I've been away for a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been training. Since the nine mile run I last reported on I have done a 17-mile, another 9-mile and this past Monday I did the longest run I ever have done, 20 miles. I am really feeling good about doing my marathon in February, especially since I have been sitting here tonight watching Running The Sahara where these three runners ran across the entire Sahara desert. As I watch they are on day 111 and about 30 miles from the finish at the Red Sea. It is incredible that they ran over two marathons a day for 111 days across the most forbidding landscape imaginable. So now it is over - 170 marathons without a day off! And I am worried about one little 26 mile run. I really think I can do this. I am just amazed though at what the human body can endure if the mental ducks are all in a row. Back to my training. Next week ends with a 5K or 8-10 miles, two week it's 8-9 miles, in three weeks another 5K or 8-10 miles then in four weeks 22-23 miles. Then a couple of short weeks before doing one last long run of 24-26 miles and then a couple of weeks of tapering to the marathon. That's a lot of miles! Although it doesn't seem like it after watching Running The Sahara. What I discovered doing the 20 mile run this week is that over 4 hours of running is not easy. Should I be surprised at that? The last 3-5 miles everything was definitely hurting but I found that I could get my self into a mental state that just allowed me to keep going regardless. Actually, it wasn't so much as 'getting myself into a mental state' as it was talking to God about the possibility that he could make it hurt just a little less. I spent quite a bit of time during the run talking to Him about how much I appreciated Him giving this old man the ability to enjoy something as much as I do running. I am so thankful that He has not only given me good health but He has kept me from any serious injuries that would preclude me continuing. I am blessed to be a runner