Well, I had a feeling this might happen. And it did. I got sick. It's nothing major; a cough, runny nose, sneezing, headache, the usual suspects. The thing is, it's miserable enough that I don't want to feel like this on race day.
I read a lot of articles and blogs about running, marathon running in particular (shocking, I know...). So I know that when you're in the big month of lots and lots of miles each week, you need to be good about staying away from sick people, getting lots of sleep and being extra careful about germs because your body has less energy to fight off the nasties - it's too busy trying to recover from hours of running.
Apparently, I wasn't too careful about one or more of the items listed above. For the record, I don't think it's the lack of sleep. I'm a hardcore 8-9hrs of sleep a night kind of a girl. Whatever happened or however it happened, it happened.
I stayed home from work yesterday, drank tons of water and tea, rested up (by watching old episodes of Felicity and Parks and Rec - Thank you, Netflix!). I'm feeling better today but know that I will be out late tonight and up early on both Saturday and Sunday. Time to hit up my local Walgreens for some vitamin C and anti-bacterial gel. I'm pretty sure this will go away by Marathon Monday...Let's all hope so!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
final countdown
We are in the final weeks of Marathon prep, friends! The next three weeks are all about taper, taper, taper. Which simply means running less and less. After a really great LONG run this past weekend (which I'll share about below) I'll be resting a bit more and running a bit less so my body will heal up in time for April 16th. I'm seriously SO EXCITED.
So about this last long run: The Garrity bros. and I got a bit of a later start than we'd originally planned but made it to Hopkinton around 10:30am or so. Brian and I started off on the mile long descent though H-ton and on into Ashland. It was a perfect day for running: cloudy and cool. We paced just over 10min/miles and made it to Framingham where John was waiting for us in just over an hour.
There I said goodbye to one Garrity and hello to the other. :) After taking a Gu, John and I set off for the next 15miles together. There were some pretty tough parts, to tell the truth. Around mile 16, the course crosses over Rt 95 and there's not really anything super distinguishing about it...I just don't like that part of the course. Both times I've run it, I haven't liked it. One of the parts I do like is the Natick to Wellesley miles - 10-13. Natick center is really nice and then there's a stretch of peaceful "country" road as you head into Wellesley. It's along this part that there aren't many spectators and you begin to hear the screams of the Wellesley College girls.
The most dreaded part for me this time, based on last time, was the turn onto Rt 30 from Rt 16, at the Newton Fire Station. It's a little past mile 17 and as soon as you turn the corner the first of the Newton Hills is awaiting you. This is the hill I had the hardest time with last time and again this time. It's long and steep.
The other two hills, including Heartbreak, I was able to gut out but that first one kills me. Maybe it's mental and I need to come up with a strategy to get through it... Yeah, that's what I'll have to do.
After the hills, as you head down towards Boston College, there is a long descent. And let me tell you, it hurts. It's most painful on the quads that have already taken a beating in the earlier parts of the race. This is where John and I called it quits. We ended up running 21.54miles (6.5 with Brian). My time was 3:47:50, a 10:34min/mile pace. While I know this may sound slow to some of you, my previous marathon splits were 12:12min/mile (Chicago) and 11:18min/mile (Kalamazoo). So this 10:34 sounds pretty good to me. It's just maintaining that pace over the last 5miles....
Anyway, the point of this entry is that in these final stages of preparation, I finally feel prepared. I knew getting over this last long run would be the most important thing. And I have and I'm proud of how I did.
Now begins the final countdown to Race Day: 21days. (This also means you have 21 days left to donate to the Respite Center...why wait? Do it now.) :)
PS - good luck getting that song out of your head. ;)
So about this last long run: The Garrity bros. and I got a bit of a later start than we'd originally planned but made it to Hopkinton around 10:30am or so. Brian and I started off on the mile long descent though H-ton and on into Ashland. It was a perfect day for running: cloudy and cool. We paced just over 10min/miles and made it to Framingham where John was waiting for us in just over an hour.
There I said goodbye to one Garrity and hello to the other. :) After taking a Gu, John and I set off for the next 15miles together. There were some pretty tough parts, to tell the truth. Around mile 16, the course crosses over Rt 95 and there's not really anything super distinguishing about it...I just don't like that part of the course. Both times I've run it, I haven't liked it. One of the parts I do like is the Natick to Wellesley miles - 10-13. Natick center is really nice and then there's a stretch of peaceful "country" road as you head into Wellesley. It's along this part that there aren't many spectators and you begin to hear the screams of the Wellesley College girls.
The most dreaded part for me this time, based on last time, was the turn onto Rt 30 from Rt 16, at the Newton Fire Station. It's a little past mile 17 and as soon as you turn the corner the first of the Newton Hills is awaiting you. This is the hill I had the hardest time with last time and again this time. It's long and steep.
