I'm celebrating another birthday this month, and I can't think of a better gift to myself then to begin training for the race that will mark my successful completion of the U.S. Marathon Majors (http://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/US/)!  On November 1...I will run in the New York City Marathon...my eighth overall and my second this year.

There was a day when the thought of having run in the Chicago, Boston and New York City Marathons seemed about as foreign as writing a blog!  Yet here I am...about to launch into the training that will get me to that point...and keeping a journal of sorts for only the second time in my life.  I wonder which carries the greatest risk?

This blog will serve as my personal training log and a place to document my thoughts as I make my way through the miles leading to New York.  I'll begin by noting that I ran the National Marathon in March of this year and the Cherry Blossom 10-miler two weeks later.  Since then, I've been running three days a week, lifting two days a week and cycling one day a week.  At least, that's the routine I've tried to keep.  Since I haven't been training for anything, I've given myself enough slack to take off when I've wanted to, or when I just felt like I needed to.

I feel good as I approach another training cycle, and I plan to stretch more and introduce regular massage this time around in an effort to keep feeling good.  My training plan for New York includes four days of running, one day of cross training (cycling) and two rest days per week.  I will likely mix some core strength training in on my cycling days as well as on one of my rest days.  For me..."rest" just means no running.

I'll jump into a brand new pair of Asics Evolution shoes (with custom orthodics) this week and I may very well buy a Camelback with added capacity.  My 50-oz Camelback came up a bit short during my last training cycle.  I drink approximately 12 ounces of Gatorade before my runs, stick to water during my runs and take in about 24 ounces of chocolate milk immediately after.  I'm also going to discipline myself to consume more water during the day.  I haven't been as good about that as I need to be and I know I've paid a price.  A nutrionist has suggested that I increase my vitamin D intake to between 1000 and 1500 mg a day, and to consider introducing fish oil supplements as well.  Why not?

Every time I do this...I learn something new about training...and something new about myself.  I wonder what it will be this time?

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