< 2:50 @ Boston

I've thought about changing my style of training and racing for months. "Quality not quantity" I tell myself. "Quality not quantity." Apparently I never listen to me.
Since 2007 I've run over 50 marathons, numerous ultra's and done my fair share of triathlons too. I've seen my 50k time drop substantially (5:37 to 3:48 PR) but my marathon time has never quickened (3:02:51 to 2:59:06 PR). That time really is unacceptable considering how many miles I've put in.
I've known it for a while but I haven't wanted to acknowledge it; I am not training, I am just running. I've never really trained. When I lived in Raleigh I would run with the Raleigh Running Outfitters' guys for Tuesday night track workouts but then I would skip the long run or I would be there for the long run but wouldn't step on rubber for weeks. I've done a marathon or ultra at least once a month for almost 4 years. Distance I can do. Distance I am used to. I know how to run, how to get my head in the game but when I line up at the start I'm never happy with what I've done to "prepare" for the race. That's because I haven't really done anything.
My motivation is off. My nutrition is off. My endurance is good and that is unfair. A lot of really talented, motivated people train for one race at a time, train for it really hard and still don't get near the finishing times I do.
So what am I going to do about it? Set a goal for myself. A difficult goal, one that I will really have to work hard to achieve. One that I am not sure I can attain. I would like to decrease my marathon time by 10 minutes. I want to cross the finish line in 2:49:59. How am I going to do this? Well, the Boston Marathon is on April 16th 2012 and I am registered for it again this year. Mid-April is 22 weeks away. There is a lot of time between now and then. Almost half a year. I have a training plan that will hopefully put me on Boylston Street around 2:47. 6:28 min/mile for 26 miles.
But what does this all mean? It means that I need to be accountable to myself. It means I will keep this blog updated. It means that I won't race a marathon or ultra for almost half a year... Can I do that? I really like tacking new race numbers on my cork board.
But it also means I don't have to travel as much. It means I can spend more time in Chapel Hill. It means the expense of racing and traveling will vanish.
The program I have is a 20-week training guide. I have 2 weeks before I have to follow it. Between now and then I will train up. Re-work this blog (make it look a bit better, I'll admit it is boring). And get my head around what my goal really means.

Here we go.