Twenty-six weeks.

That is how long I've heard you should give yourself to train for your first marathon.

I have 24 weeks to go to my first 26.2 miles. In week three of training, my longest run consists of a five-miler. This, I know, will soon change.

There is a lot of reasons why people run marathons. For me, it's a challenge. It's another thing to check off that bucket list. It's a way to stay in shape and healthy.

As I move forward with my training, I will update readers on my experiences as those miles start to pile up.

But instead of just hearing from me, I would like to use this column as a forum for area runners to talk about their challenges, give each other feedback, share information on running meet-ups or training groups, etc.

I will also use this space to pose questions to area runners to get that dialogue going. Please feel free to jump into the conversation by leaving a comment below.

• So, area runners, who else is running a marathon this year?
• Which one(s)? Is this your first marathon, also?
• Any suggestions for training resources or training guides you've found helpful?
• Why did you decide to run your first marathon and/or why do you continue to run marathons?
  

If you have a suggestion for a column topic, leave a comment below or e-mail Amie Schaenzer at amie.schaenzer@patch.com.