Marathon Man

I'm thinking about running a marathon. That's a pretty ambitious goal, but it's not the pipe dream that it once would have been. Once, "I'm thinking of running a marathon" would have been in the same category as "I'm thinking of making a million dollars" or "I'm thinking of winning a Fields Medal." But now I think I can do it, although it won't be easy.

Here's my plan:

• Run the distance for a half marathon this fall. I'm not that far away. I have run 10 miles, and I think that I can work my way up to 13.1.
  
• Run in the half marathon at the Mad City Marathon next spring. I have a friend who has run that race, so I'm hoping that I can get him to go with me.
  
• Run in the half marathon at the Dubuque Benefit Classic next fall. I am running in the Classic this fall, but in the 5K, not the half marathon.
  
• Run a marathon in 2008, presumably at Mad City.
  

I don't think that plan is totally wild. There's a lot of information out there about how to train for half marathons and marathons. I think I can do this.