The other two hills, including Heartbreak, I was able to gut out but that first one kills me. Maybe it's mental and I need to come up with a strategy to get through it... Yeah, that's what I'll have to do.
After the hills, as you head down towards Boston College, there is a long descent. And let me tell you, it hurts. It's most painful on the quads that have already taken a beating in the earlier parts of the race. This is where John and I called it quits. We ended up running 21.54miles (6.5 with Brian). My time was 3:47:50, a 10:34min/mile pace. While I know this may sound slow to some of you, my previous marathon splits were 12:12min/mile (Chicago) and 11:18min/mile (Kalamazoo). So this 10:34 sounds pretty good to me. It's just maintaining that pace over the last 5miles....
Anyway, the point of this entry is that in these final stages of preparation, I finally feel prepared. I knew getting over this last long run would be the most important thing. And I have and I'm proud of how I did.
Now begins the final countdown to Race Day: 21days. (This also means you have 21 days left to donate to the Respite Center...why wait? Do it now.) :)
PS - good luck getting that song out of your head. ;)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
#22268
If you're not able to make it to Boylston St on Marathon Monday, have no fear! You can still be connected to receive updates on your favorite Boston Marathoner (that's me). Click on the link HERE and you'll be directed to the BAA website for instructions. The alert can be sent to your cell phone as a text message or to your email. You'll need my bib number - it's the title of this post. #22268.
I will be in the last wave and in the 5th corral. What does this mean? It means I'll be starting dead last... :) Well, maybe there'll be a few people behind me. But my wave won't leave Hopkinton until about 10:45am which means my corral won't leave until after that. I probably won't start until around 11am or so.
If you are going to make it to the finish line on April 16th, I would suggest you also sign up for the Athlete Alert. You'll know when I hit the 30K mark and know that I'll have another 8mi or so to go. You can get in a position to see me stagger across the finish line.
Big time training is nearly coming to a close as it's only 25 days away from the marathon. I've got one last long run on Saturday and it's a doozy! 22mi on the course - from Hopkinton to Cleveland Circle. Big thanks to my good friend, John who has been indispensable during the training this winter. He'll again drop me off at the start, drive to and park at mile 22 then run towards me, helping me get through the hills one last time. Not sure how that Monday will go without him!
I'll find out soon enough, and so will you! Hope you'll be following my progress on race day!
I will be in the last wave and in the 5th corral. What does this mean? It means I'll be starting dead last... :) Well, maybe there'll be a few people behind me. But my wave won't leave Hopkinton until about 10:45am which means my corral won't leave until after that. I probably won't start until around 11am or so.
If you are going to make it to the finish line on April 16th, I would suggest you also sign up for the Athlete Alert. You'll know when I hit the 30K mark and know that I'll have another 8mi or so to go. You can get in a position to see me stagger across the finish line.
Big time training is nearly coming to a close as it's only 25 days away from the marathon. I've got one last long run on Saturday and it's a doozy! 22mi on the course - from Hopkinton to Cleveland Circle. Big thanks to my good friend, John who has been indispensable during the training this winter. He'll again drop me off at the start, drive to and park at mile 22 then run towards me, helping me get through the hills one last time. Not sure how that Monday will go without him!
I'll find out soon enough, and so will you! Hope you'll be following my progress on race day!
Friday, March 16, 2012
what's more exciting?
As I was running with a friend the other day (my second run of the day), we got to talking about the Great Bay Half Marathon on April 7th. This will be her very first half. And it will also be the first half for three of our other friends. I started getting very excited for them...I think I might be more excited about the race than they are!
Since then I've been thinking about what I'm more excited about - my marathon or their very first half marathon. To tell you the truth, I'm split down the middle!!! While I'm SO excited for Boston (don't get me wrong), the thought of running with friends and seeing them accomplish something that they've wanted to do for a long time or never thought they could do....that's pretty stinkin' awesome.
No matter what the distance, course, time, etc, accomplishing a goal is a huge deal. Whether it's the first or fiftieth, it's still a major achievement. So while I'm so excited for my marathon, I am equally excited for the half marathon we're all running on April 7th. Maybe after that the enormity of running The Boston will hit me... :)
Tomorrow morning three friends and I will head out on their final long run in preparation for Great Bay. It'll be an LSD of 12 awesome miles - I can't wait! And to celebrate the last long run, we'll enjoy a delicious second breakfast together - I can't wait for that, either.
