ING Miami Marathon and why I love my "job"

I spent time in Miami with my wife and her sisters, built some business relationships, presented on ING's Run for Something Better program Friday, then ran a 3:05:03 in the ING Miami Marathon Sunday. Now that's a great extended weekend!

This was a PR for me by 25 minutes! I ran 7:04 minute/mile averages and even negative split by 1 minute and 30 seconds. 5 gels, lots of gatorade, 4 e-caps and 60 degree weather all helped. I came in 66th place overall and 6th of over 250 in the men's 35-39 age group.

I am not quite certain how training with only 25-35 running miles per week can make for such a solid marathon. I will attribute it to quality of runs versus quantity of runs I guess. The triathlete lifestyle of workout must be making a big difference as well. I've been on the spin bike and in the pool more as my running has been dialed down over 2007 and 2008.

I also had the chance to hang out with Brian Sell, future olympic marathoner for the USA. Brian won the 1/2 marathon in Miami. It was a training day for him but he still beat the course record by 3.5 minutes. I was talking with him after the race and I speculated that he must have been holding back a bit. He claimed it was a "97 or 98% effort". The photo here is of me and Brian at the press conference prior to the marathon. I am all suited up as I was performing my ING duties that day.

Kudos to my wife Heather, her sister Tiffany, and our sister-in-law Stacie who all finished the 1/2 marathon as well. A first for Tiffany and Stacie. Awesome!

Visiting the SoCal

I have been enjoying training in the cool but comfortable weather of Southern California for the past three days. My headquarters has been the pleasant Best Western Encinitas.

I love visiting here. One reason why? Outdoor sports. Here are my top five reasons confirming that when you are in San Diego/Encinitas you are in one of the the fitness epicenters of the USA.

1) You can't go within 5 miles of the beach without seeing at least 20 runners, 20 bikers, and 10 surfers. Any time of the day. Any day of the week.
2) 7 Eleven sells hammer gels.
3) Every 10 minutes the radio plays a 30 second advertisement encouraging listeners to sign up for their first marathon or triathlon via Team in Training.
4) About one in five BMWs has a bike rack. In Raleigh its about 1 in 100.
5) 12 people showed up for their weekly 6AM speed golf round that started in the dark and 45 degrees.

After one more big fitness day I jump the red eye today for the trip home.

Finger Rock Trail Run, Tucson AZ

Finally something maybe blog worthy. A two hour, ten mile, run-hike up 2000 feet of desert mountains. Another great locale for an adventure while on an ING trip. The trail head was only about 2 miles from the hotel, the sweet Westin La Paloma in Tucson. Ran to the trailhead, ran/scrambled the trail up and down, then a 2 mile run back to the resort. A blast!

2008 Beginnings

Registered for ING Miami Marathon - January 27
Registered for ING Georgia Marathon - March
Registered for White Lake 1/2 IM - White Lake, NC, May
Registered for IM Lake Placid - NY, July
Registered for IM Bridge to Battleship - Wilmington, NC, November

A few more (shorter distances) to come but all the majors are now set in stone.

Time to start training a bit more.