I started running in 1993, 3 times 4 km a week, in the fields of kibbutz Urim. During one of these runs I started thinking about a marathon. It seemed unbelievable at the time, but I started training. It was August, extremely hot for running, but I was really into the challenge. I've found out there is a marathon in Jerusalem in November, and decided to go for it. I had no idea how to train, just knew I have to run more and more. I went up to 31 km, which was not enough, especially considering the hilly (mountains !) course of Jesrusalem. So three days before the marathon I ran 39 km, in 30 degrees celsius. When I got back to Urim, I told the first person I saw : "I am never going to run again !". But I went to the marathon, did 3:51:00:91, which is my best time, considering the course. I went to Jerusalem again the next year, but this time I didn't train as much, and was 4:23:48, my only time over 4 hours. It was also the last Jerusalem full marathon, and it became a half marathon since.
In Berlin 1996 I did my best time so far, 3:33:20, and in the last 3 years I've done Tiberias marathon, with times 3:50:41, 3:39:16, 3:36:27. I never train well enough comes the marathon, but these are only excuses. I believe I can go under 3:20 with the right training. We'll see.... I also started running in shorter races, mostly 10 km and half marathons. my best times so far are 1:35:16 in half marathon, 41:31 in 10 km. I believe I am going to break both records in the next month, half marathon in Ein Gedi, and 10 km in Ramat Gan.
Triathlons I started last year. There was a break in running races, so I went to try Atlit sprint triathlon. It was fun, so I started training, bought road bikes, and did pretty well, got 2 trophies for 3rd place in my age group 40-44. But now I find I don't like biking that much, so I think I will concentrate mostly on running, do some minimum biking, and come to whatever place I can get. The only change might be if there will be a half ironman competition, which I would like to do, so I will bike more.
Update in January 18, 2004
My new records are:
Marathon - 3:11:13, Berlin 2002
Half Marathon - 1:27:16, Bet Shaen 2002
10 km - 39:40, Ramat Hasharon 2002
Half Ironman - 5:08 hours, , Ha'on 2002
So 2002 was a good year...