Well, tomorrow is the St. George marathon - my fifth time on the course. As with the six marathons I've run before, each is different and I've arrived at this point under unique circumstances. And like the past, I'm not sure what to expect. I tried to follow Hansons Brooks' training plan. It is a different approach. The summer has been challenging as I've been commuting back and forth between Chicago and Houston. The training has been choppy but I've had several good runs along the way. I haven't raced for a year. That's the longest stretch in my five years running.

I'm eager to get back on the St. George course. It's been good to me in the past. And I have unfinished business from last year. My level of fitness isn't such that I can expect a PR. In fact, it's unclear to me where my fitness is. That's the biggest uncertainty going into this one. Of course that makes the calculus of goal setting and pacing plans impossible. That's why this one will be different. There won't be any secret goals or backup plans. I've decided a perfect day will simply be 3:20. I can't realistically expect more than that. And there's always the prospect that the day isn't a perfect one. If that situation materializes, my objective becomes to keep pushing and see what happens. The last +5 miles of the course can be fast, if I'm up to the task. I just want to get to that point and have a chance.

I'm not going to try to "bank" time early. I'm not going to storm up Veyo Hill. I plan to be patient; let things unfold. I expect the crossroads challenge to be issued by the course somewhere between 13 and 20. It will be interesting to see how I respond.

The fueling plan is for CarbBoom (which I will carry) at Miles 5, 11, 17 and 23. Go easy on the water during the bus ride and pre-event waiting around the fires. The forecast temperatures are for unseasonably warm temperatures - 51F at the start and 75F at the finish. Unlike my normal tendency, I'm not really paying that much attention to the weather.

I plan to wear a GPS device. I haven't worn it before (bad idea, I know). It's supposed to be waiting at my hotel for me. As long as there is cell phone coverage along the course, it will transmit my location real-time. The website to see this is:

http://track.myathletelive.com/VEmap.aspx?name=259650

It will probably be slightly less exciting than watching paint dry but if you're inclined, you can check on me tomorrow morning between 6:45 and 10:15 Mountain Daylight Time tomorrow morning.

I'm happy to have my wife, son, and parents in St. George as my support team.