traveller,

I usually try to run 25-30mi/wk. Never ran a marathon, but I just ran my first 5k last weekend.

I ran the Marine Core last year. My first marathon.

Now I run half marathons ( two this spring) and plan on riding a Century this fall. I did a bike tour two weeks ago-- 70 one day and 50 the next. Last weekend I did a sprint triathlon.

I have a group of friends with whom I work out outside in the morning. We run, around town thru garage stairwells, do push ups etc on park benches and bring weights twice a week. I think this cross training really helped me with the marathon.

I will continue to run but no more marathons. I think continued running marathons will take out my hip. I love the biking and the variety of other exercise.Our group gets together to compete in events. We are going to do a kayak , bike , run near the Chesapeake this fall.

There is a running club in our community and during the summer we also get together with them and trail run in the evenings on the Appalachian Trail. There may be a running club in your community as well.

Connemara

Traveller, welcome to the group. Do you have a particular marathon in mind?

My wife is a marathon runner. She's done 5 so far, and had planned to run in the Akron Road Runner this September as a long training run for her attempt at qualifying for Boston at the Columbus Marathon in October.

Unfortunately, she had a meniscus tear (three actually) that were repaired on June 5. She's on the road to recovery, and is disheartened that she's not going to be able to run the fall marathons this year.

However, she's committed to trying again next year. She has a group of running friends that she trains with every morning. They meet at the local YMCA at 5:00 and typically do 5 to 6 miles during the week and plan longer runs on Saturdays.

Once their long runs get to be over 12 miles I take my bike along to carry water, and be their support incase of problems.

Good luck with your training.

I ran my first marathon in 2003. Trained with the National AIDS Marathon Training Program. Best thing I could have done. Their training program laid the groundwork for my running. Have done 14 marathons so far, and have branched into Triathlons, duathlons, muddy buddys.

I will be doing The Columbus Marathon in fall then Boston in 2009. I am hoping to travel to South AFrica and run the Comrades Marathon within the next two years

Akron is a good race, a bit lonely in places and there are some hills so tell her to put some hill work in. Columbus is a really fast race that you have to be carefull not to go out to fast....tell her good luck, I'll be there as well