When I started to write this blog in late 2010, I really wondered what I was doing. Well I knew I was crazy :) My winter times were slow, I was frustrated that I could not increase my speed and I was no where near the necessary 4m15 per km.

I achieved a superb time in Siofok in late Novemeber 2010, and then I went nowhere, I injured myself slightly in January 2011 with my impatience and over training, as I had a lot of time being unemployed.

Things improved in getting a job I like, but that meant less time for running....
At the begining of the year, I set myself a target of 3h29 for the Vienna marathon 2011 and 2h59 for the Budapest marathon 2011. Given the problems I had with speed in January, I doubted I would get anywhere near either. But I kept going though, managing to get a good kilometerage going through the months. Last week I ran the Vienna marathon, and ran it in 3h30m34!!!!

WHAT???

It was really totally unexpected - my speed in practice was never great, and I had problems in some of my distance runs the weeks leading up to it. I had hints I could do a good marathon, but to run all the way, battle through and maintain a pace of 4m59 for 42.2 km - wow, wow and WOW! 

I had decided to take a risk, run 5 minutes/km pace, see what happens. Then when catching my friend Nick at 31km (he later went ahead to do just under 3h30) and feeling really good and talking about 3h30 with him I think motivated both of us. Then to be able to run all the way to 42.2km - it was a good day - no, it wasnt't a good day, it was a bloody awesome day! :) :)

But now as the shock wears off, I am thinking again about that sub 3-hour marathon... After all my target was to do 2h59m59 at Budapest this year :) and why not???

To be honest I doubt I can do it, everything points against it - I am injured as a result of the last 7 km of the Vienna marathon - right knee ITB - very very annoying. And I know how long it takes to get rid of ITB - I had it on left ITB 18 months ago :(

Plus, I will be travelling like crazy for work soon, and, and, and.......

Well why do I need excuses to not do it, maybe I should be more positive and start thinking why I CAN do it!

- a year ago I was running 5m30 times per km, and now I am comfortably running 10km times at 4m40 on terrain

- in competitions I am a lot better

- in late October my heart rate was 43 when resting, now it is about 55 - the reason it is slower is that I haven't done proper intervals for a while, and if I do, I can improve heart rate, and more importantly the speed- linked to previous point, I don;t think I am as fit as last October - or for that matter 20 years ago!- I have read that it takes about 6 months to really build up good fitness for a race, so I should ensure I get over this injury and then I have plenty of time to go up 1 or 2 levels and really excel

The other reason is that my good friend Nick (yes, the guy who I found wondering around the streets of Vienna :) )  has suddenly indicated an interest in the sub 3 hour marathon. Not sure what inspired him, but he knew I already wanted to do it. He beat me by 50 seconds or so in Vienna and so is in similar shape to me.

Now we can share the pain, particularly on those horrible intervals.... and our competitive nature means that on those intervals we will really force each other to improve.
I guess that my belief is slowly coming. I would be happy if I manage 3h15 - well not that happy - less than 3h10 would be better, or less than 3h05 even better, but sod it - I want to beat 3h00!!

I am not going to be satisfied with 3h10, it is only a step towards what I want - and I want a sub 3 hour marathon :)
Can I do it? Maybe I can... you can be sure I am going to try!
Apologies for writing in English only, but writing in Hungarian takes me forever :) olyan nehéz :)