Research

Even as a non-runner (or maybe especially because that's what I am), I know that training for a marathon is not a light undertaking. I don't expect to be able to run a marathon this year, and maybe not next year either--but I definitely want to start with the end in mind. 

To to reach that end, I figure the best start is to find some motivation

and then do some research... well, a lot of research. 

I already have one book: Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide  and I have ordered another: ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running. 

I started reading the first chapter of Marathon, and it seems promising and helpful.   

In addition to the traditional research, I have been searching out other blogs on running marathons and websites about it. Some of it seems really foreign, while other information is reassuring and makes me feel like this isn't an unachievable goal.  

After starting my reading, I realized that I need some smaller goals along the way. So far, this is what I have come up with:

1. Run the Niantic Bay 5K* on September 23, 2012.

2. Run in a Turkey Trot or some similar 5K this fall

3. Find a 10K to run next summer/fall, maybe Wethersfield or New Haven?

4. Next fall--Run the Niantic Bay Half Marathon 

*I have technically run the Niantic Bay 5K before--but that was July 19, 2009. And while I didn't walk any of it, my time was nothing to brag about-- 34 minutes and 33 seconds, or about a 12-minute mile. I'm hoping I can improve on that with the right training, and not just hitting the treadmill for a couple of minutes longer each time until the treadmill said I ran three miles... It feels so different on an actual road.

I am also really intrigued with the Color Run 5K, Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, and triathlons. There seem to be so many variations on races and running. I don't think this could bore me.

But I don't want to do too much too soon. I have this tendency to start off projects really (really) strong, and then I just peter out before I reach the end. Or I get hurt. I would really like to avoid that.