Only about 2% of runners will finish a marathon in less than 180 minutes (3 hours)

Six years ago, I couldn't even imagine running the distance (26.2 miles). But after working up to 3-4 mile jogs a few times a week, I set the incredible goal of running a half marathon.

After four months of intense training, well at that time (20-25 miles/wk), I ran the Houston half-marathon on January 16th, 2005. It was so grueling, I swore that was it. I'll never do another half, let alone a full.

Fortunately a running comrade pushed me to do a full marathon. Rededicated, I set a sub 4:00 hour goal for the full Houston marathon the following year. I trained harder than ever and crossed the finish in 3:59; I was hooked.

I've now run 21 marathons and this site is my journal to join that exclusive club of those who finish a marathon in under 180 minutes (3 hours).

CONTACT ME

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 01 Sabbatical for hamstring recovery (Wk Ending June 26)

Sunday 
Resting hamstring and also on vacation

Saturday
Resting hamstring and also on vacation

Friday
Resting hamstring and also on vacation

Thursday
Resting hamstring and also on vacation

Wednesday
Resting hamstring and also on vacation

Tuesday
Resting hamstring and also on vacation

Monday
Resting hamstring and also on vacation

Friday, June 24, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 03 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 19)

Sunday 
Off-Hamstring not recovered. Also on vacation. 

Saturday
Off-Hamstring not recovered. Also on vacation. 

Friday
Off-Hamstring not recovered. Also on vacation. 

Thursday
Off-Hamstring not recovered. Also on vacation. 

Wednesday
Off-Hamstring not recovered. Also on vacation. 

Tuesday
Off-Hamstring not recovered. Also on vacation. 

Monday
Off-Hamstring not recovered. Also on vacation. 

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 02 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 12)

Sunday 
Walking a bit each day and strict on diet.  Waiting for hamstring to recover. 

Saturday
Walking a bit each day and strict on diet.  Waiting for hamstring to recover. 

Friday
Walking a bit each day and strict on diet.  Waiting for hamstring to recover. 

Thursday
Walking a bit each day and strict on diet.  Waiting for hamstring to recover. 

Wednesday
Walking a bit each day and strict on diet.  Waiting for hamstring to recover. 

Tuesday
Walking a bit each day and strict on diet.  Waiting for hamstring to recover. 

Monday
Walking a bit each day and strict on diet.  Waiting for hamstring to recover. 

Weekly Recap-Week 01 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 05)

Sunday 
Off-waiting for hamstring to recover

Saturday
Off-waiting for hamstring to recover

Friday
Off-waiting for hamstring to recover

Thursday
Off-waiting for hamstring to recover

Wednesday
Off-waiting for hamstring to recover

Tuesday
Off-waiting for hamstring to recover

Monday
 Off-waiting for hamstring to recover

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 12 of Spring Training (Wk Ending May 29

Sunday 
Hamstring still in bad shape 

Saturday
5 minutes on the mill and my hamstring seized up on me

Friday
Off-being lazy

Thursday
Off-being lazy

Wednesday
Off-being lazy

Tuesday
Off-being lazy

Monday
Off-being lazy

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 11 of Spring Training (Wk Ending May 22)

Sunday 
Walk / jog 5

Saturday
Walk / jog 5

Friday
Off-being lazy

Thursday
Off-being lazy

Wednesday
Off-being lazy

Tuesday
Off-being lazy

Monday
Walk / jog 4

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 10 of Spring Training (Wk Ending May 15)

Sunday 
Off-Swamped in audit work 

Saturday
Off-Swamped in audit work 

Friday
Off-Swamped in audit work 

Thursday
Off-Swamped in audit work 

Wednesday
Walk / jog 3

Tuesday
Off-Coming home from Dubai 

Monday
Off-In Dubai

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 09 of Spring Training (Wk Ending May 08)

Sunday 
Off-In Dubai

Saturday
Off-In Dubai

Friday
Off-In Dubai

Thursday
Off-In Dubai

Wednesday
Off-In Dubai

Tuesday
Off-In Dubai

Monday
Off-In Dubai

Monday, April 25, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 08 of Spring Training (Wk Ending May 01)

Sunday 
Off-In Dubai

Saturday
Off-In Dubai

Friday
Off-In Dubai

Thursday
Off-headed to Dubai

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Walk / jog 4.  Just burning calories

Monday
Walk / jog 4.  Just burning calories

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 07 of Spring Training (Wk Ending April 24)

Sunday 
Off-resting hamstring

Saturday
Off-resting hamstring

Friday
Off-resting hamstring 

Thursday
Off-hamstring sore

Wednesday
Off-hamstring sore

Tuesday
Off-hamstring sore

Monday
Very slow 4.  Hamstring still feels tight. No pain, just tight. 

