“Training for a race is going to be uncomfortable…you can fight it, which uses precious energy, or you can learn to embrace it.”
(Lisa McClellan)
The 2025 Atlantic City Marathon is fast approaching!
I decided to lay low with my training updates this year and concentrate on the grind of the process. This will be my fourth go at the marathon distance, and I continue to learn more about myself and how to train. I am proud of this training cycle with my consistency and ability to hit weekly mile markers.
Maintaining a consistent bedtime (8:30 pm) ensures that I get enough rest and can get up for my early morning runs. I find myself waking up on my own before my alarm clock goes off at 4:30 am. I’m excited to train and it has been showing in my weekly efforts.
I have continued to leverage the Hal Higdon 18-week marathon training program for this cycle. This program has helped me grow into a marathoner and is easy to understand and follow. I have missed a few training sessions due to life (travel, work, rain) but I have found ways to keep my mileage up and mentally prepare for the 26.2-mile battle coming up in Atlantic City.
I lowered my marathon personal record (PR) by over 23 minutes in Chicago last year and I want to lower it again in Atlantic City. I revealed in my first Atlantic City marathon update that my goal time is 4:45 (four hours and forty-five minutes). That would be a 35-minute reduction but I’m not backing down from my goal. Will I hit it? You will see soon! 😊
I leverage races to help me work on my speed and I’m happy with the results in my lead up to the 2025 Atlantic City marathon. I ran a PR at the 2025 Virginia Beach 10-miler in September. I ran 1:34:44 and that lowered my best time for this distance by two minutes. My 2025 Outrun Hunger 5k time of 28:41 was not a PR but was a good indicator of my fitness considering the Fort Pierce humidity levels in September. This all showed my training, fitness and mental approach were producing positive results.
The final tune-up was conducted at the 2025 Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon in Hampton, New Hampshire. I set my half marathon PR during this race two weeks before Atlantic City. The 2:04:31 time was due to my training program, and the cool weather helped a lot. (A blog article on this race is coming soon). 😊
Here’s my weekly mileage update:
Week 11
26.65
Week 12
33.28
Week 13
29.73
Week 14
34.64
Week 15
38.02
Week 16
34.3
Week 17
25
Week 18
9.62
Total Week 11 – Week 17:228.98
Total miles this training cycle: 583.74
Total Friday nights out: 0😊
I continue to learn how to train and recover for a marathon. My body has felt good throughout this training cycle and I’m mentally tougher than in previous years. I am excited to see how this new level of fitness and mental preparation shows up on race day. Race fast and having fun are the main goals with a potential PR at the end—we will see!
Thanks for following the marathon training journey and see you on the other side of 26.2 miles in New Jersey.
What are you training for?
Fun fact: I started marathon training weighing 198 pounds and got down to 189 pounds at one point during this cycle. I will toe the start line at 195 pounds this year. 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“Aiming for the marathon is a task of sorts which can include terrific highs and lows.”
I love running with Track Shack! This is not a startling revelation, but I like to share it with my readers. 😊
I started running with Track Shack when I moved to Oviedo, Florida in October 2010. There’s another running organization, Front Running Sports, in the area but the Track Shack races always appealed to me and were closer to my home. I ran as a Track Shack Fanatic for several years since this saved me money for races I was going to run in anyway. I’m no longer a Fanatic but still make my way ‘home’ for 3 races each year.
The Celebration of Running 5k is one of my regular Track Shack races and I made my way back over for the 2025 Celebration of Running 5k in Winter Park, Florida in August. This race normally starts my running season, but I got an early start with races in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Watermelon 5k in Winter Park.
My times in this race have been decent, but the humidity and early part of the running season never allowed me to maximize my finish times. I know this is all just another excuse, but this race provides me with the data I need to determine how much I need to push myself to train for longer distance races in the fall.
