Congratulations on getting the kids involved in and then through the race ... as someone who works a lot of kids, I see more and more becoming ensnarled in the sedentary lifestyle of watching TV or playing computer games.  Way to get them outside of the house and exercising.

And who said sibling rivalry was a bad thing?

Why not? This whole training cycle has been unscientific and even happenstance, due to naggiing injuries and a couple little hurricanes.

This race was just for fun and the kids, but given the collapse at the end of your last marathon, you might want to try a little higher intensity work at the end of your long runs. In particular, read Pfitzinger & Douglas' Advanced Marathoning.

Daremo - 2005-11-22 6:45 AM  For the kids is always good. Mine are still a little young for racing more than a little (5 and 2 and "one in the oven". My collapse had nothing to do with level of intensity of my long days and everything to do with it being my first marathon and the fact I went out fast and was running 7:20's for the first 9 miles ....... Have to go out there and "learn" the distance to get better! My lesson was definitely learned. Next time I'll start slower and build, like I had been doing in my training runs. I just got this wild hair that I might be able to BQ that day so I went out like a rocket (and fizzled like one).

Gotta disagree, your 5K time reinforces my opinion that you're fully capable of running that 3:15 with proper training, maintaining those 7:20s. There was nothing wrong with your pacing, it was perfectly within your capabilities. As for first-timers, we just had a guy here go sub-3 in his first, after proper training.

First marathon, fizzled, yet you're on here espousing marathon advice like you're Hal Higdon himself. Let me rephrase my advice: quit trying to teach and start trying to learn. Start with Pfitzinger-Douglas, can't hurt you in your BQ goal.

Impressive time for a 5K anyway, much less right after 11 miles!

Sharon