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 06 of Spring Training (Wk Ending April 17)

Sunday 
Off-lots of work

Saturday
Off-being lazy.  Need to get back on the horse

Friday
In Austin on business

Thursday
In Austin on business

Wednesday
In Austin on business

Tuesday
In Austin on business 

Monday
Off-swamped with work

Weekly Recap-Week 05 of Spring Training (Wk Ending April 10)

Sunday 
Off-swamped in work

Saturday
Off-swamped in work

Friday
Off-swamped in work

Thursday
Off-swamped in work

Wednesday
Off-swamped in work

Tuesday
Off-swamped in work

Monday
Off-swamped in work

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 04 of Spring Training (Wk Ending April 3)

Sunday 
Off-swamped in work

Saturday
Off-swamped in work

Friday
Off-swamped in work

Thursday
Off-Traveling to Houston.  Bloody hamstring very tight. Not happy

Wednesday
Off-long day at off.  Hamstrings very tight

Tuesday
Walk / jog 5.  Unexpectedly hamstrings very tight

Monday
Decent 5

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 03 of Spring Training (Wk Ending March 27)

Sunday 
Being lazy lazy lazy

Saturday
Should have done 6 miles, drank a six pack instead

Friday
Off-being lazy

Thursday
Off-being lazy

Wednesday
Off-Slept at office

Tuesday
Off

Had an annual checkup. After eating three Whataburger taquitos this am, washing down with a 44oz ice tea, and wearing all clothes and shoes, I was 218.  I am probably about 210 in my boxers after a morning bathroom visit.   I'm going to try to get to 199 before Beach to Bay in 8 weeks. 

Monday
Met Mike for 6 at 5:45. Slow 9:00 pace

Off-Slept at office at night

Monday, March 14, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 02 of Spring Training (Wk Ending March 20)

Sunday 
Met Mike at 7:00am for 7 miles. 

Saturday
Off-Company visiting

Friday
Off-Company visiting

Thursday
Off-Company visiting 

Wednesday
Off-sleeping at office

Tuesday
Off-sleeping at office

Monday
Slow but comfortable 5

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 01 of Spring Training (Wk Ending March 13)

Sunday 
Off-being lazy

Saturday
Off-swamped with work

Friday
Off-literally sleeping at office. Swamped with work

Thursday
Off-literally sleeping at office. Swamped with work

Wednesday
Decent 5

Tuesday
Off

Monday
Decent 5

Monday, February 29, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 12 of Winter Training (Wk Ending March 06)

Sunday 
Decent 4

Saturday
Met Micheal for 6 at 6:30 am. Did 4 until dehydration got me, walked / jogged two more. 

Walk/jog another five in the afternoon. 

Friday
Decent 5

Thursday
Very slow 6

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Good 5, walk / jog 3 more

Monday
Slow but smooth 6, slight bump in to include all the way through 

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 11 of Winter Training (Wk Ending February 28)

Sunday 
slow 5k

Saturday
4 in am, 4 in afternoon 

Friday
Slow 5k, with some incline work.  Walk / jog another 6

Thursday
Slow 4, walk 1 more

Wednesday
Slow but smooth 8, walk 2 more

Tuesday
Off

Monday
Walk / jog 6

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 10 of Winter Training (Wk Ending February 21)

Sunday 
Slow 4. Walk / jog 4 more

Saturday
Decent 4 in afternoon, and slow 5k at night, walked  2 more. 