I’m happy to report I took 31 seconds off my 2024 time and finished in 28:34 (twenty-eight minutes and 34 seconds) with a 9:10 per mile pace. I have run faster times but I’m happy to hit this time marker considering the time of year, heat and humidity we had on race day. My mile splints were:
I felt good throughout the race, but Mile 2 was a tough transition because of the new course design. We normally run on a wider street for this portion, but the new design was narrow and created bottleneck areas for runners. This was not a huge problem, but I felt boxed in a lot more this year which slowed my pace a bit. I didn’t fall off a cliff in Mile 2 but would have liked to run a faster split here since I was feeling good. I got back on track during Mile 3 and started smiling with half a mile to go. I was tracking a few other runners and began to reel them one by one. I crossed the finish line with a smile and still felt fresh after competing in Orlando humidity. 😊
I was able to catch up with a few Track Shack friends, get my beers and take a few pictures in the race village. I decided not to head over to the Seminole Cross Trail this year to complete my long run. The humidity was thick, so I pivoted back to my hotel and got some extra miles in on the treadmill. I snuck in a quick full body workout since the day was still young.
I’m happy with my training progress so far and look forward to my longer races during this season. I’ve still got work to do but I can see progress with my time, weight and mental approach.
Happy running! 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“What seems hard now will one day be your warmup.”
My Walk into the Future got an early start to the 2025 running season this year. I ventured up for the 2025 Fargo Half Marathon in May and back over to Winter Park for the 2025 Watermelon 5k for July 4th. I rarely race in May, June or July but decided this was my year to expand my race portfolio and get in more running tourist activities.
I don’t know when I made the decision, but the rest of 2025 will showcase the most aggressive running schedule I have created for myself. The quote above is poetic and I’ve embraced the total gift of running. The running tourist moniker will continue to pop up considering I’m looking to travel to 7 new states this year while visiting several of my old favorites.
The official running season starts for me in Madison, Wisconsin. They host the 2025 Midwest Financial Group Madison Mini-Marathon (13.1) this weekend, and this seems like a great way to see the city. The Wisconsin Badgers play in Camp Randall stadium and I’ve seen how passionate the fans are when they all get together and sing The House of Pain song Jump Around. The Badgers will not be in town when I get there but I’m hoping the race organizers allow runners to get in the stadium and jump around a bit—pun intended! 😊
My marathon training plan calls for a 15-mile long run while in Madison and the Madison Mini-Marathon will allow me to get in the first 13 miles—I will get the other two miles in via my warmup for the race.
I return to Winter Park, Florida the following week for the 2025 Celebration of Running 5k. This race normally kicks off my racing season, but I wanted the challenge of a half marathon to gauge my progress towards my Atlantic City Marathon goals.
The Virginia Beach 10-miler is back on the race schedule, and I love the weekend music lineup they always have. It’s a four-day running and music festival on the Virginia Beach board walk and the people are friendly. I plan to keep this race on my running calendar because it is a great location and course. They normally bring in at least one national music headliner, so I’m excited to see who they have scheduled this year.
I scale down a bit in September for the 2025 Outrun Hunger 5k back home in Fort Pierce. This race is hosted by the Treasure Coast Food Bank, and they reached out to see if I would be interested in joining their team this year. I accepted because of all the great work this organization has done in the local community. Not sure how the team concept works for the 5k but didn’t see any harm in joining the team. 😊
October will be the largest test for me during this running season. I am travelling to New Hampshire for the first time to tackle the 2025 Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon. This is a new state for me, and I plan to visit Vermont and Maine while I’m in that part of the country. These are my last New England states to visit so I’m happy to cross them off.
The 2025 Atlantic City Marathon is two weeks later, and I’m excited to test myself against the 26.2-mile course. My friend Lauren Apgar is running this race, and it will be great to see my friend in New Jersey. My goal time is in the 4:45 range and I’m feeling good so far in this training cycle. 😊
Here’s my full running schedule so far:
5/31/2025
2025 Fargo Half Marathon *
Fargo, ND
7/4/2025
2025 Watermelon 5k
Winter Park
8/9/2025
2025 Madison Mini Marathon (Half) *
Madison, WI
8/16/2025
2025 Celebration of Running 5k
Winter Park
8/31/2025
2025 Virginia Beach 10-Miler
Virginia Beach, VA
9/20/2025
2025 Outrun Hunger
Fort Pierce
10/5/2025
2025 Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon *
Hampton, NH
10/19/2025
2025 Atlantic City Marathon *
Atlantic City
11/9/2025
2025 Fort Lauderdale Half Marathon *
Fort Lauderdale
12/6/2025
2025 OUC Half Marathon
Orlando, FL
12/13/2025
2025 Palm Beaches Half Marathon
West Palm Beach
1/25/2026
2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon
Celebration, FL
2/14/2026
2026 Fleet Feet Run for your Heart 10k
Jensen Beach, FL
3/1/2026
2026 Marathon of the Treasure Coast (Half)
Stuart, FL
4/4/2026
2026 Louisville 10 miler *
Louisville, KY
4/25/2026
2026 Rock N Roll Nashville Half Marathon(Half Marathon #50) 😊😊😊
Nashville, TN
(*) denotes a new race for me
I’m still looking for additional half marathons to add to the list. The 2026 Rock N Roll Nashville Half Marathon will serve as the end for my official racing season. The goal is to see progress with each race AND enjoy the process. The gift in running is I’m staying active, traveling and having fun with the process. I wake up in the morning looking forward to my training runs and count the miles as I go. Fun fact—I’m on pace to going over 1,500+ miles again in 2025. Let’s see how far these old legs can take me. 😊
“I think goals should never be easy; they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time”.
