2010 BOSTON MARATHON - PART ONE

When I heard it was going to be an incomparable experience, a once in a lifetime kind of day and a motivating journey I never realized how true those phrases would be. The Boston Marathon was one of those awe-inspiring events and I am blessed to have been a part of it.

The Expo

The sports and fitness expo was a zoo, simply put, but a very exciting one. Runners were easily spotted carrying their extra-large neon yellow bags that everyone received when they picked up their bib number. In it was a blue Adidas long sleeve running shirt that had 2010 BOSTON MARATHON in bright yellow down the sleeve, pamphlets, an official race program, bottled water and a 2010 Boston Marathon keychain. Think of an athletic apparel company and it was set up at the expo in Boston that weekend. In addition to apparel, Power Bar, Runner’s World and GU were among the other vendors – plus many, many, many more. It being my first Boston Marathon (and as far as I knew, my only one) I had a list of things I wanted to buy and so I did. On that list was a black track race jacket, the nalgene bottle decorated with the race course, a Boston Marathon t-shirt, a pint glass and finally, a print. I know it’s weird – I bought a print for the race – but it’s something I would think was worth it even if it didn’t have anything to do with the race. 

 Pre-Race

The night before we had reservations at a nice Italian restaurant in Boston's North End, Mother Anna's. I split spaghetti and meatballs and had a couple slices of bread so I could get an ample amount of carbs but not an overload. I set out everything I needed the night before, tried on my running outfit, pinned my number to my shirt and attached my timing chip to my shoe. Then I got to sleep as soon as I could. On race day, I woke up at 5:20am, got dressed and prepped my bags. For breakfast I had a banana with peanut butter and a plain bagel. About an hour before the race I had a quarter of a Power Bar. I hydrated myself thoroughly leading up to the race but did not continue that streak on race morning. At that point, you're as hydrated as you're going to be and let's face it - you don't want to have to go to the bathroom while you're running. I left around 6am to head to our transportation to Athlete's Village.

Athlete’s Village

For those of you who don’t know, runners get transported via bus to the start in Hopkinton and are taken to a large area that is available for participants only. Runners were instructed to arrive in the Boston Commons anywhere from 6am to 7:30am, depending on their start wave, and board one of what seemed to be a never ending line of buses. I waited in line for 30 minutes or so and then got onto a bus and sat next to a guy named Richard Ferguson. Similar to OBX I found my bus-riding buddy to have an interesting story. The last time he’d run Boston was about a decade ago where he placed 13^th overall. He used to be a professional runner, sponsored by Saucony. I absorbed as much advice as I could and after the hour-long bus ride to our destination we wished each other luck and headed into Athlete’s Village.

The village was like a community in itself but of course it has to be to occupy 26,000 or so athletes for multiple hours before the first start. The village offered large tents that appeared very vacant since it was such a nice day (thankfully).  My first sight was a sea of runners either sitting on their bags or blankets, stretching, listening to music or laughing with friends (both old ones and new ones). It was crowded but not overwhelming, and if anything, it was humbling to be with the 26,000 other people who were about to take on the same incredible challenge I was. Bagels, bananas, coffee, water and Power Bars were available under the tents for athletes. The announcer on a large platform didn’t let any more than a couple minutes pass between his announcements, and music blared throughout the morning. The lines for the bathroom were fairly long but it’s not like you had anything else to do but wait. I took some time to listen to the sports psychologist speak but he wasn't preaching anything I didn't already know. The elite women started at 9:30am and wave one, which included the elite men, took off at 10am. Right before the start of the first wave they did a fly-over with three F-150s that flew as low as the treetops that surrounded the village. With about 30 minutes to go until the wave two start time at 10:30am they announced for those runners to make their way to the start. I shed my layers of clothes that kept me warm all morning and brought them to the information tent where they will donate all left behind clothing to the Boys and Girls Club. Then I dropped my bag off at the buses to be taken back to the finish and continued onto the starting line.

