ShanHas: You can do it if a finish is your goal. Let the 1/2 be a test marathon pace run. Get your long-runs in the 16-18 mile range even if walking is required. Shoot for a couple of 40-mile peak weeks. Least training I had was in 1998. I was still smoking. Hit the 1/2 mark in just under 2:17 and finished in 5:44. Sixteen minutes from a DQ. You can do it as a run-walk. Your pace will be faster than if you run as long as you can and then are forced to walk. I know from experience that few things bring you down like having everyone pass you when you can not even walk a 20 minute mile. I finished 98th out of 100 that year. Bugs: Bites that people quit or worse, workout, post elsewhere on the site but don't post on the VRAA because they don't have "time". Anyway, VRAA is for you more than the team. I like the motivation of the pretend competition. I also like seeing the really insane stuff the IM and Ultra folks post. To me it's more interesting than all the points claimed from stretching and paddle ball.

Cash, When you crank up the tension on that spin bike it kills my legs too. I'd say I kept it between at 3&4, so not so hard, but long. pace2race, but do you, Cash, Erika, or myself really need motivation? I should make an upper body goal along with VRAA. # of pushups I can do or something. I like that better than just time logged. ShanGen, Double InCome No Kids. I have read walking a bit really can make a big difference. It depends what you want out of the experiance. Remember you only get one first marathon.

I struggled to build my miles until I got on a training plan. Something about the numbers on the page taunting you is enough to get me out the door. Now I look forward to the next run and almost curse the rest days. Before I only got upto 4 days/week about every other week, now 5 days feels like a breeze. I think my legs actually like having fewer off days. Odd, but seems to be working. I'm working on my first marathon as well (May 5th), so we'll have to swap notes as we go!

Shan, FWIW, we're not DINK's we're SITKOMs (Single Income Two Kids Oppressive Mortgage) I think you can do it but as mentioned, you'll need to get your mileage up between now and May. As for listening to my body, the last time I mentioned that at work to some colleagues, they asked if my body sounded like a little girl Guess that's what you get when you work with fighter pilots (I'm certainly not one). Murph, I think I'm a worthy challenger for your "overtapered" marathon King. Its a dubious honor but I'm willing to throw my hat in the ring. Check out my mileage before the USMC last fall. Ugh.. Another rest day for me today. Not scheduled. Just didn't run. By posting I'll have to run tomorrow or face ridicule with this crowd. Not that anyone ridicules me, just that it gives me something to threaten myself with, however lame.

I am back up to 185 pounds Bugs. If you are gonna race me, you gotta wear a 55 pound back pack.

Erica - hop in?? oh my goodness NO. I just meant I would wait till after the half to register. I would never just hop in! I ended up going with Int. 1, and added 2 weeks somewhere because i had them to add when I started with where I fit in. A whole week might be nice! Maybe make it a cross training week, since you probably won't be able to be a true couch potato for that long. Bugs - I'm still going with you don't need to lose any weight! Eating is always a better option than not! Dave - as soon as you said I told my co-workers I knew what was coming!! And you are not allowed to replace me as unplanned rest day dictator (it was non-gendered. was going to say queen, but well you know the issues with that!). Husker - oh yeah!! we will have to trade notes! You people with all your acronyms... I can't keep up!! Well this morning i'm still excited about giving it a try although feeling a little more apprehensive then yesterday. Bugs - thinking about the spirit movie. The cryer also went in with 2 bad knees. She had full braces on both of them. The other thing that makes me nervous about a july mary is that even upper pa gets SUPER hot in July. and it's out in farm land. I did a 5k like that last year and seriously wanted to hurt myself it was so awful. Full sun, no breeze, it sucked. I'm not not listening to what you are saying, I just think I want to at least try training for it a couple weeks. Who knows in 1 week I might realize it's unrealistic. I just don't want to say I wussed out of giving training a shot. Can young naivety play a part here? Remember, I am 24 (25 on may 20th) so I really thing I should get to attack this with the stupidity of youth!

Shan, if you are talking a July marathon--yYou can still pick up at week 1 on one of the 18 week programs. I did this with almost no base for my first marathon. Just ran a few times a week-4 miles a shot for a few weeks before. You are definately in better condition than I was when I started my first training program. There is NO reason not to give it a shot. Id recommend the Hal Higdon beginning program--the mileage never really feels intimidating week after week with that. He really eases into it. DGB. I probably ran 20 miles total in the month before Columbus, and maybe 6 miles the month before Vegas this year. I dont recommend that method of training. And will never run a marathon unprepared again.

Wow. Glad I ran this morning! 54°F and I ran in shorts and short sleeves. Reached 65° by noon. It is 15°'s now and blowing. Tomorrow will be fun! 13.5 miles at recovery pace. ShanHas: Great running.