(Michael Phelps)
Maria, I agree, this Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt is here for the long run! 😊 This process continues to provide the Walk into the Future blog with additional outlets and enhances my ability to leverage topics quickly.
Let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday prompt another run.
I shared that I create yearly goals for myself in early January to help guide me through the New Year. My goals are broken up into different categories: reading, writing, travel, exercise, family, etc. My 2024 running goal was to run 4 days a week with a target of 30 – 40 miles per week.
The seventh prompt for Five-Minute Thursday is: 2024 Running Goals.
My running focus was to get myself in great physical shape so I could improve my full marathon time. I was able to train and complete multiple full marathons, but I knew there was another leverage of training I needed to reach. I didn’t just decide to increase my mileage but wanted to break down the process and ensure I could enjoy the training without injuring myself.
The 4 day a week concept comes directly from my full marathon training program. I ramped up my training once I entered the 18-week marathon training program in the past but decided to keep this volume for the entire year. Seems simple but I didn’t want to leave anything to chance this year when it came to fitness and being ready for the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
So, where does 1,500 in the article title come from? Great question, Melissa! 😊
I’m currently sitting at 1,548 training miles for 2024. This is the highest amount of training miles I have completed since I started tracking my run progress. I mixed in a few exercise bike miles in this total but 95% of my training was pounding the pavement or treadmill when the weather did not cooperate. This additional mileage total correlates to my 2024 weight goal to get to and maintain 198 pounds.
FYI—I did not write 1,500 down as a mileage goal but got to this number by meeting my goal to run 4 days weekly. Incremental steps and going to bed at 8:30 pm nightly allowed me to get up and grind on my run days.
Not sure how many miles I will log in 2025, but I have a great blueprint on the correct way to increase mileage without injuring myself.
Let’s thrive in 25! 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time”.
“It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition”.
(Henry James)
The Walk into the Future blog has a ton of history with the OUC Half Marathon. I started my half marathon journey at the 2013 OUC Half Marathon on the promise to run with a seasoned running friend. She convinced me to step up from running 5ks and jump into the half marathon arena with the promise we would run it together. Well, my friend Lauren and her family moved to Dallas, Texas before race day and I decided to still run it since I committed to the process. The 2013 OUC Marathon is the slowest I have ever run a half marathon, and I am always trying to improve my time when I toe the line in downtown Orlando.
So, as you can see I have a lot of tradition with the OUC Half Marathon and Track Shack. I look forward to this race every year. The 2024 OUC Half Marathon was my eleventh time running the event. I decided not to run the 2018 version to avoid the miles of brinks on the course. The course was changed in 2019 to ensure runners did not have to endure the same number of miles running on the brink streets. What’s the big deal? Most of the brinks are uneven and cause some runners to stumble and makes you slow down to avoid a misstep while on the brinks. I was happy that Track Shack adjusted the course to protect runners towards a safe race outcome.
I entered the 2024 OUC Half Marathon without a preset finish time in mind. I did not complete a specific training program for this race since I was still coming off the Chicago Marathon high. I ran consistently in November with a 6-mile run during Thanksgiving week being my longest run in the training cycle. I had multiple 5-mile training runs leading up to race day but did not extend to double digit runs since my fitness levels were still high off the Chicago Marathon training cycle. I did not know how this would translate to race day, but I was content to give this process a run. My legs felt fresh so I knew I would complete the half marathon; it was just a matter of how fast I would run on race day.