Starting Line

The starts were broken into two waves. The first wave consisted of all the elite men and runners with a bib number numbered 1,000 to 13,999. The bib numbers were given in order of qualifying times. I was in wave two, which included bib numbers 14,000 and up. My bib number was 14021 – just nearly making wave two. Fortunately for me that meant I was in the first coral of wave two. Corals were separated by the 1,000s. I was in the front of wave two, which gave me plenty of elbow room to start the race. The town of Hopkinton is small, and it’s apparent that it holds a lot of history. I’ve heard concern with the number of runners and Hopkinton being able to host the volume of people but I think it was executed wonderfully. As far as I know, there weren’t any glitches and maybe it was because of my starting position but I also felt that I had plenty of room, relatively speaking for a race.  Hundreds of people lined the streets with signs and cameras, runners were jumping up and down to get loose and turning on their GPS watches and the sun was shining on a mid-50 degree day. After a prayer and counting down – the gun sounded and we were off.

The Race

The night before the race I bought a roll of hot pink duct tape and stuck a couple strips onto my purple shirt and wrote my name in all caps across my chest. What a great idea. From the minute I set out on the course to the finish on Boylston Street I felt like a celebrity. I don’t think I ran for more than a few minutes without hearing my name softly spoken by a quiet spectator, yelled by a fan (sometimes even accompanied with a fist pump) or chanted by a group of friends. The start is electrifying in large part due to the spectators’ energy. We begin the race on a big downhill and I was quickly passed by what seemed like everyone in my coral. I kept an eye on my time and was sure to not start out too fast because I learned from my first marathon that saving energy is crucial to last and stay strong for the full mileage. My goal is to be faster than 8:23 (Boston qualifying pace) but not any faster than an 8 minute/mile, which is right around my last marathon pace (8:13).

The course was beautiful. Trees and back road scenery lined the first bit of the race. We visited several small towns on our way to Boston and experienced each community in a special way. Small kids reached their hands out to offer up their high-fives and encouragement. I tried to hit as many as I could because I think it made their day and Lord knows it certainly made mine. We passed a biker bar where you were a minority if you didn’t have a plastic cup of beer in your hand, we passed Boston fans with chalkboard score boards with Red Sox updates, screaming college students who probably started just as early as the runners to pre-game and all sorts of other fans of every age.

I saw my parents, my sister and her boyfriend at mile 20. They held signs like true supporters - one with a favorite quote of mine, “Pain is temporary, pride is forever.” That quote is undoubtedly true and especially for a marathon. They said that one got a lot of attention; I think most runners can appreciate the meaning behind it. Marley (my sister) came out and ran for a minute, too. Mile 20 was perfect for them because I had just defeated the first part of the heartbreak hills series and I was just about to battle THE heartbreak hill. They gave me the oomph to conquer it. 

Heartbreak Hills

The Boston Marathon is known for a lot of things but one thing that stands out when talking about the race course is Heartbreak Hills. Surprisingly, these did not get the best of me. Around mile 16 you start on the first of four stair-like hills. Like everyone has said, it's not the incline of the hill it's where they are in the race. Much of the first 16 miles is downhill or flat and when you are faced with a difference in elevation - your muscles go into shock. Then you hit mile 20 and you are faced with the Heartbreak Hill. This is a gradual incline stretching for a little less than a mile. The good part - when you get over it downhill is basically all there is left. Don't let it fool you though - those last five miles are hardly easy. They say your body is equipped to run 20 miles and the last six rely on your nutrition and training to pull you through. This is where you have to start racing and you have to get in a mindset that, well, pain is only temporary. 

Obviously I have a lot to say about the race so I’m going to stop there and finish in part two of my post. Part two will include the finish, my results, post-race and more of my motivation, emotions and mentality. Stay tuned for the rest! Thanks for reading!

Boston Playlist

I'm not going to say much because this list is lengthy! Like a marathon, my playlist is a collection of different moods and intensities. With that said - enjoy!

