Stay active, stay challenged, enjoy what you do, always have a goal on the horizon..that's my thinking.

Probably my slowest Boston Marathon ever. But certainly the best in terms of inspiration and the unbelievable crowd support. Very special.

Running is a selfish endeavor. I run for me, and abide by Charles Barkley's motto: "I'm nobody's role model." I've never used marathon running or Ironman racing to raise funds for anything.Rethink time! Last year I was registered for the Boston Marathon, but between inadequate training and nagging injuries, I did not run. Had I been well trained and uninjured my finish time would have been about 4:10 - right when the finish line bombs went off, killing 3 spectators and injuring 364 others.

Amping up my training, mapping out and sticking to Pfitzinger's Advanced Marathoning 12 week plan with maximum weekly mileage at 61 worked. I had been fading and often cramping in the back half of my marathons. This time around I could easily pick it up for awhile in the second half and the fade did not come today until mile 22 and even then two of the last four miles were still close to goal pace.

Last Saturday I ran the Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha, just north of the Illinois border. I think this was marathon finish number 46 (counting my IMs).

Rain fell just as we started, with cold wind. It let up after a few miles and then it just spit. But for the last three miles - with the long grinding uphill - the heavens opened up: it poured and we were very wet puppies. Thunder was booming off in the distance. A 30 minute cold shower with sound effects!

My award was a memory stick/key ring with nothing imprinted on it to indicate that I had been an age group winner. Oh well, I know I had a good result and best yet we had a great time in this last minute race!

I qualified for the Toyota Cup national championship race in Dallas being in the top 10 of my International Age Group, but as that's Chicago Marathon day I'll take a pass.

I happily crossed as the announcer spoke my name and home town. Job done! My watch said 3:04, with most of the overage past 3:00 accounted for by our creative extension of the run.

In terms of sheer enjoyment, it was my best marathon in a long while. But it's racing, damn it, not a stroll in the park! I want to race...

I am writing this because I know so well that when I publicly announce a goal (back myself into a corner?) I am more likely to achieve it.

Three races, two days, one podium. What more did I need?

Despite my so slow time, I was really happy!

At Ironman Canada in August 2005 - my 6th IMC in a row - my front tire rolled off the rim while I was descending at 30 mph and I was launched over my handlebars

Mini rant: I'm kinda tired of reading articles by those who are "amazed" about older athletes who are competing mano a mano with the younger folks.

Boston Billy beat me by 13 minutes. That’s a sentence I never thought I would write. The key in the sentence is not that Bill Rogers beat me, but that he crossed the finish line on Boylston Street only 13 minutes ahead of my time.

What part of triathlon do you like the most and why? The best parts are the rising anxiety on the beach, pushing the bike and passing people, and finding legs during the run. Picking one: the bike.

My running strategy was to make this a low key race and just run by feel. (I already have a Boston time for next spring.)

Here's a mini race report, maybe about all I'll be able to come up with this year. If you want to know more, just ask.

How much faster, if at all, does a wetsuit make your swim?