Track Shack upgraded the EXPO experience this year and moved it to The Plaza Live. This was the first year the EXPO was not located at the Track Shack location but provided a larger venue and parking space for race participants. The bib pickup process was seamless and there were several vendors at the EXPO including local TV stations to promote the race and the impact Track Shack has on the Orlando running community.
I was in communication with the Track Shack Vice President of Communications prior to the EXPO and we conducted an interview at the EXPO to highlight my Walk into the Future and how running with Track Shack helps me with content. I’m not sure when this footage will be released but I will share when it drops. 😊
Fast forward to race day and the temperature was 42 at the start. I made a Goodwill run the night before to get a throw-away sweatshirt to wear prior to starting the race. I learned about this trick at larger races and used this concept at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. Most race organizers collect these items and donate to homeless shelters. This was the best $6.99 investment I have ever made because 42 is cold to stand around without warm clothing.
I got to the start/finish line in plenty time to warm up and get a few pictures before the race started. I originally positioned myself towards the back of the starting corral but decided to move up towards the faster runners since I felt good about my fitness and decided to commit to running fast. I was not sure what fast meant but the weather conditions were favorable to get out fast and maintain the pace. I did not set a time goal but going out hard and controlled were the main things I wanted to accomplish.
Track Shack changed the course again this year to make the race a better experience for all runners. I did not know the impact of the course change prior to the race but enjoyed running on less bricks this year. Did I say I hate running on the bricks? 😊
Fast forward and I ran 2:10:39 (9:53 per mile) this year. This was my 5th fastest of 37 lifetime half marathons. I ran my fastest half marathon during the 2019 OUC Marathon (2:05:51 / 9:33 per mile). Not bad considering my long run since Chicago was 6 miles. I trained between the two races but did not dedicate time to long distance running. Looks like my fitness levels still got me around the course. I was able to finish the last mile of the race with a nice kick and a smile on my face. FYI—the lack of humidity in the air really is great for runners. I did not want to waste this opportunity to go fast this year. 😊 Fastest mile was #3 @9:32 and slowest mile was #12 @10:28.
I got my beer and some pictures in the race village but didn’t hang around as long this year because it was still in the 50s. I did not have my throw away sweatshirt anymore so I decided to head to my vehicle so I could get back to my hotel and warm up.
I am happy with my results this year and look forward to a fast 2025 racing season.
Lining up some new races for 2025 to bring to the Walk into the Future blog.
“The successful warrior is the average man with laser-like focus”.
(Bruce Lee)
Let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt another run. I’m starting to love the simplicity of this writing concept and having fun generating content for the Walk into the Future blog.
My fitness journey primarily chronicles my running program and the tourism opportunities this brings to me throughout the year. I also write about being goals oriented but, I don’t believe I ever identified one of my 2024 goals was to get to and maintain my body weight at 198 pounds or less.
The sixth prompt for Five-Minute Thursday is: 2024 Fitness.
My normal weight over the past three years was right around 205 pounds. This was fine as I increased my running program and got a bit more serious with my marathon pursuits. I completed marathons in 2022 and 2023 with my weight at 205 pounds. I was able to get the training done but wondered what would happen if I trained AND got my weight down a bit. I set my weight goal back in January 2024 and put effort to meet and/or exceed the goal this year.
I started January 2024 at 203 pounds after taking three weeks off from running after my 2023 Garden of Life Marathon in December 2023. I reevaluated my training program and my diet to determine the adjustments I needed to get my weight down. Again, I was not looking to lose substantial weight, but I wanted to get down to see how it impacted my daily life and fitness levels.
I changed my diet and decided to stay out of the drive-through lines more in 2024. Yes, I write about my running program, but my diet has never been the greatest over the years. Also, it is so easy to hit a drive through after work instead of going home and cooking. I didn’t eliminate this process completely, but I put a huge dent in making these stops on the way home. I got more use out of my grill in 2024, and this helped me with better meals throughout the year.
I also rededicated myself to following my training programs especially with my 2024 Chicago Marathon 18-week training process. My goal for this training block was to not miss a session to ensure that I give maximum effort to get ready for the Chicago Marathon. I only used the exercise bike as a warmup for my runs—this was a bit different from previous cycles. I also adjusted my bedtime to 8:30 pm daily and woke up at 4:30 am to ensure I had time for morning runs before work. Going to bed at a consistent time helped me get prepared to get up and run in the morning.
