Qualifying for Boston

My goal for 2011 is to push myself to do something that seems somewhat impossible.  I am determined to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  The Marathon of all Marathons.  One thing that is on my side is that I am turning the ripe old age of 40 this year.  When you turn 40, I guess they figure you are over-the-hill for real.  The qualifying time goes up.  So to qualify, I must run a "certified" marathon in under 3:50:59.  Three hours and fifty minutes of running much faster than I have ever run in my life.  This means I must run it at an average pace of 8:46.  My first and only marathon was run in 4:35.  Yes I KNOW, I have a lot of work to do.  It isn't easy to get faster and stronger.  You have to push yourself.  You have to figure out a your own personal formula that balances hard workouts that push you to improve but not so hard that you crash or  get injured.  You have to focus on your diet.  You have to focus on winning.  You have to believe you can do it.  I've read that running a marathon is 80% mental.  I got that covered.  I am definitely MENTAL.