Beer on the Table - Josh Thompson
Why Don't We Just Dance - Josh Turner
Ridin' Solo - Jason Derulo
Bedrock - Young Money
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and The News
Take It Off - The Donnas
Rock Star - R. Kelly
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Life After You - Daughtry
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
Telephone - Lady GaGa
Some Days You Gotta Dance - Keith Urban
Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West
Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
Hillbilly Bone - Blake Shelton
Got Money - Lil Wayne
My Life Your Entertainment - T.I.
Keep On Lovin' You - Steel Magnolia
Rude Boy - Rihanna
All the Right Moves - OneRepublic
Something to Talk About - Bonnie Raitt
Fix You - Coldplay
Gimmie That Girl - Joe Nichols
Hell on the Heart - Eric Church
Ain't Back Yet - Kenny Chesney
When I Look At You - Miley Cyrus
All I Do is Win - DJ Khaled
Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Fighter - Christina Aguilera
Blind - Jason Derulo
That's How Country Boys Roll - Billy Currington
In The Ayer - Flo Rida
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Tricky - Run DMC
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
Find My Way - The Gabe Dixon Band
Get A Haircut - George Thorogood and The Destroyers
Whatcha Say - Jason Derulo
In My Head - Jason Derulo
Young Forever - JayZ
Impossible - Kelly Clarkson
Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf
Last Resort - Papa Roach
Walking in Memphis - Lonestar
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
The World's Greatest - R. Kelly
Outside My Window - Sarah Buxton
Cowboy In Me - Tim McGraw
Work Hard, Play Harder
Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Buble
Hold On - Michael Buble
Skynrd Nation - Lynrd Skynrd
Simple Things - Lynrd Skynrd
That Ain't My America - Lynrd Skynrd
Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
Kris Allen - Live Like We're Dying
Tik Tok - KeSha
Bad Romance - Lady GaGa

Surprisingly I don't even know if I got them all but you got the gist. :-) 19 days to go!!

Coasting to the Start

And let the taper begin! Three weeks to go until Boston and I've thrown my gear into neutral and am hoping for a seamless ride to April 19. Before I could do that I had to brave the longest run in my training program, 22 miles. Fortunately, the run could not have gone any better but to best honest, I was terrified of the mileage beforehand so I had to pay special attention to my mentality before I hit the road.

One thing I mastered during my OBX training was my outlook before each run. Thinking 'I'm just going for another run' made a world of difference. I would erase the intimidating numbers, like mileage, time and pace, out of my mind and only focus on going for a simple run. This allowed me to find a comfortable stride and have some peace of mind as I set out on some of those longer runs. I applied this technique to my last training run of Boston, and luckily, I was successful. Mentality is EVERYTHING!

Starting at a relaxed pace, I let my body naturally pick up a speed that was fitting for that day. Something else that always sets me at ease is good music and I downloaded a few handfuls of new music the night before so I was set. I also knew that I had my sister, Kate, waiting for me at mile 12 to finish out the last 10 miles of the run. Who doesn't love running buddies?! Needless to say, odds were in my favor that day. I felt and finished strong and that's all I could ask for to begin my taper optimistically.

Before the run I was nervous about the blisters I've been getting on my feet during my runs. I went into the Raleigh Running Outfitters (one of my favorite places) and asked for advice. They told me to use Body Glide on the problem areas. Shocked, but I gave it a shot. To my surprise it worked like a charm! Thank you Raleigh Running Outfitter guys! :-) Oh and thanks for all the GUs, the Mizuno shoes, the 50 percent off running pants, the sports bra, and for letting me kill time during my lunch hour.

Stay tuned for my Boston Marathon mix - coming in the next day or two! Thanks for the continued support!

Sweet Sixteen

Oh, Monday. Hello again.

I logged some great training last week. The short of it … on Monday I paid a favor to my knees and did an hour on the elliptical, on Tuesday I ran a good seven miles on the treadmill with altering speeds and incline percentages, on Wednesday I was able to get back outside and get in five miles and yesterday I squeezed in a little over five and a half miles outside before dark fell. I’m running consistently at an average pace of 8:25 to 8:30 per mile, which is fine. When Boston comes around I would bet that the adrenaline will pick up the difference and get me down to an 8:10 pace. This is what I’m hoping at least. Not like I can avoid it much in Raleigh but as I’ve been saying, hills have been incorporated into every run for the most part; and not just some rolling hills, I am facing hills I would describe as monstrous! Others may think differently. To my surprise I keep a good pace up the hills too – I just hope I can maintain that for 26.2 miles.

