I'm scheduled to run my fifth marathon on June 6th, and this was my first week of training. I'm not going for a fast marathon this time, just a finished marathon. I think it's better just to train to finish because there are a lot of variables on race day that can derail a fast time. This fall at Twin Cities I had lots of foot and leg cramps. Another time at Grandma's I got really sunburned and dehydrated.

But, if you just train to finish I've found that sometimes you inadvertently run fast. One time in 2002, I accidentally qualified for the Boston Marathon with 47 seconds to spare.

That was so awesome. I hope that happens again sometime, like maybe on June 6th.