A partner in crime

In half-marathon-training and in life, it helps to have a partner who shares your goals. It's even more helpful if that partner is more experienced and more ambitious than you are.

For me, that's my friend Whitney, who's training for the National Marathon (note that the "Half" is missing — she's going for the full 26.2). She is both experienced (this is her fifth marathon) and down-to-earth, a rare and awesome combination I'll be counting on frequently throughout my training.

Best of all, you can rely on her expertise and support, too, 'cause she's gonna be blogging, too! I'll be hosting her blog on my Web site. Check back often for progress updates from both of us.