Since then I've been thinking about what I'm more excited about - my marathon or their very first half marathon. To tell you the truth, I'm split down the middle!!! While I'm SO excited for Boston (don't get me wrong), the thought of running with friends and seeing them accomplish something that they've wanted to do for a long time or never thought they could do....that's pretty stinkin' awesome.
No matter what the distance, course, time, etc, accomplishing a goal is a huge deal. Whether it's the first or fiftieth, it's still a major achievement. So while I'm so excited for my marathon, I am equally excited for the half marathon we're all running on April 7th. Maybe after that the enormity of running The Boston will hit me... :)
Tomorrow morning three friends and I will head out on their final long run in preparation for Great Bay. It'll be an LSD of 12 awesome miles - I can't wait! And to celebrate the last long run, we'll enjoy a delicious second breakfast together - I can't wait for that, either.
Monday, March 12, 2012
the longest and shortest
In five weeks from today, I will have just completed my third marathon. It will be a great day, no doubt! But to get there, I have to get through these next five weeks. Guaranteed they will be both the longest five weeks and the shortest five weeks.
Why the shortest? Because I feel underprepared, of course! But as a good friend pointed out to me yesterday, I always feel underprepared. I don't think I've gone into a marathon (or a half marathon, either for that matter) and thought to myself, "absolutely, I am totally ready for this." I'm always a bit hesitant to say whether I will do well or PR. I always hope for those things, obviously. But saying them out loud just makes me feel like I'm jinxing it.
Also, this year is positively flying by and I know for a fact that April 16th will be here before you or I know it! Can you believe it's nearly the middle of March?! Me neither.
Why the longest? Because I'm so stinking excited! I keep imagining the course lined with people cheering on the weary, sweaty runners. I imagine my friends at the finish line ready to give me a hug no matter how disgusting I will be (you all better be ready to hug me - be forewarned that I will not only be sweaty but also incoherent and blubbering like a baby). I imagine getting my rewards: 1. the sheer fact of saying, "Oh, yeah. I ran Boston in 2012." 2. Wearing the jacket legitimately. 3. a giant cheeseburger and fries and (possibly) a chocolate milkshake.
I hope that I will build confidence over the next five weeks and that I will have patience as well. And that I will feel prepared enough to kick this marathon in the face. You heard me.
In training news - I ran my second to last long run yesterday in the glorious sunshine. It was tough but I felt good afterwards. Thankfully my friend, Jocelyn who is training for her own half marathon, came to run the last 8 miles with me. She was a great motivator reminding me not to give up with just 4, 3, 2 miles to go! Today I feel great - I mean, I'm exhausted but not sore, which I take as a huge win.
This week will be some maintenance runs then a 12-13miler on Saturday. My final long run will be on March 24th when I will run from the starting line in Hopkinton to the 22mi mark at BC. I'll take on those hills one more time before we meet on the 16th.
I'm looking forward to these final training runs but I'm also ready to let them come in due time. It's a delicate balance.
Why the shortest? Because I feel underprepared, of course! But as a good friend pointed out to me yesterday, I always feel underprepared. I don't think I've gone into a marathon (or a half marathon, either for that matter) and thought to myself, "absolutely, I am totally ready for this." I'm always a bit hesitant to say whether I will do well or PR. I always hope for those things, obviously. But saying them out loud just makes me feel like I'm jinxing it.
Also, this year is positively flying by and I know for a fact that April 16th will be here before you or I know it! Can you believe it's nearly the middle of March?! Me neither.
Why the longest? Because I'm so stinking excited! I keep imagining the course lined with people cheering on the weary, sweaty runners. I imagine my friends at the finish line ready to give me a hug no matter how disgusting I will be (you all better be ready to hug me - be forewarned that I will not only be sweaty but also incoherent and blubbering like a baby). I imagine getting my rewards: 1. the sheer fact of saying, "Oh, yeah. I ran Boston in 2012." 2. Wearing the jacket legitimately. 3. a giant cheeseburger and fries and (possibly) a chocolate milkshake.
I hope that I will build confidence over the next five weeks and that I will have patience as well. And that I will feel prepared enough to kick this marathon in the face. You heard me.
In training news - I ran my second to last long run yesterday in the glorious sunshine. It was tough but I felt good afterwards. Thankfully my friend, Jocelyn who is training for her own half marathon, came to run the last 8 miles with me. She was a great motivator reminding me not to give up with just 4, 3, 2 miles to go! Today I feel great - I mean, I'm exhausted but not sore, which I take as a huge win.
This week will be some maintenance runs then a 12-13miler on Saturday. My final long run will be on March 24th when I will run from the starting line in Hopkinton to the 22mi mark at BC. I'll take on those hills one more time before we meet on the 16th.
I'm looking forward to these final training runs but I'm also ready to let them come in due time. It's a delicate balance.
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