Welcome to my blog!
For some time I have been thinking about running the Comrades Marathon. It takes place in South Africa every year in May and it is the most famous of the ultra marathons. The distance varies slightly from year to year, but is usually between 89 and 92 kilometers. I intend to run it in May 2011 which gives me 17 months to get ready! My hope is that I will be able to run the 90 kilometers in less than 9 hours.
So why this blog?
I think of it as my marathon diary. It will serve three purposes. Firstly, I hope that having publicly announced my intentions, it will help keep me motivated when the training gets tough. Giving up would be very embarrassing now that everybody will know about it! Secondly, I know that some of the people closest to me(and especially my wife) are likely to suffer from my undertaking. After all, A LOT of hours are going to spent on running in the coming year and a half. The least I can do is share my thoughts and experiences. Lastly, reading other's blogs and articles about running have helped me tremendously with my own running over the last two years. If anybody can use my experiences the same way, then I'd be very pleased.
But why run 90 kilometers?
I could come up with a number of reasons; but I think it all comes down to achievement. Having run 2 normal marathons I need to take it to the next level. I need to achieve. But not just anything. I need to achieve something that has value to me, something that I can be proud of. Completing a Comrades Marathon would be something I'd be very proud of. In essence, I do this for myself, by myself and to myself. In a way it is very selfish, but if anobody cares to join me, feel free to come along!
Can I do it?
When I decided to run my first marathon I had no idea what it would take. I simply downloaded a 16 week training program from the Internet and stuck to it rigorously, only missing 2 of the short runs. Race day turned out to be surprisingly easy and I enjoyed every minute of it. The following marathon I didn't prepare for that well and so I struggled the last 6 kilometers of it. What I've learned from those two runs is that it all boils down to training. And that in turn requires discipline, toughness and stubbornness. I think that most will agree that I am highly qualified when it comes to the stubbornness part of it. I think it makes up for what I lack in the other areas. So can I do it? Am I stubborn enough? OF COURSE I AM!!!
My training program starts tomorrow. 8 kilometers, afternoon run. I can't wait to get started!
Marathon Madsen
For some time I have been thinking about running the Comrades Marathon. It takes place in South Africa every year in May and it is the most famous of the ultra marathons. The distance varies slightly from year to year, but is usually between 89 and 92 kilometers. I intend to run it in May 2011 which gives me 17 months to get ready! My hope is that I will be able to run the 90 kilometers in less than 9 hours.
So why this blog?
I think of it as my marathon diary. It will serve three purposes. Firstly, I hope that having publicly announced my intentions, it will help keep me motivated when the training gets tough. Giving up would be very embarrassing now that everybody will know about it! Secondly, I know that some of the people closest to me(and especially my wife) are likely to suffer from my undertaking. After all, A LOT of hours are going to spent on running in the coming year and a half. The least I can do is share my thoughts and experiences. Lastly, reading other's blogs and articles about running have helped me tremendously with my own running over the last two years. If anybody can use my experiences the same way, then I'd be very pleased.
But why run 90 kilometers?
I could come up with a number of reasons; but I think it all comes down to achievement. Having run 2 normal marathons I need to take it to the next level. I need to achieve. But not just anything. I need to achieve something that has value to me, something that I can be proud of. Completing a Comrades Marathon would be something I'd be very proud of. In essence, I do this for myself, by myself and to myself. In a way it is very selfish, but if anobody cares to join me, feel free to come along!
Can I do it?
When I decided to run my first marathon I had no idea what it would take. I simply downloaded a 16 week training program from the Internet and stuck to it rigorously, only missing 2 of the short runs. Race day turned out to be surprisingly easy and I enjoyed every minute of it. The following marathon I didn't prepare for that well and so I struggled the last 6 kilometers of it. What I've learned from those two runs is that it all boils down to training. And that in turn requires discipline, toughness and stubbornness. I think that most will agree that I am highly qualified when it comes to the stubbornness part of it. I think it makes up for what I lack in the other areas. So can I do it? Am I stubborn enough? OF COURSE I AM!!!
My training program starts tomorrow. 8 kilometers, afternoon run. I can't wait to get started!
Marathon Madsen
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