The 18-week marathon training plan increased my mileage weekly, and I incorporated additional mileage in my training process. I’m on pace to finish 2024 with over 1,500 training miles which would be 300 miles over my previous maximum running year.
Fast forward—I got down to 192.5 pounds on 9/14/2024 and ran the 2024 Chicago Marathon at 197 on 10/13/2024. I’ve consistently met my goal to stay under 198 this year. My fitness levels are much higher within this weight range. Fun fact—I have started to order new pants since my old ones don’t fit as well now. 😊
Not trying to get down more but want to maintain this new level of fitness and keep my weight right around the 195 – 198 range. My friend Lynn calls me skinny now—not sure I agree but I have a new level of fitness and I’m happy with it. 😊
What 2024 goal are you proud of accomplishing?
Irie!
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be”.
“How do you know if someone ran a marathon? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you”.
(Jimmy Fallon)
Sweet home, Chicago!
This is how I felt when I finally arrived at my hotel in Chicago. Why the excitement? Well, I’ve chronicled my training for the past 18 weeks but didn’t know if I would make it to race day.
Hurricane Milton caused havoc on Wednesday of race week, and I didn’t know if my flight on Friday from Orlando was still going to happen. My original Friday morning flight was cancelled by Southwest Airlines, but they rebooked me on a later flight to Chicago. I decided to just enjoy the process and was extremely happy to be on my way to running the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
My flight was uneventful, but it got me closer to the end of this 18-week journey. I grabbed my bag after landing and made my way out into the Chicago night to head to my hotel. I am a Marriott brand fan, and my hotel was picked based on proximity to the marathon start and finish lines. I wanted to be able to walk around Chicago during my adventure without having to worry about traffic or waiting around for a ride. I checked into my hotel room late Friday night due to the airline delays. Made a quick trip to a corner store to stock up on water, bananas and bagels before heading to bed.
My original plan was to hit the 2024 Chicago Marathon EXPO on Friday since my arrival time was supposed to be 8:35 am. Again, Hurricane Milton changed this, and my true arrival time was 9:30 pm. No worries, I got up Saturday morning and walked over to McCormick Place for the Abbott Health & Fitness EXPO. This walk was an outstanding way to see Chicago neighborhoods and take in the excitement of race weekend. I have been a running tourist for a few years and experienced EXPOs in multiple states. Nothing prepared me for the sights from the Abbott Health & Fitness EXPO. This was by far the largest EXPO event I have ever seen. There were over 180 vendors with products from around the world. There were close to 20,000 people in the EXPO (runners, family, friends) and I felt the crush of people in the venue. Runners are a friendly group so that made it easier to navigate while in the venue.
Packets pickup was a breeze since the Chicago Marathon organizers sent each participant an event ticket. The ticket helped EXPO volunteers direct runners to the correct lines for bib pickup and corral assignments. This is the first EXPO that utilized a photo to ensure the correct person got the correct bib number. Technology is amazing!
I made my way around the EXPO to check out vendors, sample nutrition and get my photos while there. 😊 I wanted to enjoy the experience as much as possible but didn’t want to spend too much time on my feet the day before the marathon.
I headed back towards my hotel and wanted to check out the race start line area. This was my way to ensure I knew where to report on Sunday morning. The Chicago Marathon has a detailed process to place runners in corrals to ensure the start of the race is organized and gets runners out without overcrowding the roads. I was slotted for Wave 3 and Corral K. This means my time was projected to be closer to the middle of the pack which was exciting for me. I made a few more stops to take in the city and then headed to Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta for a pasta lunch. I still needed to add more carbs into my system to get ready for race day.
Headed back to the hotel to prep my running outfit for the big day, get off my feet and hydrate. I was able to get in a quick nap too. 😊 I left the hotel after my nap to get in another carb loading meal to finish off the process at Portillo’s. I did some light stretching and meditation to help me get ready for the big day ahead. I was a few hours away from running the 2024 Chicago Marathon!!!
