It's so nice during this portion of tapering before the Boston marathon to know that I really don't have any runs left longer than ten miles. The only problem is that mentally, I feel like I should be doing more. There is almost some guilt that I'm not running more. That might be because I know I could have run more over the last few months to be ready for a really good marathon. I'm sure that is just about always the case, because we can almost always do more than we have time for when it comes to training. But it's too late at this point. Rest is more important than miles right now, so I'll run as well as I can on April 16th, and be happy for the experience.
My 14 miler on Saturday seemed to go on forever, which makes me nervous for the marathon. Experience, though reminds me that I always feel like this in the last couple weeks before a marathon, regardless of how extensive my training was. I think you just have to trust the training you have done, and expect the best on race day.
It was fun running on the lakefront Saturday though, because the annual 50k was going on during mine and all the other training runs that fill the path every Saturday morning. I did reflect briefly that I was very glad not to be running 31 miles! 26.2 is quite long enough, thank you. I respect the ultra-marathoners a great deal, but I don't believe it's for me. I remember after finishing one of my first marathons about a dozen years ago, and my training partner being excited and wanting to sign up for the Western States 100 miler. She tried to convince me to do it also. I didn't really have to ponder very long before answering "no thanks!".
But I digress. As it gets closer to the start of the Boston marathon, I am starting to get excited. I'm noticing every article and reference to Boston these days, including the extensive coverage in this month's Runner's World magazine. One of the best ways to prepare for it was to attend the seminar put on at Momentum running store Sunday night. It's a nice store, and they're keeping up the tradition of Vertel's, which used to be located in the same space. There were a couple dozen fellow Boston runners at the seminar, most of them first-timers like myself.
27 time Boston finisher Mark Buciak shared some of the tips he has picked up over the last quarter century, and I took notes so I could share them in this space. So here are some of the random notes I wrote:
-It's a good idea to bring your running gear as a carry-on item on the airplane in case they lose your luggage.
-Bring some clothes you plan to get rid of for the start of the race, because the gear check is about 3/4 of a mile from the start.
-Try to go to the expo on Friday, or if that's not possible, Saturday. Stay off your feet as much as possible on Sunday.
-The first mile of the race is pretty downhill, so it's important to avoid getting caught up in a fast pace.
-At Boston, the race begins at about 17 1/2 miles. That's when you have the first of the series of four hills. The 3rd is the toughest, and the 4th is 'heartbreak hill'.
-They serve water and Gatorade Endurance formula on the course, not regular Gatorade, so it's a good idea to make sure you are used to drinking that on your training runs.
As I said, random notes. Anyway, Mark is coaching a group of Boston runners, and also will be coaching a group before the Chicago marathon. You can reach him by email at: www.theroadtoboston.com.
So anyway, I'm gonna be kicking back this week, running a little and eating a lot. But I hope to see you out on the roads at some point!
Good Luck John!
Posted by: Justin Breidenstein | April 03, 2007 at 07:03 AM