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.

Almost there...

11 days until the marathon and only a couple hundred dollars away from my revised fundraising goal of $7500. I can't believe how fast the time went by. It seems like just yesterday I got the email from Dana Farber saying I was on the team and then I started freaking out, first about the fundraising minimum then about running THE Boston Marathon! I kept telling people, "running will be the easy part, I'm worried about the fundraising." Now, I've reach a point where that theory has flipped and the fundraising was the easy part (many thanks to everyone that helped and donated) and I'm worried about the running. This is when I start to freak out about the race: will it be too hot, too cold, windy, raining, snowing (don't laugh it could happen), will I get boo boo belly, will the hills destroy my quads and all hopes of a PR, will people show up to cheer for me, will I make them proud, will I crash and burn in the last 6 miles, OR will I triumph and cross the finish line sobbing tears of joy with a PR and the perfect celebration of my personal transformation over the past 3 years, from couch potato to Boston Marathon finisher!

I can't wait to find out. :)

This week, the taper continues. I rested on Monday after my long-ish 14 mile run on Sunday. I went to Target and printed the photos from the weekend trip along the marathon course and then spent a small fortune at the craft store on some scrapbooking supplies. Monday night I sat on the floor in front of the TV pasting together a mile by mile photo tour of the course. I'm up to Heartbreak Hill and have one page left to get me to Kenmore Square and the Citgo sign. I'm leaving Boylston St. and the finish line for after the race. I kind of don't want to enter that space until race weekend. I feel like it's sacred ground and I want to REALLY experience it and take it all in to the point of being overwhelmed by it. I get chills just thinking about it.

Tuesday, I did my normal 6 mile out and back before jury duty. My legs felt a little heavy at first and I didn't really get into a good rhythm until after the turn at the top of the hill and the last 3 miles coming back home. I managed to avoid the tree this week, partly because the sun was coming up and it was pitch black and pouring rain and partly because I think someone may have cut down the branch I ran into. I finished the run strong and felt good.

Wednesday, I biked into work for the first time this year. It was great, but I forgot how heavy my back pack can be and I was definitely a little slower than I was towards the end of the year last year biking in. I rode the 11 mile distance in a little over 45 minutes, averaging 14mph. Last year I was closer to 40 minutes and averaging 18-20mph. Clearly I've got some work to do or I need to make my back pack lighter. :) On the way home, I took the scenic route, a 14 mile loop over some very challenging hills. It took me about an hour, so I was still averaging 14mph. What a nice ride though. It was hot, in the 80s, but there was a strong breeze that kept me cool and gave me a little extra challenge because it was a headwind the entire way home. Still, not bad for the first bike commute of the year.

Today, the plan is to do a 4-6 mile run after work and then maybe a little strength training. I hate lifting so we'll see if that actually happens. I'll do my best to force myself to do it, but I won't like it. Most likely I'll go for my run and then be too hungry to focus and I'll skip the lifting. OR I could lift first and then reward myself with the run. I know it's important and it will make me a better runner and help me improve my body composition even more than I already have, I just get bored instantly doing it. Oh well, it has to be done.

Tomorrow, I booked myself a 90 minute massage! I can't wait. 10 days to go and what better way to relax and repair than get a nice deep tissue sports massage with hot stones and soothing aromatherapy. It's gonna be AWESOME!

The heat is NOT my friend

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy it’s not raining anymore and the sun finally came out, but this is not ideal running weather (unless you’re a Kenyan).

This weekend I did a nice easy 6 mile run and then drove the course with my friends Milady and Gillian. I wanted to get a few more pictures for my scrapbook. We headed down to Hopkinton around noon and took some fun photos at the start line and then hit the course. It was pretty crowded. I think that other people had the same idea as us. We got some pictures along the way and enjoyed driving with the windows down and the wind in our hair. It was a gorgeous day for a drive. We grabbed lunch in Coolidge corner and then we headed home. Citgo sign in view, but not even close, just taunting me and everyone else. Not nice Citgo, not nice.

Afterwards I went for a nice easy bike ride. I couldn’t waste the nice weather and I kind of wanted to try and get a picture of the tree that I ran into last week, but I think it got cut down or I just can’t remember exactly where it was because I couldn’t find it or a stump where I thought it should be. Anyway, the bike ride was nice. It felt great to get out on my bike for the first time this year and I can’t wait to start biking to work.

Sunday, I slept in late, rolled out of bed, and made myself some tea. I opened up all the windows in my house and let the fresh air in. Then I finally got motivated around 11:00 to go for my last double digit run until Boston. I was just doing 12-14, piece of cake next to the 20 miler I did last weekend. Well, Mother Nature had other plans. She wanted to challenge me yet again. The heat was more intense than I anticipated and within the first 4 miles I was dying. I felt like the force of gravity had doubled on me and it was twice as hard to move myself forward. I struggled through it and finished, but I ran out of water with 4 miles left and had to stop and walk for a little bit each mile to prevent overheating. The heat added 30 seconds per mile to my pace and made it feel like I ran twice as far. I got a sun burn and I was dehydrated and cranky.

