I am planning my 1st marathon for this fall in Columbus.  I have started my training & am very excited at how it is going so far.  This weekend will be a 10 mile run.  This will be the most I have run since I did the Columbus 1/2 in May.  Any other first timers out there?

Not my first time at all, but attempting to spurr conversation.

Columbus was great last year, so flat so fast. solid water stops and smooth start and finish. Looking forward to doing it again.

I did my first 13 miler since columbus, last Saturday. It was on the hills down here in Lexington KY, out at Todd's Road if there are any stumbler's out there. Pretty solid run of 7:29's and a best mile of 6:02 (must have been a downhill portion). I like running on the hills because then a flat marathon seems so much more relaxing.

what plan are you following? What is on the plate for this saturday?

Paul-

I am glad to hear last years race was smooth.  I am using the plan from Runner's World's website.  It worked for the half, so hopefully it will work this time as well.  I seem to do best when I run only 3 times per week.

This weekend I am scheduled for 10 miles, but will hopefully do 11-12.  I ran 11 last weekend & it felt great.  I am much slower paced, around 11:30 per mile.

Next week I am on vacation & won't be able to run.  Hopefully I won't be too out of shape when I get back.

We are far enough out to where you shouldn't take too much of a hit, however I would adjust my runs the week before and the week after to compensate. 3 runs per week is tough to do and get the milllege up to 26.2. I ran 13 this morning but the rain came down on us and all I kept thinking was how glad I was that I wore my old shoes that have 500 miles on them rather than my training shoes which are about 200 miles deep. the rain is so nice and keep you cool, but when it really storms you have to worry about thunder and blisters and it just becomes unpleasant.

Saturday will bring a smooth 12 on flat ground, then next week I'll bump it up to 40miles a week with a 15mile long run on hills.

feel free to check out my blog at www.myspace.com/25flavorsofpaul

Paul-