Of course it's about running.

So that 28:38 is old news now. Since then I've run 27:34 and 28:22 for the same distance. I'll improve gradually, then I'll plateau for a while, then suddenly a sizeable gain in just a few days, then that low time becomes the new plateau. For example, before two weeks ago I had only broken 30 minutes (for 3.75 miles) once, and now not only have I done it three times since, but last night I felt like I was doing very poorly - poor form, puffing, not enough water that day - and still ran 28:22. So the lesson I've learned is to just keep at it and the gains will come.

Now as my training program starts increasing the distance, at least on the weekends, I'll try to make the same sort of gains on long runs, and what's fast for a 12 miler now will be slow by September.

Last night was another fast run - down to 27:34 for the 3.75. I didn't think about it until afterwards but when I was running that distance last fall when getting ready for Chicago the first time I remember the first couple of times I ran under 37:30 for a 10 min/mile average. Now I'm just 4 seconds from a full 10-minute gain. What a difference all that winter running makes.

Today (Wed. the 28th) is the first fundraising deadline for this fall's Chicago Marathon. Thanks to all of you who've been so generous donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I really appreciate all of your help.

I've uploaded my first set of pictures to Picasa Web Albums. I hope you like pasty legs.


My web albums


I'm not sure why the pictures look all grainy - Picasa blows them up just a little bit for some reason.

Tuesday is both the first and the shortest run of my training week. Last night I was scheduled for 3 miles, but since my loop is about 1.25 three laps gave me 3.75 miles. So anyway, for that distance my previous best time was 29:10, but last night I pushed it down to 28:38 (7:33/mile pace). Not superhuman by any means but great news for me.

I'm registered for the Chicago Distance Classic (half-marathon/13.1 miles) on August 13th and my goal for that race is to beat 1:45 (an 8 min/mile average pace). If I can do that, it qualifies me for a spot in the second preferred starting group at the Chicago Marathon this fall. So that 7:33 pace from last night is pretty encouraging.

Here's how Google Maps sees my neighborhood loop.

Tomorrow, June 12th, is the first official day of my Chicago Marathon training plan. Check this space often for training updates, pictures, race recaps and more.

I'm running the Chicago Marathon this year with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TnT). Every year over 109,000 new blood cancer patients are diagnosed, and every 9 minutes someone in America dies from leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease or myeloma. In running with Team in Training I'm not only going to complete the Chicago Marathon but also do some small part to make these diseases a thing of the past.

For more information or to make an online contribution to help me toward my goal, please visit http://www.active.com/donate/tntil/joelcorbin.

Thank You!