ONE WEEK UNTIL THE MARATHON and a new Running Cartoon.

First of all, I want to wish all those who are running the Boston Marathon the very best! Keep safe. Run hard. Be Boston strong. My prayers are with you.

One week and one day until the Toledo Glass City Marathon. I'm excited, definitely, but also a little fretful. I've only run one marathon before--the Pittsburgh Dick's Sporting Goods Marathon back in 2009. Back then I had a good day, running 3:16:31 and finishing 6th in my age division. That was five years ago. I feel like I'm in fairly good shape, but I'm five years older. The good news--I get to move into the 55-59 age group.

To qualify for Boston provisionally, I need to run a 3 hours and 40 minutes. However, that time is not guaranteed to garner a Boston entry. To do that I need to run 3:30 or better. I'm aiming for 3:20. I've read that for every year you age over 40, you lose at least a minute on your marathon time. That makes 3:20 a fairly challenging goal. Hopefully, the ten-minute cushion will be enough if things go south.

I've looked over the entries in my age group. Several men 50 to 59 have entered predicted times faster than 3:15. I entered 3:25 which ranks me about 7th or 8th. I hope to go out under 7:35 per mile and hold it as long as I can.  I ran a 13-miler today at about 7:20 pace. Right now I don't feel any pulls or strains, but tomorrow morning will be the real test. Next week I'll run easy five and six milers in order to fully recover.

My biggest worry--sciatica. I haven't had sciatica pains in the last 8 years but earlier in my running career sciatica took me out of competition for about ten years. Excuse me. I need to go knock on wood. Sciatica pain would be torture during the marathon.

Running the marathon is one of the most difficult physical and mental challenges a person can take on in life. However, I know many people who are facing much more difficult challenges than running a marathon. I have friends who are battling cancer. I know others who are working difficult jobs and then rush home to take care of elderly family members and grand children. Others have lost several loved one in the last few months. These kinds of valleys are much more exacting than running 26 miles.

Yes, I'm looking forward to running the marathon. It will be challenging. But my prayers are with those who are facing much greater challenges. May God give strength.

Happy Easter!

Joe C. Ellis