I woke up on race day a bit anxious because this was the largest race I have toed the line for (55,000+ registered runners). I also had no real idea how the start line corrals would work—we were told to arrive two hours early, but this meant having to stand around in the corrals and wait patiently to start the race. My hotel was a mile away from the start line, so I leveraged this distance to stretch my legs with the walk toward Grant Park. I purchased a long sleeve shirt at Goodwill for $6.99 and used it to stay warm while waiting for my race to start. Race organizers provide ‘drop off’ areas where runners discard their warm clothing items prior to starting the race. These items are donated to homeless shelter by the race organizers.
I made my way to the Wave 3, Corral K start area around 7 am. My group was scheduled to start running at 8:35 am. What do runners do for an hour and thirty-five minutes? Great question! We sat on the pavement like grade school kids to conserve energy and get off our feet. Thousands of adults just sitting on the ground quietly and listening to music to pass the time. Our group was called to start moving towards the start line around 8:30 am and running the 2024 Chicago Marathon got real at that moment. I tossed my long sleeve shirt into the clothing donation area and started to get myself mentally ready to rock the Chicago Marathon. A sense of pride came over me at this point because I knew I had trained better during this cycle and wanted to see how this translated for this marathon. Said a quick prayer and it was showtime!
My goals for the marathon were to enjoy the process, run a controlled race and improve my time from my last marathon. Well, two out of three is not that bad! 😊 I enjoyed the process and set a marathon Personal Record (PR) at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. The one goal I missed was running a controlled race. I’m not complaining considering I ran a PR time here. I fault the crowds, and the energy generated for my lack of control during the race.
So, what was the problem with my pace? The crowds were so hyped that they energized me beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. My first mile was run in 9:45 (nine minutes and forty-five seconds. My second mile was run in 9:45. My third mile was run in 9:31. See a pattern here? 😊 The funny thing is I knew I was moving too fast, but it felt great! The fourth mile was run in 9:42. At this point I decided to just run the damn race and see what would happen regardless of my intended pace. The cooler weather, the crowds and the flat racecourse felt right so I just ran. I had a huge smile on my face for the first 23 miles. Lactic acid kicked in after that and I lost my smile for a bit. I looked at my watch and knew I was well ahead of my previous marathon times—I just needed to hang on. I mentioned to several friends that I wanted to run 4:44 this time out. I realized I would not hit this pace, but a PR was well within my reach. I gave myself a pep talk at mile 24 and then got my mind right. Finished the marathon in 5:23:35 (five hours, twenty-three minutes and thirty-five seconds). This is a 25-minute PR for me. My 4:30 am training sessions paid off nicely! 😊
Race results below:
Participant
Name (CTZ)
Williams, Calvin (USA)
Bib Number
59296
City, State
Fort Pierce
Division
55-59
Gender
Man
Short
CW
Race Info
Start Time
08:37:57
Totals
Place Gender
25103
Place Age Group
1478
Place Overall
43983
Finish Time
05:23:35
My Runner
Add/Remove
Race Status
Race Status
Finished
Last Split
Finish
Pred. Finish
–
Pred. Finish (Time of Day)
–
Splits
Miles Kilometers
Split
Time Of Day
Time
Diff
min/mile
miles/h
05K
09:09:07AM
00:31:10
31:10
10:02
5.98
10K
09:42:31AM
01:04:35
33:25
10:46
5.58
15K
10:15:07AM
01:37:10
32:35
10:30
5.72
20K
10:49:30AM
02:11:34
34:24
11:05
5.42
HALF
10:59:06AM
02:21:10
09:36
14:05
4.26
25K
11:27:12AM
02:49:16
28:06
11:36
5.18
30K
12:08:21PM
03:30:25
41:09
13:15
4.53
35K
12:53:06PM
04:15:09
44:44
14:24
4.17
40K
01:41:38PM
05:03:42
48:33
15:38
3.84
Thanks to everyone who reached out to me during my training cycle to send encouragement. Also, thank you to my friends who I couldn’t hit Friday night events with because I needed to go to bed so I could get up and run on Saturday mornings. Thank you to Walk into the Future blog readers for following my training updates and sticking with me on this forum. Appreciate all ya’ll!!! 😊
I will shift gears towards my half marathon schedule for the next few months. I have the 2024 OUC Half Marathon in Orlando the first weekend in December. I follow that up with the 2024 Palm Beaches Half Marathon the following weekend. I will not run the full marathon down there because of humidity—I learned a valuable lesson last year.
