As we begin to tapper down our training, and look forward to a mellower couple of weeks concerning our mileage, I took a very nice 12 mile run along the boardwalk in Southern California. I ran along the beautiful beaches of Santa Monica and Venice taking in all the interesting sights.

The boardwalk was packed. I must have seen more than a dozen groups of runners, jogging two by two in long lines with names like the LA Legers and the Roadrunners. I even slid in with one group and chatted with some members for about 6 miles. Running in groups sure does take your mind off the run, which can be nice. It was a beautiful day and a nice way to start my Saturday.

Just a few days to go before the ING Hartford Marathon and I am feeling pretty good. I’ve done my long slow runs each Saturday for the past 4 months or so and they have gone well. Some of the longer ones included a 21mile run as well as a few 18 milers and several 15 mile ones. So I feel confident that if I can do those, I should be able to get through 26.2 miles. This Saturday also looks to be perfect weather for the marathon.

A few guys have told me in my running group that if I just don’t get caught up in the moment and the excitement of the race and start off too fast, I should be o.k. So my plan is to take it nice and slow and start with the 11 minute mile pace and settle in for a 5 hour run, stopping briefly at each water stop.

I wish everybody who is running the marathon, the half marathon and the 5K all the best. I’ll see you at the finish line!

One day to go and I’m getting excited! All those months of training and loooooong runs will finally payoff tomorrow. Good luck to all who are participating and a special thank you to all who are coming out to cheer us on. We'll need it. If you can't make it out to see the race you can watch it live on Fox 61 starting at 8am Saturday.

Remember to drink plenty of water today and increase the carbohydrate intake for a successful run tomorrow. See you at the finish line!

Here is an aritcle I wrote for the Hartford Courant after finishing the ING Hartford marathon.
A special thank you to my running group and all those that made it possible. Congrats!!!

"Fox 61 Morning News" anchor Logan Byrnes trained for 18 weeks in a program provided by the Hartford Marathon. "We did the weekday runs alone, then met each Saturday for the long runs. It was a lot of fun." Some of the longer training runs were 15- 21 miles.

Byrnes said he wouldn't call himself an avid runner but he has participated in several triathlons and a number of cycling events, including a couple of 100-mile trips called "century rides."

A graduate of the University of Southern California, he was a trial lawyer in Los Angeles before going into TV, where he also has worked for MSNBC and "Inside Edition."

He takes us inside his day :

WOW! What a great race. I am so pleased to have been part of such a wonderful and well executed marathon. I applaud the team of planners and designers for putting on a tremendous event. A special thank you to the hundreds of volunteers, police, supporters and runners that helped make my first marathon a truly first-class experience.

Aside from the 20 mph head wind at mile 22 just to make things interesting, the weather was superb, as well. There was a slight chill in the air as we ran on pavement damp from Friday night's rain, through the beautiful architecture of downtown Hartford, along the streets of East Hartford and past the picturesque New England farms and homes of South Windsor. A truly wonderful experience.

Q: What was going through your mind when you woke up?

I woke up feeling pretty good. I'd managed to get a decent night's sleep and had slept fairly well the previous night. So I was ready for action. During my training, I had run 21 miles, several 18-mile runs, and a few 15-milers. So I thought I was prepared enough to complete the 26.2 miles. After five months of training, I was excited and eager to get on with the marathon.

Q: What was it like at the start of the race?

The energy was electrifying. Thousands of people coming together to take on a challenge that most have no interest in attempting. People were chatting, bouncing up and down trying to say loose and engaged in the moment, laughing, smiling and sharing in the camaraderie that seems to increase when you are about to embark on something very unique and special. And then ... we were off. Just a matter of 26.2 miles between you and your goal. Bring it on, baby!

Q: What was the toughest point of the race mentally?

The toughest [part] was pacing myself. I had heard that you want to make sure you don't get caught up in the excitement and go too fast. This, I was told, can be disastrous around mile 18 or 20. See we kept it slow and enjoyed all the sights and sounds of the spectators cheering. There were bands, parties on front lawns and little kids on the side of the road with homemade signs. The kids were yelling, "You can do it!" It was intoxicating how much enthusiasm there was all around us.

Q: What was the toughest point of the race physically?

The last 4 miles. This is about the point where your body just says, "No thank you, we've been doing this for the last several hours and I think we've had about enough." So you walk a little, run a little, chat with some other runners and you bear down and press onward.

Q: Anything interesting or weird happen along the way?

One of the interesting things about running a marathon is the strange products you find yourself using. Runners need energy to complete the race, so they constantly take in water, Gatorade and specially formulated gels with names like Gu and Hammer Gel. Then there is the issue of chafing. What doesn't happen at mile 15 can happen at mile 18. So runners use different kinds of lubrication to avoid this kind of discomfort, like BodyGlide and Chamois Butt'r. Volunteers are even handing out Vaseline during the higher miles. Makes you wonder what kind of event you've gotten yourself into when they are providing lubrication along the side of the road.

You also have to hand it to the guy who dressed up as Superman and ran the race, or the woman who sported a tutu and funny glasses. Just as your legs are burning and you're wondering what you've done to yourself, you see someone running along in a costume, and it just makes you smile.

Q: What was the first thing you thought of when you finished?

WHERE CAN I SIT DOWN? Boy, were my legs tired! I was relieved that I had finished the marathon, but I think I was too tired to celebrate. I found a bench and sat down next to a guy named Brian who had finished earlier and was waiting for some friends. We shared some stories and settled into that park bench like kings on a throne. We had just run 26.2 miles. Everyone is so friendly and pleasant during an event like this. It must be the sharing of finishing something so crazy and wonderful that brings the human spirit even closer together.