Ok, getting slightly addicted here. Prior to yesterday’s race, I’ve found an interesting event to help me prepare for a half marathon: a 15 kilometre race in an easy course: Carlos Lopes Golden Marathon’s 15 kilometre race.

The event is organized by the former Olympic champion’s foundation (Fundação Carlos Lopes) and will take place in Lisbon, on the 12^thof April 2008. Part of the registration fee will be applied in supporting handicapped sport, one of the major areas of work in which Fundação Carlos Lopes works.

Besides the 15 k race, there will be a full marathon, a bike marathon and a 5k “family race”.

Register in the event’s website on the competition that fits you and start training!

Seems like I stepped into a new performance level.

Last races seems quite easy and I’m controlling myself not to speed up. Strangely, this seems to traduce into better and better times. My 5k PB is now 21′42”. Loosing something like 7 kg in the past 5 months plays a role here, also.

The Vodafone Mini-Marathon is right around the corner (in two weeks), so I just have to do a decent time. From what I’ve been told, this kind of massive event attracts all kind of runners - particularly slow ones and fast walkers - so what concerns me the most are the first kilometres, where I’m planning to force a steady rhythm, and pass as much racers as I can, leaving the fear of hitting them, like in Corrida do Tejo.

So, after checking the half-marathon’s website, the distance for the Vodafone Mini-Marathon is not 8k as previously indicated, but 7.2km. Approximately, so they say.

Obviously, my target-time must change. I’ve done a 7,2k race in 38:51, but that’s too much as a real goal. So, 37:30 will be my target for the next month. If possible, I’ll lower it for the race.

Recent workouts have been promising, reducing my pace to around 5:14. I seem to be returning to my best fit, after a sore throat and a really strong cold in December.

Done my first 8k today, as a preparation for the Vodafone Mini-Marathon.

Time: 43:27

Since it was done in a 5:25 pace, I’m predicting that a 41:30 mark will be an obtainable goal for the upcoming mini-marathon. With almost two months untill the event, I may change this goal, but for now, its going to be: