Eleven Days, Two Hours

That is how long until the Saddleback Marathon.  I ran it last year, basically untrained and injured after a very tough year.  Yet, I finished the race, a race not against other runners, but a race against the mountain.  This year, I’m going back with the intention to kill my time.

The closer I get to this magnificent mountain marathon, the more liberal I get in my goal.  I’m aiming for sub 7 hours now.  (7 hours is the cut-off, last year it took me around 7 1/2 hours).  Some of you may think SEVEN HOURS???  And you are justified in thinking that.  Take one look at this profile though, borrowed from Big Baz Trail Races:

The first time I ran this marathon (2010), I had never gone up Holy Jim.  It made me want to cry.  I had no idea when it would end.  Since then I have RUN it again and again.  I know Holy Jim.  It is no longer Holy Cow or Holy Crap, it’s just plain ole’ Holy Jim.  And I can run it. 

The first time I ran this marathon, I took in little calories.  This year, I will force them.

The first time I ran this marathon, I didn’t know some special trail runners.  This year, I will take off with their camaraderie. 

This first time I ran this marathon, I was scared to death.  This year, I’m not so much scared to death of running Saddleback Marathon.  I’m more scared to death of not beating my time.

Most importantly I want to enjoy the beauty.  I want to have fun during the Saddleback Marathon.  Most of all I don’t want to piss-off the race director, Big Baz (LOL).

I’m cutting my mileage over the next two weeks, but not drastically.  I will probably run a little under thirty miles  this week.  And I’m continuing big time on the strength training and speed work.  I actually increased my speed work this morning.   And that was tough, tough, tough.

Eleven days!