The plan firms up

Thanks to the January 2008 edition of the Australian and New Zealand Runner's World magazine, my Eight in 08 plan is able to be firmed up. While I had a rough marathon plan for 2008, it had been rough indeed. So here's the latest plan for how I hope to achieve running a marathon in each state and territory of Australia in 2008.

January 6 - Cadbury Marathon - TAS
April 13 - Canberra Marathon - ACT
May 18 - Bunbury Marathon - WA
July 6 - Gold Coast Marathon - QLD
August 17 - Alice Springs Marathon - NT
August 24 - Adelaide Marathon - SA
September 21 - Sydney Marathon - NSW
October 12 - Melbourne Marathon - VIC

My first version only had two runs in the first half of the year and that was a concern for me. This version is only one better. I still have the option of running some other VIC or NSW marathons in the first half of the year (Sri Chimnoy at Williamstown, Hunter Valley etc), but I am keen to run the actual city marathons largely for social reasons.

My training for the first challenge - Hobart on 6 January - has been okay, but I know I am heading into it under done. I've been managing 80 - 100 km a week, but have missed the critical long runs for the last two weeks with only humid conditions and work as an excuse. I hope to get one more long run in either this afternoon or Christmas Eve.

Otherwise, hope all readers have a terrific Holiday season, and I'll try and report back once more before 6 January.

You have to start somewhere

I'm not really sure why I am doing this. Sharyn from the Gunnrunners tells me that I have stolen her idea, and perhaps I'll be happy to return it sometime through next year ...

Anyway, I have always imagined running a marathon in every state and territory in Australia. Not such a crazy goal. Lots of people have done it, and many more will. But running all of them in a year? At the age of 40 and 41 for the last four.

But enough babbling for the moment. This is just the first post. I'll try and provide an update each week to keep some sort of record of how my training is going, and some of what I am thinking and feeling.

The rough plan looks something like this:

January 6 - Cadbury Marathon in Tasmania
April 13 - Canberra Marathon in the Australian Capital Territory
July 6 - Gold Coast Marathon in Queensland
August 17? - Alice Springs Marathon in the Northern Territory
August ?? - Adelaide Marathon in South Australia
September 21 - Sydney Marathon in New South Wales
October 19 - Rottnest Marathon in Western Australia
October ?? - Melbourne Marathon in Victoria

Any advice or encouragement will be appreciated.