The LONGEST week of my life

This week is going by so slow. I’m counting down the days to Marathon Monday and they will not go by fast enough.

Saturday I ran the Boston Tune Up 15K in Upton, MA. I drove to the race, got my number and t-shirt. It was a little chilly and windy, but nice. I figured it was my last longish run before Boston so, I’d just take it easy. It was a hilly course so I focused on really holding back on the down hills and accelerating on the up hills. I wanted to feel like I was holding back. I ignored my garmin and paced myself based on my Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Basically, I went by how I felt. I felt like I was going slow. The first 5K went by fast, the second 5K I told myself “OK, now get comfortable and run your normal training pace”, and in the last 5K I really kicked it up and thought of it just as a 5K and raced it. I passed a guy with less than 2 miles left to go and said, “beautiful day for a run, eh” and he replied, “yeah, you’re really getting a kick at the end”. And I said, “Just think, next week this will be like running down Comm. Ave. onto Hereford, then Boylston. I visualized the final stretch of the race, the crowds in the streets cheering me on, the blue and yellow BAA Banner, and crossing the finish line. I finished in 1:26:54, averaging a 9:15 pace. That’s a minute per mile faster than my goal pace.



Sunday I just did a short recovery run with a friend and walked the last part of it because he has a nagging ankle injury that may prevent him from running Boston. After the run, I showered and went out shopping for more scrapbook supplies and some food. I cooked dinner for my friends, Ann and Jack. They will be volunteering at the DFMC tent at mile 25. I can’t wait to see them there.

Monday was a rest day and yesterday I did an easy 6 mile out and back, my normal Tuesday morning run. The rest of the week will be pretty chill. I might do one or two more short runs and then just rest. The days at work go by painfully slow. It feels like the clock doesn’t move at all. I know it will be a pretty unproductive week. I only have one thing on my mind and it’s not work related. I can’t wait to go to the expo on Friday and get my number and my jacket and maybe a few other goodies. And most of all I can’t wait to RUN.