Gotta Love a PR

How I achieved a PR (4:28:23)at the Marine Corps Marathon on October 29:

Speedwork - you can visit Runners World for an explanation behind "Yasso 800's" and finding the right pace for your speed workout. A MUST for anyone wanting to improve performance.
Mid-Week Interval Training - to help build lactate threshold
Starting out Slow and Steady- A painful lesson learned in Boston. While I was anxious those first miles, I held back.
Drinking Early in the Race - I was well hydrated before the race and continued to drink early in the race.
Increased Gel Consumption - I tried consuming a few more gels than usual
Finding a Training Partner - I joined a local running club (the best $15 I ever spent) and found a running partner with similar goals.
Finding the Right Race - The Marine Corps Marathon was a really beautiful course. There were some bottlenecks at the finish line that need to be worked out, but I'd run this race again in a heart beat.

Ahhh, Beating the Aches and Pains from Running

After being pretty battered and bruised from August 26th's grueling 18-miler, I decided the quickest way to recover would be an ice bath. I am not sure which was more painful, the ice bath, or the run itself. Yes sir, that 18 week marathon training schedule has now kicked into full gear! Those mid-week runs (at least mine) are reaching 10 and 12 miles long, and I've put one Saturday 20 miler behind me, one more to go. Speaking of which, Ann and I ran it in pouring rain for nearly 3 and a half hours. So then I think back to winter training for Boston and I'm not sure which is worse - a 7 degree day in which your water bottles freeze solid within 5 miles, or the quirky up and down weather of summer training. We are truly gluttons for punishment!

Boston 2006

The 2006 Boston Marathon took place on my birthday this year, April 17. Over the Easter weekend, we relaxed, enjoyed some wonderful New England seafood, visited some historic landmarks, met up with other teammates, as well as visited the Expo to pick up my bib and timing chip.

Early on Marathon Monday, Patriot's Day, Nancy picked us up at our hotel and we made it towards Hopkinton where we were greeted by tens of thousands of other seemingly anxious runners. As we hung out at "Athlete's Village" , I contemplated the months of effort I endured to realize this dream. We waited until the officials were ready to walk us nearly a mile down the road to the numbered corrals, positioned along the Hopkinton’s main street. As noon rolled around, the entire mass of people began its forward motion, and within moments, the 110th running of the Boston Marathon had begun.

“Run your own race”, coach Karen (1995 Kona Champion Karen Smyers!) reminded us Saturday night at our team pasta party in Brookline. Great advice, except when you’re a Boston marathon rookie and you think with a few marathons under your belt, and 18 weeks of training, you know it all. Boy, was I was wrong.

For the first 9 miles, I found myself running in a thick crowd at slightly over a 9 minute per mile pace. Bad idea ( I forgot I was one of only a handful who hadn't actually qualified for this race). So, despite a really fast first half, silly me found myself in a pickle at the mid-way point.

My second half (13.1 miles) was not as impressive as the first half. I did a rapid downward spiral. Uninspired by the crowds and uninspired by my music, my legs became heavy and stiffened. I began to notice that no amount of fluids were sufficient to reverse my slightly dehydrated state. I began to slow, knowing the hardest part of the course was still ahead. I struggled through the hills of Newton and Heart Break hill, with a few sightings of my family and coach Karen along the way. The succession of hills lasted for nearly 4 long miles. Once at the peak, I was ready to finish my race but the fans kept shouting, “Only 5 more miles to go!”. You’ve got to be kidding!

I had little energy at all for the last 5 miles. I was experiencing pain in my quads from the race's notorious downhill stretches and ultimately I threw away my hope of reaching my goal of 4:30. But the best part of the race was the last mile down Boylston, with thousands and thousands of spectators and partiers on each side, shouting words of encouragement, all the while, the finish line is in sight. I looked up one last time at the cameras and gave my “I finished Boston!” smile, and saved the tears for later. Yes, I did finish, in 5:04:11, a slower pace than I had hoped for.

I am humbled by this experience. One day, I will return.

Words cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for everyone’s well-wishes and donations to the MS Society - I exceeded my goal of raising $10,000 and I am fairly certain if I want to, I can come back to run Boston for MSAMS. We’ll see.