That brings me to my 16-mile long run on Saturday that I was dreading in the worst way. Thankfully it was an awesome run. I had one of those running experiences where I couldn’t help but smile and enjoy myself. My guess is a lot of it had to do with the weather – sunny and mid- to high-50s. Perfect running weather. Spring fever was going around and I was undoubtedly a victim. This was the hilliest run I’ve faced yet and I handled the hills just fine. I focused on what I could do when being challenged with a hill to make it easier. Long, deep and relaxed breathing really helped. I’m so happy that I had a good run because my motivation was getting slim and I was scared I was headed for a bad marathon experience. Anyway, I averaged 8:11 – running below 8:00 for a majority of the run. Am I happy with that? Uh, ECSTATIC!

On a different note - I’ve been thinking about the idea of the training program lately. For a lot of beginner runners – it’s like the Bible. If you don’t hit the mileage recommended for that day, for example the six-miler in week seven of training, then there’s no way you’ll finish your race. Hmm … not true. It’s kind of like relationships if you want to think about it like that, because when you’re training for a race you tend to feel like you’re involved enough for it to be considered a relationship. There’s isn’t a need to marry the program. Sure, it’s stable and always there for you, but it’s better to date and keep it in close reach in case you ever do want to cling to it. But seriously, who wants to be committed when you have so much going on in your life, like work or school, a social life and not all that much time. When I was running with the man I talked about in my previous post he told me about his “perfect 50” week. First he asked me how many miles I do a week and maybe I’m just that new of a runner but that isn’t how I calculate my training mileage. I’m a day-to-day kind of runner – not weekly. Anyway, his “perfect 50” was something to this nature – eight on Monday, seven on Tuesday, six on Wednesday, nine on Thursday and then his long run on the weekend. No thanks. I rarely hit seven during the week, and if I do, that’s probably the max.

When it comes down to it, it’s whatever works for you. That guy likes his “perfect 50” and that is good for him. I typically don’t exceed 40 during the week (not including my elliptical or video workout) if I were to count like that. The program is just a skeleton for ideas on how to build up your endurance and ability – but it’s not a schedule set in stone to follow. I know some who only run four or five miles during the week and their long run on the weekend. The most important run is your long run and so I DO recommend hitting those numbers, but other than that listening to your body is crucial. What works for one may not be your best compass.

I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather. I know I am!! Oh, and six more days until DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!

Boston On My Mind

Some weeks just don’t play out in your favor, but some weeks really do … and they are great. Running wise, of course. I had three solid weekday workouts this week. They weren’t easy by any means; they were challenging and trying. But I did them, finished strong (enough) and am ready for a successful long run tomorrow. Lately , I’ve found myself typing “Boston Marathon Training Tips” in the Google search bar partly because I’m eager and obsessed and partly because I want to make sure I’m getting the most of out of my training program. The last thing I want to do is qualify for Boston and go through the motions of training – I want to kick butt too! I’m discovering a lot about the marathon and what to expect, which has in turn changed my perception of how I should train.

Everyone has heard of Heartbreak Hills. If not, it’s the series of hills during the Boston Marathon that start at mile 17 and continue until mile 21 or so. Apparently, they aren’t steep and wouldn’t rattle any typical run. The catch? Yes, there’s always a catch. The first 17 miles are downhill, with small rolling hills here and there. Wouldn’t your muscles go into shock after changing what you were doing for 17 miles? That’s what I hear happens. The change from downhill to a steady incline is what gives the hills the infamous name. On the flip side, I’ve even heard quite the opposite. After mile 21 the course is dominantly downhill, which set some people’s muscles off with the drastic change from up to down.

So how have I changed training? HILLS! I’ve said it before, that I want to incorporate hills, but I haven’t quite challenged myself like I should. This brings me back to my workouts this week, which starts with my long run last weekend. I finished a tough 14 miles last Friday. I faced a lot of hills, the height and duration I think Boston will prove to be. After that run I realized that I am not prepared for a hilly course. Even though I felt heavy and slow for a majority of the run I still averaged an 8:30 pace, which is perfectly acceptable in my book. I have been very sore all week and mostly as a result of that run but what better than to keep pushing and fighting when you’re preparing for one of the biggest sporting events. Whoa. Tuesday I ran about six and a half miles and made certain to squeeze as many hills as I could. It was a difficult run but I felt good and light. I didn’t have my GPS watch but I would bet my pace was much faster than my long run pace the weekend before. Wednesday and Thursday weren’t as hilly of runs because I had to make friends with the treadmill but I hit my numbers, four and six, and ran hard. It’s much more satisfying when you completed a workout knowing that you put everything you had into it and probably even became a better runner because of it. I can tell I’m becoming a “runner” – I’ve stopped running just to run and finish a workout and have started thinking strategically in how I can best prepare my body and mentality for this particular race.

