A Marathon Training Idea

Good evening.

Yesterday morning I made plans to get out in the afternoon and work on barefooting. Then I got a better offer. I love being a grandpa. Chuck E. Cheese is actually fun when you're playing with your grandson. It was really grandma that he sweet-talked, but I got to go along. We didn't bother to order food. He's not a fan of pizza or salads. He just wanted to go straight for the games, grandma had a coupon, and we got a big handful of tokens. We all played Skee-ball (or whatever the CEC equivalent is). He played a bunch of other games and won a lot of tickets. He learned to sit in a cockpit and control a mech warrior. He and I played a game together where we rescued each other from large frogs, spiders, leeches, dragonflies and other over-sized bugs. We were with Mr. Cheese two or three hours. So, no workout.

Today I worked all day. My wife and I ran some errands after work. We came home in the dark, in the rain. We ate some dinner and I did some office type stuff. I didn't work out. I'm a little disappointed with myself, but I'll get over it.

This morning my Achilles had loosened up enough to let me walk down the stairs without using the handrail. That's progress, but I learned my lesson last time my Achilles fest better; I won't be pushing it for at least another two and a half weeks. I've already prepared myself for the probability that at my age the healing process will be a slower than for an athlete. It's okay. I've got the rest of my life to get in better shape.

Here's an interesting training idea. Start by getting yourself in shape to run half a mile, let's say by March 5. Then train yourself just enough to add ten percent each week, so March 12 you will be running 0.55 miles. Keep adding just ten percent each week. By the end of April, almost two months, you will be running one mile. Keep adding ten percent each week and by the middle of June you will be running two miles. In July you will pass through the three mile and 5K marks. In August you will run  four then five miles. September, six miles, 10K, seven miles and eight miles. October, nine miles, 15K, ten miles and 20K. The first of November you will be ready to do a half-marathon. Then 15 miles, 25K and 30K. The first of December you will do 20 miles, 35K, 40K and 25 miles. Just before Christmas you will be ready to run a full marathon. That's 26.2 miles from a half mile just training enough to add ten percent each week for 10 months. The math is straight-forward. I wonder if the rest is reasonable.

With that thought I will say good-night. Sweet dreams.