash.

The above marathons are all but forgotten. The lessons from the four have been learned. Now it's time to move on. Over the next few months my plan will take shape, and I plan on (Boring) sharing it with all of you. Putting my goals out for all that care to see... whether I land on my feet, or my face is all up to me!!! R.I.P.