A friend of mine who is running the Boston marathon mentioned the other day he is trying 
not to think about it. I get that. I don't want to think too much about it either. And I was tempted not to make a blog entry this week. At this point, the jitters set in, and runners who have been training for months just want to hit the starting line and get it going.
But, this is the Boston marathon! The oldest and most prestigious marathon in the country. I can't let this experience pass without writing and reflecting a little.
The week before a marathon is always a weird time for runners. You tend to have lots of energy, because you are running less. But you also are full of nerves. Hits the the weather.com website tend to peak in marathon cities in the days leading up to the race. Everyone is hoping for the best, and worrying about every little ache and pain, and small percentage chance of rain (or snow, or cold, or heat or wind) the day of the race.
I know I tend to pay close attention to my body on runs during the week. That's not a good thing. There is nothing I can do at this point to improve my fitness, and chances are pretty good that everything will be find on race day. This is a time to relax and have faith in your training. Most runners have done the training, and worked hard, and should feel good about everything leading up to the race. The marathon has so many variables, there's really nothing else you can do.
I'm trying a different strategy for tapering during the final week before the Boston marathon. I'm keeping my mileage up a little higher than most programs suggest. For instance, I ran 20 miles two weeks out from the race. The week before, I ran 12, and I did an 8 miler five days out from the race. I think this should help me keep my mental edge, which I have a tendency to lose in past races.
My former Coach, an experienced marathoner, drilled me with some advice during our weekend run. I believe it's relevant for most runners during the days leading up to the race. He suggested making sure you dismiss any negative thoughts that come into your head immediately during the week. Those thoughts inevitably work their way into your mind, but you should immediately replace them with confident thoughts about your fitness, and race plan.
Having a race plan is also important. I've run a number of marathons where I've simply hit the starting line and hoped for the best. That generally doesn't work. When I thought about the splits I wanted to hit, and what to do if I missed them a little, I have more success.
Boston will be a great experience, and I expect to run well. The crowds are the most amazing I have ever seen, and they help all the runners get through it. I'm sure I'll have much more to share after it's over.
See you on the roads... in a few days....
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