FYI—Lauren and I signed up for the 2025 Chicago Marathon and are waiting to see if we get in next year. There may be another marathon training program in 2025—get ready because I’m starting to figure this marathon training out. Who knew I could get faster as I got older. 😊
“A marathon is hundreds of miles. The finish is the last 26.2”.
(Running Quotes)
This quote identifies my current Walk into the Future. I started the Chicago Marathon training cycle on 6/10/2024 and have logged 561.89 miles to date. I’m flying to Chicago tomorrow morning, so I have completed all the prescribed miles on my training plan.
There have been a lot of early mornings to beat the Florida heat and humidity but I’m feeling good about the work I have put in this year. I used lessons learned from previous training cycles to improve my mental and physical preparation to ensure I get to Chicago in great shape to compete with my fellow runners.
I started this training cycle at 207 pounds and have been as light as 192 pounds. I tipped the scale this morning at 194 pounds right before I start the carb loading process. I will toe the line at the Chicago Marathon lighter than my last marathon and this should translate to my performance. Again, I decided not to take any short cuts this time around and made sure I put in the work mentally, physically and with my diet. Feeling good! My friend Lynn keeps saying that I’m skinny now—not sure I buy that but have lost three inches on my waist and none of my pants fit me now. Will have to see if I maintain this weight before I invest in a new wardrobe. 😊
I touted being 32 – 0 during my last Chicago Marathon update. I never thought I would remain undefeated throughout the entire training cycle, but I wanted to maximize each run to ensure I performed well at the Chicago Marathon. Well, let’s cut to the chase—I missed a few sessions either due to travel or illness. I missed an entire week of training when I returned from the Virginia Beach 10-miler. This may also explain why my time in the race was slower than last year. Imagine that I completed a 10-mile race while I was sick. 😊
Here’s my weekly miles update:
Week 9
37.39
Week 10
34.49
Week 11
26.03
Week 12
34.58
Week 13
2.03 (Sick this week)
Week 14
42.7
Week 15
30.85
Week 16
33.77
Week 17
27.11
Week 18
5
Total
273.95
I’m flying up to Chicago tomorrow to get acclimated to the city and weather. I’m excited to go to the race EXPO for the opportunity to meet some of the elite runners scheduled to be there. I’m sure I will not see them much on race day so will enjoy the opportunity to share the same venue with them. There are a few Orlando Track Shack runners coming up to Chicago and I want to catch up with them at the EXPO as well. Friday will be my day to get some sightseeing in and deep-dish pizza. I will stay off my feet as much as possible on Saturday to conserve energy and keep my legs fresh. There will be an organized shakeout run on Saturday morning, but I have not decided if I want to participate. I’m sure it will be exciting and a great opportunity to meet runners who have gone through the same experience as me to get ready for the Chicago Marathon.
The weather is projected to be in the mid-40’s and warming up into the low-60’s. This will be a welcomed change from the Florida heat and humidity. Really looking forward to see how my body adapts to running in cooler weather without humidity.
“You don’t stay undefeated without being a little stubborn”.
(Andre Ward)
32 – 0! Yes, I’m going to claim an undefeated marathon training record at this point of the cycle.
You may be wondering what the heck I’m talking about—happy to explain! 😊
I just completed Week #8 of my 2024 Chicago Marathon training cycle: https://www.instagram.com/chimarathon/?hl=en. The training schedule has me running multiple distances Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. 8 weeks times 4 days per week = 32 training sessions so far. 32 – 0.
I am showcasing the 32 – 0 record because I have not missed a training session, projected mileage or hit the snooze button once so far in this training cycle. I’ve trained for 2 other marathons over the past few seasons but have never displayed this level of consistency and commitment to the process. I want to see a ton of improvement in how I perform on race day in Chicago and dedicating the proper energy into my training program is my way to build towards the big day.