Tomorrow I scale back to 11 miles. My knees are looking forward to a bit of a break. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Happy running! :-)

Boston Bound

Sorry it's been so long since I posted last ... but I'm back now and training for the 2010 Boston Marathon is underway! I'll be using the same training schedule that I used for the OBX Marathon. Why change something that worked so well? Monday kicked off the 16 week long journey. What I didn't realize is how much harder it's going to be to stay motivated when it's so cold and dark all the time. Training for OBX will seem like a cake walk compared to what I'm setting out to do for Boston. I guess this is where I'm supposed to get tough and not let the weather break me down and not let the early mornings scare me away. Conquering the obstacles during this training will be a very rewarding experience, and there's no doubt that I can do it.

I went home to Maryland for Christmas, which is where I started my first day of Boston bound training. It was supposed to be a 30-minute run but the bitter cold turned it into a quick and stiff 20-minute run. Sadly, I took the next two days off just because of my busy schedule and my holiday exhaustion. Good start, eh? Thursday I found a drop of motivation again and I ran with it - literally. Something tells me there will be a lot of treadmill work outs this time around because that's where I found myself running four miles that night. Since treadmill running is typically easier because of the rotating belt, I varied the incline percentage throughout the run to simulate running up and down hills, and I also cranked up the speed. My average pace was 8.05 (or something like that), of course with variation there too. I figure if I'm going to resort to those kinds of work outs, I'll need to make it challenging and realistic. That brings me to Friday, where I took advantage of my rest day to, well, rest! Today marks my first long run and I'll head down to the treadmill again to run four to five miles. With wind chills making it feel like 18 degrees - I say NO THANKS to braving the cold.

I haven't been doing that much since I ran the OBX Marathon. A lot of elliptical work outs, an occasional treadmill run and some weight lifting and ab work. To keep my body guessing, which is always good when you're trying to slim down, I like to incorporate intervals and weights into my elliptical work outs. Since I train for long distances my intervals need to be longer too - like two to five minutes on and off - depending on how I feel that day. When I use weights while I'm on the elliptical, I weave in curls, presses and arm raises, or just hold very light weights. I like to think of it as multi-tasking! Strength work is usually kept simple. Squats, lunges, leg raises and calf raises round out my leg work, and curls, presses, tricep pulls and some other made up lifts make up my arm work. Also, I like to incorporate weights into my ab work outs so that I know I'm not just going through the motions. Weight training will be especially important in training this time around since I'll be facing a lot more hills than I did in OBX.

Happy New Year! Here's to many SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTIONS! :-)

Soaring Through Sixteen!

Sixteen miles was on my things to do this morning and I knocked it out of the park! Like any of my other runs so far - I went into it without thinking too much of what I needed to do. Just another run ... no big deal. With this strategy, I am able to dodge any of the negative anticipation. Any athlete knows that when you are mentally defeated, you can forget about your physical game. Anyway, Chris and I are in Louisville visiting his family. His aunt is also a runner so she took me around Seneca Park last night to show me a good running route. Weaving in and out of the Seneca Park golf course, running around the leaf-changing trees and along side the rushing streams made for a beautiful run. Not to mention the park was overflowing with runners and bikers, which is always an added bonus for me when I set out on a long run. It's great motivation to be with people who have similar goals as you. Weather here was perfect for running, mid to upper 60s and overcast. I had Chris' iPod on my arm but I ended up not even wanting music today. I was occupied enough taking in the scenery, enjoying the weather and people watching. :-) Those kinds of runs are the most relaxing and mentally fulfilling to me.