Then, after I showered, refueled and rehydrated, I headed out to go to Target and print the photos I took the day before it was CLOSED. Stupid Easter Bunny! I went to the grocery store next to target to get some food; it closed 15 minutes before I got there! I drove to ANOTHER grocery store and got some food. Once I had some more food in my belly I was happier, but I didn’t enjoy the sun and heat as much as most people probably did. It is NOT my friend! PLEASE Mother Nature, give me a break and let it be cooler on race day!

17 days and counting...

I'm still recovering from the bonk on the head from a stupid tree that decided to get in my way while I was running on Tuesday morning, but very happy to see the sun finally. Wednesday I did a lot of strength training, a little over an hour. Then an easy 30 minutes on the eliptical. Perhaps I was trying to make up for slacking the week before, or maybe I was still foggy from the head injury and went a little crazy, either way it was a good sweat session and two days later, the delayed onset muscle soreness has arrived.

Last night I decided to run the Newton hills just one more time before the race to really program my legs and brain to prepare for the race. The weather was PERFECT! Partly sunny, in the 50s, with a light breeze. It was like a dream. We hardly even hit any traffic on the way into Boston, found a parking spot right in front of Crossroads, hit the restrooms and headed for the T. The T ride was nice, it went by fast, we chatted with a few of the other people on the train and then we made it to Newton, sun still shining and still out at 6:30ish at night. Woohoo!

Started the run nice and easy, moderate pace, conversation flowed like the run off from the flooded streets. There were TONS of people out on the course running. Everyone smiling and enjoying the evening and the taper. One after another we attacked the hills, building momentum as we climbed. By the time we reached the peak of Heartbreak the conversation had stopped and been replaced with heavy breathing and drips of sweat falling off our elbows and hitting the pavement. Over the top, Boston College in sight, we started the decent into Boston. Meandering through college students on their way to Eagles Deli or many of the other fine eateries along the way that taunt us with enticing aromas, we started to pick up the pace a little. With 2 miles left to get back to the bar, the sun began to fade on the horizon and I turned my blinkie light on for safety (and for fun, I love the blinkie light). I kicked it up a notch, dug deep, and finished strong.

The run felt AMAZING! I am so pumped with energy and excitement I can hardly contain myself. I feel so ready for this race, all I have to do now is relax and try not to go insane in the next 17 days. I booked myself a massage next Friday to help. This weekend I plan to drive the course again with some more friends, take some more pictures and then do a nice easy 14 miler on Sunday with a few long downhill sections to prepare my quads for Hopkinton.

Funny thing about focus...

Sometimes you can be so focused on a particular goal you miss really obvious things that are right in front of you. This morning I went out for a nice easy 6 mile run in the rain. I had my hat on to keep the rain out of my eyes and my headlamp to light the way. Within the first mile my feet were soaked, but I felt good. I had a nice rhythm going and I was thinking only 20 days until Boston. For the first time ever on my 6 miler I even had a tail wind on the way back. It's ALWAYS a head wind. I should have known this run was too good to be true and Mother Nature had something up her sleeve. About 4 miles into the run, on the home stretch back to my house, floating downhill one foot after the other, looking down to avoid as many puddles and potholes as possible and then...."THWACK!" I ran right into a half fallen over tree right at head height. Like someone swung a baseball bat right into my face, except I was the moving object and the tree was stationary. Not exactly sure what life lesson to take away from this, but maybe it's something like while focusing on a big goal in life (Boston) don't forget to enjoy (or watch out for) the simple things in life (like giant friggin trees). Afterall, life is about the journey, not the destination.

TAPER TIME!!!

Hard to believe there are only 21 days to go until Marathon Monday.

OK, recap of the last week of training. Monday and Tuesday I rested fromthe busy weekend (and honestly when I woke up Tuesday I had planned to run until I saw it was raining, again!). Wednesday, I just did an easy day on the eliptical. Thursday I did what was probably the last Crossroads run, an out and back on the course, about 8 miles based on time because my garmin didn’t get a signal. Friday, I rested and relaxed.

Saturday, I did a nice easy 6 miler and then met my friend Kristen to drive the course. We headed to Hopkinton around 11:00, the sun was out and it was in the mid 40s; A beautiful day for a drive (or run for everyone that was out running the course). I got a picture of the start line. Worn and faded, it was impossible to even make out the word start in the paint. I wonder if they repaint it every year. Anyway, I got a great picture of me near it, on race day I doubt I’ll even see it as I pass over it with thousands of other runners. I got a picture of the port-o-potties already set up. Then we hopped in the car and headed down 135 towards Boston.

