Committed for Sixteen Weeks

I did it. I registered for the Napa Valley Marathon on March 4, 2007, six days before I turn 38. The marathon starts in Calistoga, follows the Silverado Trail and ends in Napa at Vintage High School. I have run this marathon twice, the second time with my college roommate and her husband. She walked it, her hubby and I ran it. He finished at least 30 min in front of me.

It is a most gorgeous race. It usually coincides with the Mustard Festival. The temperatures are perfect for a race, it starts early so that the morning mist mirrors the runner's foggy brains.

The course is flat slightly downhill with just a few spikes of hills, mostly in the beginning. It is nice to be distracted by fabulous scenery along the way.

It is perfect for my support crew. Hubby can catch a great breakfast with good coffee, see me at the 6 mi mark, then again at the halfway mark, then at the finish line.

The race t-shirts are some of the best as is the race poster. I have both of mine framed and one is over our fireplace.

The best part is the post-race indulgence of wine tasting.

I have sixteen weeks for training. That puts me doing a 12 mi long run this weekend. I have the training schedule laid out and ready to follow.

Now I need to recruit someone to run with me. Any takers?