Will I remain undefeated? No idea but I plan to continue to put the effort into this training cycle to build physical and mental strength to guide me in Chicago. Training is going well as I hit my mileage markers daily but need to incorporate more speed work into the program. My future Wednesday morning runs are designed to run at 2024 Chicago Marathon pace so this will force me to begin to work on my stride to generate speed. Excited to start targeting marathon goal paces to mentally prepare for the full grind of 26.2 miles. I know I can complete the distance, but this year is all about going a bit faster than before. I’m projecting to have a finish time with a ‘4’ in front of it (4:35, 4:41, 4:59)—I will share my goal time the week of the Chicago Marathon. Yes, I have a projected goal time I’m targeting. Melissa—can you guess the time? 😊
Here’s my weekly progress so far:
Week 5
41.67
Week 6
33.61
Week 7
34.11
Week 8
50.26
Total
159.65
The weekly mileage has gone up from the previous updates. This will continue through Week #15 before the mileage starts to taper down. The full marathon taper process will start in Week #17 and continue until marathon race day. My previous marathon training cycle had me competing in the OUC Half Marathon the week prior. Not sure if this helped or hurt my race day performance but I will not repeat this process again for the Chicago Marathon.
Can I stay undefeated and make it to 72 – 0? Great question!
Thanks for joining me on this training cycle!
Irie!
“I don’t think being undefeated is going to determine my greatness”.
I will be the first to admit that I’m not a New Balance athlete. My primary running apparel company is Nike, and my running shoes are Brooks GTS 23s. Hoping the Brooks GTS 24s drop before my racing season kicks off, but the GTS 23s have been good for me. The New Balance quote is prophetic for the marathon journey I’m currently experiencing.
Marathon training can be taxing physically, mentally and emotionally. The desire to compete and get better is stronger for me this year. I’ve trained for two marathons and seen minimal improvement but that is because the desire was not as strong in the past. I’ve rededicated myself to this process and vowed to give maximum effort weekly. Yes, I trained for the marathon in the past but took a few short cuts that I’m not willing to repeat.
I just completed Week #4 of this training cycle and I am proud to say I have not missed a training session or mileage goal so far. It sounds like a simple thing but there are times when it’s easier to hit the snooze button in the morning and not get up and train. The snooze button has not been a problem this training cycle—I’ve established a set bedtime and have not adjusted it for any reason. I’m getting prepared for lights out at 8:30 pm with a consistent wake up at 4:44 am—I like odd times. Melissa, that’s for YOU! 😊
I am following the Hal Higdon marathon training plan again with an eye towards the details of the plan and no missed training sessions. I ran into issues with the heat and humidity last year because I didn’t get out early for my long runs. I’ve adjusted my Friday night bedtime to provide a consistent sleep pattern. I’m getting out for my long Saturday runs by 5:30 am to beat the sun, heat and humidity. It’s still humid out but it’s easier to handle at this time of the day. I’ve also adjusted my hydration plan and ensure I have water, Gatorade and coconut water available for each long run. I hydrate better during my weekday runs too—a very simple concept but it is helping me get stronger mentally and physically.
My weight training program remains consistent with 3 days in the gym each week. I adjust the workouts but make sure to incorporate leg days into the routine. I’m not a heavy lifter anymore but concentrate on compound exercises with high rep levels. My yoga program consists of one weekly session to help my muscles stretch and recover. I will increase my yoga routines but one time per week is good for now. This will increase by Week #10 to match the miles I will be completing.
Here’s my weekly progress so far:
Week 1
32.11
Week 2
36.17
Week 3
18.78
Week 4
35.98
Total
123.04
The mileage will start to ramp up Week #5 through Week #15. The first four weeks helped build the running base needed for the increased mileage.
Excited to see how my training program has matured over the past two years. The Chicago Marathon is calling and I’m answering the bell. 😊
Here’s my projected racing schedule—I’m still looking for races.
8/17/2024
2024 Celebration of Running 5k
Winter Park
9/1/2024
2024 Virginia Beach 10-Miler
Virginia Beach, VA
9/21/2024
2024 Race for Recovery 5k
Port St Lucie
10/13/2024
2024 Chicago Marathon
Chicago, IL
12/7/2024
2024 OUC Half Marathon
Orlando
12/15/2024
2024 Garden of Life Half Marathon
West Palm Beach
1/19/2024
2025 Vero Beach Half Marathon
Vero Beach
1/26/2025
2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon
Celebration, FL
2/8/2025
2025 Fleet Feet Run for your Heart 10k
Jensen Beach, FL
3/2/2025
2025 Game On Marathon of The Treasure Coast
Stuart, FL
4/25/2025
2025 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon
Nashville, TN
6/1/2025
2025 San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon
San Diego
Thanks for joining me on the training process—Irie!
Walk Into the Future 