"IF "BUT "MAYBE"

Marathon Training is an odd affair. Doing too much? Doing too little? When should you go long? And how long for? What pace? There are a lot of ways that people have used to get there and get through it. You can relate to most sports with these questions.
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Elite. These are the 4 categories that you should place yourself in prior to embarking on the training plan. Think smart and there's a chance of just breaking into the level above from where you started. Think too big and on the day you may end up running a level below your ability.
My first attempt at Human Races "Ballbuster" Duathlon was a classic example of preparing to race at an ambitious level of Advanced. This is an 8 mile run, 24 mile bike, 8 mile run around the infamous Box Hill in Surrey. Setting off on the start line with the Advanced group, terrified as I recall. Crashing and burning on the final run, finishing with the slow Intermediates! Not happy.
Hindsight - something that everyone needs to look to, before the event takes place! Look at the "if, buts and maybes" before you undertake the effort. It will broaden your mind and enable you to set realistic targets.
A training programme is far easier to adjust up when adaptation is successful, rather than having to think of a plan B and adjust down when you have over extended yourself. I was always told when growing up and in my time in the Marines - "no ifs, buts or maybes" It was another way of saying you should accept mistakes when they are made - and when they are made, make sure you never make them again.
What I have found over the years is that they creep into the language when the plan is not one you are totally committed to, or you are not paying your chosen goal enough respect.

Hindsight was addressed before my last attempt at Ballbuster in 2006. I improved during training and raised my expectations to Advanced. Went off the start line as a confident intermediate and finished with the top advanced athletes. Happy. Walk away content and no need for hindsight.
So next time you are planning to achieve something for yourself, ask some "if's, buts and maybe's". It just might help the whole process of being more successful. Go for it in 2009.