2011 Plan (so far...)

My plan for 2011 is to complete 6 (7?) full marathons and a sprinkling of half marathons that I will use as training runs. This is a lofty goal especially since I will be starting of the year in full preparation for my board exams and also in the midst of my doctoral program. Makes for quite an interesting year, I think!
Anyways, so far I have signed up for the following races:

Birmingham, Alabama on Feb 13
Georgia Marathon, Atlanta on Mar 20
Oklahoma City marathon on May 1
Miami Beach 13.1 on Mar 6

that's the plan, so far....

To Dream....

There are some races that I would love to run...some for obvious reason's and other's for sentimental reason's.
Here's some of my race wish list:

Towards my 50 state challenge:
1. New York City Marathon (in 2013...if I don't get in before with the lottery)
2. Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon (to honour those who fell in the bombing)
3. New Orleans Mardi Gras (because it would be fun)
4. San Francisco Nike Women's Marathon (for the Tiffany necklace!)
5. Honolulu Marathon (I just want to visit Hawaii)
6. Boston Marathon (when I'm 85yrs old or if I do it through a charity!)

Towards my 7 Continent Challenge:
1. Comrades Marathon (every South Africans Dream!)
2. The Great Wall of China Marathon
3. London Marathon
4. Berlin Marathon (London and Berlin are part of the world majors)
5. Antarctica marathon (it's the only way I could visit my last continent (I have visited 6 of 7))

Towards the World majors:
1. Chicago
2. Boston
3. London
4. Berlin
5. New York

Marathon #4--Illinois

Date: 10/10/10 (October 10, 2010) (this was a special one!)
Venue: Chicago, Illinois
Race: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Weather: in the 60's-75's
Time: 5:59:57
Comments: Enjoyed the course, it was really crowded though, I ran almost continuous (except for the water stops) because I was afraid I would get trampled by the other runners, you had to keep moving! I did not expect a great time (I went in with an injury (knee injury that happened two weeks before in my taper run) but I was surprised to come in just under 6 hours...the crowd support was great throughout the race
Celebration: Yes! Thanks to Jeeja's sister for hosting a victory party for us. And to Atul and Sarah for making the trip to come see me....it was great spending most of the weekend with them (actually that was for me the best part of the race weekend)

Continent #1---North America

Date:01/10/10
Venue: Disney World, Florida, USA
Race: Disney Marathon Weekend Goofy Challenge (39.3miles)
Time: 6:50:08 (for the full)
Weather: Insane! It was the COLDEST day in Florida EVER! It even snowed in the morning right before the race started!
Comments: Great experience. It was very strange because for the most part, we couldn't feel our limbs and at the aid stations it seemed like we were getting slushies! We walked a lot towards the end (I was feeling great, but this was Maria's first full marathon and I did not want her to quit...so we walked it to complete it...I was not disappointed)
Celebration: A cold one! At Disney's Hollywood Studios..fun with the TNT gang (and I got three medals for the weekend!)

Marathon #3--Virginia

Date: October 25, 2009
Venue: Virginia and Washington DC
Race: Marine Corps Marathon
Weather: (at start in the 40's; at finish in the 60's-70's)
Time:6:22:44
Comments: Beautiful course, really cold at start, got into trouble at mile 18 when I started the quad cramping again with the heat picking up, time was not good (maybe had something to do with Eva's 20min bathroom break and the stopping for a ton of photos...the course was beautiful and we couldn't help it!)
Celebration: Not happening this time....went from finish line to security line at airport! (won't be doing that again!)...beforehand though I did get to see Maimunah and Adnan and Raisa who was living in Baltimore at the time...so that was a bonus

Marathon #2--Florida

Date: January 25, 2009 Venue: Miami, Florida
Race: ING Miami Marathon
Weather: (at start about 56F; at finish about 90F!)
Time: 6:02:32
Comments: Miserable race for me, started out okay, but the split at the halfway was rough, I didn't think so many people would be doing just the half, I struggled the second half, the heat became unbearable and I started cramping in my quads, I didn't enjoy the second half of the course either, so even though I did improve my time by one hour, I did not enjoy this race. Celebration: You bet! TNT party to celebrate the end of the season

Marathon #1----Alaska

Date: June 21, 2008
Venue: Anchorage, Alaska
Race: Mayor's Marathon
Weather: (at start about 48F, at finish about 56F)
Time: 7:03:36
Comments: Beautiful course, first ever marathon, injured around mile 20....walked last 6miles with Veronica, great experience,
very emotional to cross the finish line
Celebration: You bet! TNT victory party, popped some Ibuprofen, danced the night away, next morning at breakfast we started planning our next events...we are all hooked!

History....

I have been wanting to document my marathon (full distance) events on a separate blog for a while now because I finally decided that I do indeed intend to attempt the 50 state challenge.

I have been running for a little over two years now.

I have finished 5 full marathons and 10 half marathons and 3 triathlons.

I needed a challenge.

I did my research and found the 50 state club.

And then there was also the 7 continent club!

And then there was the World Majors of Marathons!

So I decided I am going to become members of these two clubs and complete the World Majors.

It is a goal that will be accomplished over the 10 years

(or hopefully before I turn 40) (God and finances willing!)

Really I could have chosen the 50 state half marathon challenge,

but since my first ever endurance event was a full marathon in Alaska,

I decided I would just stick with the 26.2mile 50 state challenge.

So this is my log on my 50 state and 7 continent marathon challenge and my World Majors in Marathoning.