Last year, my plan to run a marathon failed in a spectacularly well-timed cold. But I’d made the promise, accepted the challenge, and I’m going to try again. May 27, Madison: I’m gonna do it.

My training officially started last week, with a 3-mile easy run Monday, a 5-mile tempo run on Wednesday, and an 8-mile long run on Saturday. My times were nowhere near the schedule times, but I’m chalkng that up to running in snow, ice, and giant puddles of freezing-ass water.

Last night was just a four-miler, no biggie. Tomorrow night is a speed workout: one mile warm up, run a hard mile, jog a half, run another mile, jog a half, and then a mile cool down. Speed workouts always suck, but they actually do improve both your speed and endurance. Handy things, those. Still, I’m expected to run both those hard miles under seven minutes. It would be a little easier if the weather was warmer; then I could go over to the high school and run on the track. Instead, I’ve got to do it on the roads and avoid traffic.

I’ve even got a race schedule! On April 7, I’m going to do the South Milwaukee Half-Marathon with my friend Karin, then the marathon in May, and the half-marathon race here in Kenosha at the Lake Michigan Triathlon series on July 14.

My plan is to try to throw up at least a weekly update detailing the ridiculous ritual that is marathon training, so that I can share the injuries (like the “guess what’s in my shoe, water or blood?” game) and triumphs.

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