Solo Marathon with walking finish.

I run another Solo Marathon today (12/13/14). Another marathon and another record, but not the one I'm proud of.

Flat track, ideal weather... but awkwardness + few mistakes = worst result!

Preparation was like in movies. I've been running for 3 month, 4 days a week with different phases, intervals and long runs. During this time I did more than 285mi including several half-marathons, 30+km runs and even one marathon. According to plan I had to finish this race in 3:09! Atlanta Thanksgiving Half-marathon result added some confidence (my time was 1:33:44).

Ok, day X. I feel good. After warm-up I was seriously determined to do it in more or less the same time specified in plan. Start at 9 am. It's time - GO GO GO!

The most boring marathon

Marathon is a dream for runner-beginner! There is so much proud in this phrase "I run marathon!", which is not actually the same what you feel in the process of achieving this goal.

• "8:30 - full tank of carbohydrates, heart rate monitor set on, satellites found..." - imagine your feelings if you don't have corresponding attitude, and, because of your leisure, physical shape too...
• "...I was waiting for start along with thousands of runners..." - what if you are alone?!
• "...I continued running along the quays and bridges of St. Petersburg. There were so many beautiful things around me!!!" - and now switch to the small room without any beauties.
• "...The most sharp-sighted ones could read my name on my number and shouted "Grisha, come on, go go go!"" - what if there is nobody to support you?!
• "...Got out, gave chip, took a towel and went to take the certificate with results I could and had to have better..." - if there is no even small medal or any other paper charter?!
• "...I was recovering so diligently, that over-recovered by 2 kg..." - what if you don't have with whom to celebrate?!

White Nights - my first marathon!

Marathon, Bosphorus, Half Iron Man - this is the chain of events I planned for the summer of 2014 at the end of the summer of 2013, when my ambitions prevailed over my laziness and I decided that it was time to change. Did I believe then that I could do it - NOT AT ALL, but as you know - If you can dream it, you can do it.

Marathon

Marathon is not something you can plan today for tomorrow. It takes time. In my case it was one year of continuous preparation. During this time I managed to run around 1000кm, preparing myself for this event.

Plan

I realized that it was not enough to just run every day in order to make it happen, I needed a Plan. There were several options to choose from: I could find a trainer, elaborate a plan by myself or use one of thousands existing in the Internet.