For those of you who know me, you know that the Shamrock Marathon was not something that I was really counting on running. But I did.

I have always loved running to stay healthy and to clear my mind. It is a form of meditation to me. When I run I think about events, places or people with another perspective. This allows me to keep an open mind about the things that happen in my life and in my opinion, to stay calm.

I was informed the week before the marathon was going to take place that my friend James had suffered a knee injury. James had already signed up for the marathon. I contacted him and he was more than happy to let me run in his place. (That explains his name on the bib in the pictures)

Naturally, my training regimen for the marathon did not exist. I usually just run when I feel like it. When I do run it is usually seven miles. It takes me about an hour and fifteen minutes to complete this distance. The furthest I have ever run at one time was 13.1 miles, a half-marathon. I did this on my own last summer for self discipline. It was not easy and I was thinking that there is no way that I could go twice as far.

The marathon was scheduled for Sunday March 22, 2009. On the Wednesday and Thursday before the marathon I ran seven miles each day. That was all the training that I completed to prepare to run 26.2 miles. Any avid runner will tell you that is crazy. I think so too.

I did well considering I have never entered a formal race. I only stopped twice around mile twenty for a leg cramp. I massaged it out and continued to run. I finished the entire marathon in 5:12:05. Not bad considering the lack of preparation. The next time I decide to run a marathon I will definitely train more and aim for a time of around four hours.