Friday
Slow but decent 5 miles.  Walk / jog another 7

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Slow 5k with light incline work.  Walk / jog another 5 miles

Tuesday
5k, walked / jogged another 9.  Time to start losing weight.  15 lbs should put me in half Marathon shape

Monday
Slow 4

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 03 of Summer Training (Wk Ending June 19)

Sunday 

Saturday

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Monday
X

Weekly Recap-Week 9 of Winter Training (Wk Ending February 14)

Sunday 
Slow but decent 7

Saturday
Off

Friday
Slow but decent 4 

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Got moderate 5k

Tuesday
Slow, but comfortable 4

Monday
Slow 5k

Monday, February 1, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 8 of Winter Training (Wk Ending February 07)

Sunday 
Off-being lazy

Saturday 
Off-being lazy

Friday
Off-feeling a little burned out.  But also been sick, so maybe just run down a little 

Thursday
Off-feeling a little burned out.  But also been sick, so maybe just run down a little

Wednesday
Off-feeling a little burned out.  But also been sick, so maybe just run down a little

Tuesday
Off-feeling a little burned out.  But also been sick, so maybe just run down a little 

Monday
Slow 5

Monday, January 25, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 7 of Winter Training (Wk Ending January 31)


Sunday
Slow 4 in am with incline work.  Slow 5k in the evening 

Saturday 
Still have cold, but got in a decent 5k and walked/jogged another 5k with Juliet. 

Friday
Off-sick with a cold. 

Wednesday
Hit pavement for 4. 

42 degrees, legs felt heavy

Tuesday
Slow 5k, walked / jog 4 more mile

Monday
Slow 5.  

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 6 of Winter Training (Wk Ending January 24)


Sunday
Off

Saturday
Slow 5k.  Walk / jog 3 more with J

Friday
Slow 4-Hamstring tight

Thursday
Hit pavement for slow 5k

Wednesday
Slow 5k

Tuesday
Off-back in USA

Monday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 5 of Winter Training (Wk Ending January 17)


Sunday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Saturday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Friday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Thursday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Wednesday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Tuesday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Monday
Off-In Ecuador, swamped with work 

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 4 of Winter Training (Wk Ending January 10)


Sunday
Hotel in Quito Ecuador.  Hit mill jog, mostly walk 5. 

Saturday
Slow but decent 4

Friday
Walked / jogged 4 with Jules. 

Thursday
Off-swamped with work

Wednesday
Off-rest hamstring

Tuesday
Off-rest hamstring 

Monday
A nice 50 degrees cool.  Hit pavement for slow 5k

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Weekly Recap-Week 3 of Winter Training (Wk Ending January 03)


Sunday
Slow 5 miles in am. Jogged / walked 3 with girls in afternoon. 

Saturday
Off

Friday
Slow 5k

Thursday
Walk , jog 5 with Juliet 

Wednesday
Weather cold and damp: perfect for running.  Hit pavement for slow 4

Tuesday
Jog, mostly walked 4

Monday
Jogged, mostly walked 4

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 2 of Fall Winter (Wk Ending December 27)


Sunday
Very Slow 5k

Saturday
Walk / jog 4 with Juliet

Friday
Off

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Jog, mostly walk 4 with Juliet

Tuesday
Jog, mostly walk 4 with Juliet

Monday
Off

Friday, December 18, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 1 of Winter Training (Wk Ending December 20)


Sunday
Off-Being lazy

Saturday
Jog slow 2, walk 2. 

Friday

Off-Being Lazy

Thursday

Off-Being Lazy

Wednesday

Off-Being Lazy

Tuesday

Off-Being Lazy

Monday
Off-Being Lazy

Monday, December 7, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 10 of Fall Training (Wk Ending December 13)

Sunday
Off-Swamped with Work

Saturday
Off-Swamped with Work

Friday
Off-Swamped with Work

Thursday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Wednesday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Tuesday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Monday
Off-still concerned hamstring not healed

Monday, November 30, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 9 of Fall Training (Wk Ending December 6)

Sunday
Off

Saturday
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
In Mexico for work. 

Tuesday
In Mexico for work. 

Monday
In Mexico for work. 

Monday, November 23, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 8 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 29)

Sunday
In Mexico for work. 

Saturday
Hamstring to tight.  Rolled / stretched it

Friday
Hamstring to tight.  Rolled / stretched it

Thursday
Walk / run 5.  Hamstring a bit tight. 

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Did slow 5k.  No hamstring pain

Monday
Off


Monday, November 16, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 7 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 22)

Sunday
Used roller on hamstring.  Seemed to help.  Stretched, walked 4


Saturday
Used roller for first time on hamstring.  Seemed to help.  Stretched, walked 4

Friday
Off-hamstring issues 

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Tried to jog, but hamstring wouldn't take it. 

