I Go 100

It’s said that the greatest challenge in running a marathon is making it to the starting line. The months of training and preparation required to be ready to go that distance often means that people will drop their quest due to injuries or life events, or they just stop believing they can do it.

I’m starting the journey to 100K now. The journey to the starting line. There is much to do and I’m ready and focused. Ive decided to share the steps that I take along the way, so that if anyone else wants to do something like this, perhaps this blog will provide a roadmap of sorts. I started making a list of the different things that will need to be addressed.

Fundraising
Marketing the campaign
Physical training and injury prevention
Organize venue for event and support team

I’m already working on my first challenge (I’m never going to say obstacle) – it looks like there aren’t any 100K training plans for the erg (erg is short for ergometer, also known as the indoor rowing machine). So I’m looking at some options:

1. Follow a marathon plan (42K) and then make up my own expansion on it
2. Follow a running plan and just convert the running to the erg
3. Hire a rowing coach to provide me with a plan

I have my own Concept 2 machine at home, plus access to a gym at my workplace. I’ve got a year of short-distance erg training under my belt – last February I competed in a 2K sprint and did fairly well. But 2K training is quite different than 100K. The longest row I’ve done is 11 Km. Not much of a base for endurance. But I have completed a running marathon about 11 years ago so I think I have the mental strength to go long distance. Mental resilience will be helpful.

I took is easy this summer – not much erging in July and none at all in August. So, I need to keep that in mind when starting out. Action this weekend:

1. Do a row – get back in the groove
2. Contact a rowing coach
3. Develop a weight training plan to prevent injury

Let’s begin!