We stopped on the side of the road to get a picture of the “Entering Ashland” sign. Winding down the road, trying to take in the landscape and absorb as much as possible, we honked at runners and cheered them on for their last long run before Boston. We pulled over again to get the “Entering Frammingham” sign and continued on. I missed the Natick and Wellesley signs. We got the Newton sign as a drive by. There was no place to stop. Kristen took a picture of some volunteers at the corner of Washington St. and Commonwealth Ave. They had a mile 17 sign and tent with water and snacks for the runners.

From there the landscape looked familiar, but it is going to be weird to run on the road and not on sidewalks. I can only hope that I still feel good when I hit the hills and I can power up them like I have so many weeks with the Crossroads group. We turned at Walnut St. to get a picture of the John Kelly statue then got back on Comm. Ave. By now we were starving so when we got to Brookline we stopped and ate lunch. It was so much fun, and so exciting to see the whole course before I’m sweaty, suffering, and running the Boston Marathon.

Sunday was the Eastern States 20 miler. I got up early, ate my breakfast, and headed to Hampton Beach to get the bus to Kittery. Got to Kittery and picked a spot on the gymnasium floor to chill out and rest before the race started. I actually fell asleep for a bit. Then the announcer woke me up and I saw some of my friends from my Reach the Beach van last year. We caught up and waited together for the race to start.

The walk to start line seemed longer than it was last year and last year it was pouring rain and freezing cold so it was a little weird and a totally different experience. It was sunny and in the mid-40s. I felt like I might be a little over dressed with my jacket on but reminded myself that once I reached the coast it would be windy and colder. The race started and the runners took off. I settled into a comfortable pace and kept telling myself “it should feel like you’re holding back”. It worked. The first 10 miles went by in a flash and I averaged 10:00 miles with ease. I kept repeating to myself, “Nice and easy, one mile at a time”. The next 5 miles were inland and over rolling hills, pretty and oddly familiar. I wonder if it was just the half in Hamptons course backwards or the Rockfest half backwards. I struggled a little in mile 15 and 16, but then took a gel and got a nice kick of carbs and caffeine. At mile 18 we reached the beach and there was a ridiculous head wind coming off the water. I put my head down and powered through it. I thought to myself “thank you Mother Nature, can I have some more wind please”. With a big smile on my face, I took her challenge and destroyed it. I ran the last 2 miles the fastest and passed a ton of people. I did a 9:20 and an 8:50 for my last two miles. Finished strong and still had gas in the tank. PR’d by about 10 minutes in comparison to last year’s time. Totally pumped and ready for Boston.

Bring on the Taper!!!!

Great, a little bit Goofy weekend

Finally, Mother Nature gave us a nice weekend to enjoy. I took a much needed rest day on Friday and did a little shopping. I bought my marathon shoes, a fresh new pair of Asics GT-2150s in bright turquoise. Then I went to REI and stocked up on gels because my online order was backordered and hasn’t shipped yet.

Saturday, I eased into the morning with a few cups of tea and some breakfast. Then I decided to get outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather. I laced up my new sneaks and headed out my front door at about 10:30, the sun was shining and there was a light breeze. It was perfect. About 8 miles into my 18 miler I realized, I forgot to put on sun block and chose to run during the peak sun hours of the day, stupid mistake on the first day of spring, but my runner’s tan had to start somewhere. I felt really good and was averaging a really great pace, and then I ran out of water with ~4 miles left to go. DOH! I had to walk a little until I passed a Mobil station and could buy a bottle of water. Then I finished the last 2 miles strong and went in my house to check out how bad my sun burn was. It feels worse than it looks. A short trip to Rite Aid, 4 bags of ice, and a soak in the tub followed by a hot shower and I was good to go.

I was suppose to drive the course with a friend and then get dinner in Boston, but she bailed so I just ended up hanging out at home with my neighbors and cooking dinner for myself. Hopefully the weather next weekend is just as nice and we can drive the course Saturday and get some cute pictures of me not sweaty and suffering.

Sunday morning was the Half of Quincy. I left a little late and got there with about 20 minutes before the start. I usually like to have a little more time so that I can throw stuff in my car and relax a little before a race, but it was ok. I was really glad I threw an extra shirt in my bag before I left because it was a LOT colder in Quincy than it was in Lowell. And it was very windy. I’m horrible with geography and had no idea that Quincy was on the coast. What a pretty course. There were a few parts that could have been more clearly marked and I wasn’t sure I was going the right way, but overall it was really challenging and scenic. More hills than I expected and a lot more wind, made for a tough run, especially after running 18 the day before. OH, and after all that hard work, they ran out of medals and I didn’t get one!!!!!

So, to recap the weekend: Awesome weather, not so awesome sunburn, race with no medal, and about 31 miles in two days. I’d say it was pretty decent.