Tuesday
The last 100 yards of a slow 5k, hamstring tighten up.  Will see how it feels tomorrow. 

Monday
Off-Stretch hamstring 

Monday, November 9, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 6 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 15)

Sunday
Still dealing with hamstring issues.  Walk 4, stretching. 

Saturday
Still dealing with hamstring issues.  Walk 4, stretching. 

Friday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues.

Thursday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues. 

Wednesday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues. 

Tuesday
Off-Still dealing with hamstring issues. 

Monday
Damnit.  Hamstring still sore.  Just walked 3. Well, lots more stretching. 

Monday, November 2, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 5 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 8)

Sunday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Saturday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Friday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Thursday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Wednesday
Pulled hamstring, taking week off


Tuesday
Headed toward slow four, but pulled hamstring at 2.


Monday
Slow Four

Monday, October 26, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 4 of Fall Training (Wk Ending November 1)



Sunday

Slow but smooth 7

Saturday
Very slow 4

Friday
Very very slow 4

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Off 

Monday
Very slow 5k

Monday, October 19, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 3 of Fall Training (Wk Ending October 25)


Sunday
Hit pavement for four miles

Saturday
Off-being lazy

Friday
Off-being lazy

Thursday
Off-being lazy

Wednesday
Off-being lazy

Tuesday
Off-being lazy

Monday
Hit pavement for four miles

Monday, October 12, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 2 of Fall Training (Wk Ending October 18)



Sunday
Good 4 in afternoon, slow 5k at night. 

Saturday
Slow 6 with a bit of incline work

Friday
Decent 7

Thursday
Slow 5 miles after work. Slow 5k before bed. 

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Decent 4

Monday
Decent 6

Monday, October 5, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 1 of Fall Training (Wk Ending October 11)



Sunday
Slow 5 miles in afternoon, slow 5k at night

Saturday
Slow 4

Friday
Being lazy-off

Thursday
Off-being lazy

Wednesday
Off-a bit tight

Tuesday
Slow 5k

Monday
Hit pavement for slow 4

Monday, September 28, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 22 of Summer Training (Wk Ending October 04)



Sunday

Slow 4

Saturday
Slow 5

Friday
Slow 4

Thursday
Slow 5k

Wednesday
Off-Traveling to Ecuador

Tuesday
Off-Traveling to Ecuador

Monday
Off-Traveling to Ecuador

Monday, September 21, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 21 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 27)


Sunday

Off:  Worked most the day.  Also a bit lazy.

Saturday
Slow 5k

Friday
Just lazy, no running

Thursday
Off-too much work


Wednesday
Off-too much work


Tuesday
Off-too much work


Monday
Off-too much work

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 20 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 20)


Sunday

Jogged a very slow 4.  Hamstring still a bit tender. 

Saturday
Hamstring still sore.  Walked 5

Friday
Hamstring still sore.   Off


Thursday
Hamstring still sore.   Off


Wednesday
Hamstring still sore.  Off


Tuesday
Hamstring still sore.  Walked 4 and stretched



Monday
Hamstring still sore.  Walked 4 and stretched

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 19 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 13)


Sunday
Tried a slow jog today, but hamstring still acutely tight and sore. 

Saturday
Hamstring still tight.  Taking time off. 

Friday
Hamstring still tight.  Taking time off. 

Thursday
Strained a damn hamstring while running dehydrated on Wednesday.  Now have to take 3-4 days off. 

Wednesday
Hit pavement for slow four.  Sweated like I was in a shower. 

Tuesday
Slow 5 with moderate incline work. 

Monday
Decent 5

Monday, August 31, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 18 of Summer Training (Wk Ending September 6)


Sunday
Slow 5k.  Walk / jog another 4

Saturday
Slow 8 in afternoon.  Slow 5k at night.  Walk/ jog another 4

Friday
Quick 4

Thursday
Decent 4

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Decent 5

Monday
A decent 4

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Weekly Recap-Week 17 of Summer Training (Wk Ending August 30th)


Sunday
Solid 5 miles

Saturday
Slow 5k, walk / jog another 6 miles

Friday
Slow 4, walk / jog another 4. 

Thursday
Speedy 5k, walk / jog another 5. 

Wednesday
Slow 5k but with moderate incline work. 

Tuesday
Decent 4

Monday
Slow 5k