I'm not fast. I'm not chasing podiums. I'm chasing all 50 states — and staying healthy enough to get to each start line. Here's how I train.
I'm a middle-of-the-pack runner. My goal isn't a Boston qualifier — it's a finish line in every state in the union. That changes how you think about training. I don't train hard. I train smart. I prioritize showing up healthy over any single workout. I've learned that lesson the hard way, once with a hernia and more times than I'd like to admit with overuse injuries that came from ignoring the signals my body was sending.
This hub collects everything I've learned about marathon training — the philosophy, the specific challenges, the logs, and the hard stories. Use it however it's useful to you.
Most training plans are written for people who want to PR. I want to run 47 more marathons. That fundamentally shifts priorities. Consistency over intensity. Sleep over extra miles. Knowing when a workout is doing more harm than good. The runner who gets to the start line healthy wins — even before the gun goes off.
At some point, every long-distance runner gets hurt. The question isn't whether — it's how you handle it. I've dealt with a hernia, knee trouble, and the general wear of trying to race across a continent. What I've learned about recovery is worth more than any speed workout.
Running marathons in different states means running in different climates. A cool October race in New Hampshire is a different animal from a humid mid-Atlantic summer. Hydration strategy and heat adaptation are non-negotiable when you're racing all year in all conditions.
Raw training data and week-by-week logs from the build-up to each state race. Not pretty, not polished — just honest numbers from a guy trying to stay ready.
Every training block leads to a race. Read the full reports — the good miles, the bad miles, and the finish line.