Dakota, that looks beautiful!!

I am going to sign up for the Maine Half Marathon on October 4. My goal will be to run the entire way this year, and finish faster than 2:30.

Thanks, Jules! You guys are great.

I agree with Jules, Teresa, think big and go for it! My secret plan this year is to try to train for my October race as if it were a marathon, not a half; the idea is to find out for 2010 whether I can handle the mileage and build up my endurance to run my first marathon "properly", or whether I should stick to shorter distances. This means I will try to gradually get my weekly mileage up to 80kms (50 miles) or so, and do several long runs of at least 20 miles. If nothing else I should run a cracker of a half in October!

Dear Teresa, I did the Maine Half Marathon in Portland (my first 2:26:**) and I thought it was great! It was really fun and I ran through some very pretty neighborhoods in Falmouth. Since I mostly run alone it was great running with so many people. It was easy to pace myself going out, I stuck with with some nice marathoners who helped but coming back was harder because they kept going after our turnaround. Miles 10-11 were a little dodgy coming back over the bridge with a bit of traffic, since I was in the over 2 hour category. But the finish line was great and there was a massage tent which I greatly appreciated before the drive home. This year I'm planning on the MDI YMCA half because I really want to run in Acadia Park (and drive one hour less) this may not be good for my goal of 10m/m pace (2:11:**) as it is very hilly, but I hear Philadelphia is really flat, so I may try that in November. A MTA: to remove unintentional emoticons (they are evil)

Well, looking at the calendar today, the Ironhorse HM is now only 13 weeks out (May 30th). Probably not where I should be for training, but then again while really looking at last year, I'm actually ahead. The big motivation for me is as the weather warms up and I can get outside, I'm much more inspired to run. As I've said in a previous post, I'm planning on trying to take things a bit easier this year. For the HM, I simply want to better my time last year of 1:44:26. I won't run in the difficult 5M race (6) days before the HM this year, so that should give me an advantage and now knowing the course and the issue with the mile markers at the beginning, I'll be more prepared at the beginning and hopefully avoid the fast start I had last year. Even if the weather does not improve much here in CT, I'll be in FL for 8 days in Mid March and get a couple of runs in outside including (hopefully) a 5K in Ft Lauderdale. The Threadmill is okay, but "VERY" boring and un-inspiring. Once I can get out regularly and open my stride up, I should be able to get on track. Also, running on the threadmill is awful lonely. Even though most of my runs are alone, you at least see other people and breaks up the loneliness. Larry

My next one is March 21 in Moab, Utah...I'm getting psyched!

Nice Dakota!!! Looks real cool.