- 21 weeks of training
- Approx 640 miles of practice runs
- Average pace of 8:35
After all this, I’m in the last week of taper down and now ready for my first marathon on the coming weekend (10/29 to be precise). Reading this article (Marathon Smarts on Runners World) has an all together different meaning now. This article gives race day tips from experienced marathoners. Most of the tips would seem natural but it’s definitely worth reading again during the last days of training.
For family and friends, and anybody else interested in running along last miles:
The race course and the viewing map is here. The map gives the complete route and lookout areas.
The race starts at 7am PT. This is also the day when daylight saving ends, so the clocks move back by an hour. Going by the experience of my long practice runs, and if I don’t hit a wall, I plan to cross mile 20 around 10am and hopefully the finish the marathon in less than 4 hours (9:10 pace). My longest practice run has been 22 miles with a 9:25 pace but I’ve done slightly shorter runs with better pace. So this seems like a stretch goal but I hope to meet this goal with your wishes.
If you plan to run last miles with me, as some of you have told, you are most welcome. I may offload my sweat shirt to you if I’m feeling hot or may ask for an additional sip of water, so be prepared 
The weekend weather looks reasonable and I hope it’s an overcast for the first few miles.
You can read about my marathon practice and running related blogs here.
Technorati: Running Marathon Training
Hey Bindas,
Wish you all the best with your marathon. I wish I could run with you the whole marathon. These old knees give up long before the 26th mile
Enjoy and all the best. May you cross the finish line in less than 4 hours.
Best regards,
Sachdeva Family
Comment by Satish Kumar — October 25, 2006 @ 5:16 pm
The best of luck on your first marathon! I remember my first, and what I thought would be my only and last.
Four marathons later, I’m still running. Be careful or you’ll get hooked. Enjoy this last week of taper and do go out too strong on marathon day. Pace yourself.
And most of all, enjoy it! I look forward to reading about it on your blog afterwards.
tls
Comment by Terry Sigle — October 25, 2006 @ 7:37 pm
Bindas! Awh ah…..
hopefully I will be there running with you last couple miles. Have a good one!!
I wish you all the best and yes maintain the pace
Comment by Deepti Mangal — October 25, 2006 @ 9:09 pm
Thanks for all the wishes!
Satish, I remember when you used to bike regularly to work so are indeed a source of inspiration.
Terry, I hope to run a marathon a year so lets see how this one goes.
Deepti, you’ll be a good runner, it’s all in the mind
Comment by Anonymous — October 26, 2006 @ 7:50 am
Go Papa Go!!
I am sure we all will have lots of fun and you will finish the run within 4 hours. With tons of love and wishes- Aditya
I will be there with mamma to run last couple of miles with you
Comment by Aditya — October 26, 2006 @ 11:25 am
hey buddy:
The major commitment of getting ready is done already. While finishing within 4 hours may add another feather in your cap, however, you are our hero even with 4.05
BTW, what is the ideal dress for us who will either run with you or try to carry you to finish line
Good luck and we will have fun on Sunday…
Cheers
Dhiraj
Comment by dhiraj — October 26, 2006 @ 2:12 pm
hi brother
with so much hard work you will definitely come out with flying colours. I wish I could be there. but my best wishes will run all through the marathon and will keep cheering you up
Comment by archna — October 27, 2006 @ 10:47 pm
Hey Arun !!
You have worked so hard for this moment and I am sure you will finish it with great record. Have a lot of fun
All the best !!…cheers
Comment by Nilay Gupta — October 29, 2006 @ 7:28 am
[...] Running first marathon this weekend [...]
Pingback by Running Inspirational Quotes from “Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an all-night runner” - Technology — September 11, 2009 @ 11:01 am