Of course I experienced the aches and pains with any long run but all in all, I felt awesome. I did encounter some hills during the route but they were enough to make for a good challenge yet not unbearable. My sister sent me the elevation map for the Baltimore half and miles three through 10 looks to be a steady uphill, with very steep parts, so running hills is vital during training. Can't hide from the inevitable. I averaged nine minute miles, which is a pretty good day for a long run especially having never ran that far before. At times I looked down at my Garmin and I was running under eight minute miles but there were those times, too, when I was well over nine minutes. I'd have to average 8.20 minute miles to qualify for the Boston Marathon. That's not something I am training to do but if it happens - I'll be ecstatic. If not, then I will know how to improve to get there. I don't think it's out of reach since I always pick up my pace significantly during races versus when I'm training. Regardless, it's a definite goal of mine to reach at some point throughout my running career.

After my long run today, I went straight to Smoothie King for my post-workout meal. I ordered a Slim-N-Trim Chocolate Smoothie (skinny). It had 15g of protein about 25g or so of carbs. Sounded like a pretty decent snack for recovery.

Anyway ... Thursday I fit in six miles after work, running the first few with my oldest sister. Then, Chris and I left at 4:30 the next morning to drive to Louisville. I think I hit my max daily caloric intake before noon, so needless to say I was not very good to my body yesterday. When we finally made it to his parent's house I worked on some core and did some squats. I even had a few beers last night so don't let anyone tell you that they can't drink because they have to run! :-) I'm sure everyone works differently but I sometimes run better if I had a few beers the night before. To each his own I guess.

Tomorrow I plan on running a light two to three miler. We'll see how my legs are holding up though. For now, I'm going to rest a bit but I wanted to leave you with an interesting fact. I'm reading Women Who Run by Shanti Sosienski. It was lent to me recently. I'll be sharing some of the excerpts because it's a great read, but I found this particular piece of history surprising.

DID YOU KNOW? It has only been roughly 35 years since women could legally run in marathons in the United States. Race officials would yank females off the course if they were to run alongside the men during a race. We've come a long way, wouldn't you say? "In 2005, of the 383,000 people who finished marathons around the country, 40 percent were women." (Women Who Run, pg. 1) GO WOMEN! :-)

Happy training!!

Directionally Challenged but a Good Run

One more long run down. Two more before my half-marathon and six more before the big one. Like I said in my previous post - 11 was my goal today. I finished with 11.3 (the .3 was due to the fact I just wasn't back at my apartment yet). I could have stopped to walk but at that point I wanted to get home - it's football Sunday and the games had started! All in all, it was a good run. Rolling hills carried throughout the route but those didn't bother me too much. I can tell I'm getting more and more used to them with each run.

I mapped a run on Mapmyrun and wrote it down on a little piece of paper. I used to do this before I bought my GPS watch but I did it again today because I wanted to run a completely foreign run to change it up. I can follow the skeleton directions and adlib as I see fit. Just call me dyslexic, or maybe even idiotic, because I mixed up most all of the left and right turns in my directions. When did I notice? When it kept saying to turn left or right and it wasn't even an option. I looked like a lost puppy for a majority of the run. "What is going on?" One thing is for sure, it kept me quite occupied for a chunk of the middle part of the run. I figured it out when it was all said and done but that's why I finished 11 miles before I got to my place - I did a lot of turning around and running extra legs during the run. Check out the beat up piece of paper and the amount of turns that I was able to screw up.

I slept in today since I knew it was going to be overcast all day. Waking up pretty hungry, I had a banana and half of an english muffin with peanut butter. I didn't eat the GU this time but I did wear the water belt. GU works for me when it's 12 or over. Close but no cigar today. After my run I grabbed a Fiber One bar. There are plenty of carbs and fiber (obviously) to refuel after the run, but it lacked in the protein area. Oh well - at least I got something in my system. My sister made a spread of awesome apps today for the football games so I got in some good grubbing - but I was able to - I burned over 1300 calories! :-) I averaged around 8:30 minute miles, give or take a bit. To qualify for Boston, I'd need to average 8:20. I think it's possible, but that's not the ultimate goal for my first full. Goal #1: FINISH!

I'll be posting my next week's running schedule on the side bar. I'll have 16 miles next weekend but Chris (my boyfriend) and I are traveling to Louisville so I will have to find a route there.

Have a great week!! :-)