Boston Marathon Weekend

  Anyone who has run the Boston Marathon knows how inspiring the city is. I traveled there with Kristen. Kevin picked us up from the airport. They were staying at the other side of town as me. I was staying about a mile from the finish line. The hostel on friend street was cheap, about $49/night and loaded with runners. There were 6 of us in the room. One guy from Hungary, 2 from Mexico, 1 from Chicago and the other from Colorado; all were running the marathon.

  First stop was the marathon expo.. Igot to see Ryan Hall and almost meet him but his wife, Sara, was running in the 1 mile and he had to scram if he wanted to see her. The last 5 of us in line got a wave and a signed poster. The line for Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman was about 2 hrs long, so I just got a picture of them.
       
 

                               Ryan Hall                                                       Lauren Fleshman & Kara Goucher

  After the expo, we went to the samuel adams brewery where we got a tour, free samples, and then a boston beer glass.  Most runners I know love free beer :)  I went to the expo each day and spent less and less time each time I went.  On Saturday evening, I met Amanda from DC, who I was suppose to pace.  She was really nice and ready for her first Boston.

                                                                           At the Samuel Adam's booth at the expo

  
  Easter Sunday was lots of fun as Scott drove me and Jacob to Hopkinton taking the course backwards.  We stopped at the Heartbreak Hill Running Store on the way.  Just seeing all the road blocks and baricades along the course was motivating.  When we got to John's, they began making dinner for us and what a dinner it turned out to be!  Pasta, salad, salmon, fresh bread, runners couldn't ask for much more. 

   It was so nice to sleep in, waking up around 7am and heading to athletes villiage with Kevin, Scott and Jacob. We got to see the whole villiage, kevin loved it. We left with bananas, coffee and powerbars. We got back to the house in time to get ready and watch the elite females start.

                                                  Got a shot of our bibs before the others woke up

  I walked with Kevin, Scott, Jacob and Jaclyn to the start and wished them luck, they started at 10:00 with wave 1. Then, I ran to athletes villiage for Amanda and her friends to bring them back to the house for some last minute potty breaks. Then, we headed out as we were in wave 3, starting at 11:25.

   Quick recap: crowd support was exceptionally well this year. Couldn't even hear the screaming girls from welsley college as the crowd along the streets overpowered them. Amanda was having fun all along the course until she began complaining about her calves tightening up. This was before heart break hill. We weree on pace for 3:35 up until mile 21, when we began slowing the pace. She stopped and walked a few times and I stayed right with her motivating her to keep going. It was onlyh her second marathon and she kept talking about walking off the course cause she hurt so bad and was so miserable and didn't wanna be miserable for another hour or 2.

                                                         Boston bling with shirt, medal, poster and glass from brewery

  
  We finally made it to the end finishing in 3:47.. not what she wanted, not a boston qualifier but still finished and got her medal. She told me a couple times that if I wasn't there that she would've walked off. I walked her back to her hotel and we saw her 2 friends across the street and walked together. When we walked inside, there were employees forming an isle and began clapping as we walked past and offered us towels and had fruit baskets behind them. It was super nice. Then I had to leave and meet up with mary beth and her cousin to get my stuff. The t was free for marathoners that day so I met them elsewhere then headed back to the hostel.  The one guy from chicago ran a 2:50 and one of the mexicans around 3:12. The others also broke 4:00. That night, I met todd who ran a 2:58 and his mom at a local restaurant off boylston. Another great experience at boston.. just love that city!

                                                  I did a little touring the next morning

Last week of Boston Training

Well,

   This whole Boston Training didn't go as planned.  I was hoping to really train well and race a good Boston this time around but unfortunately, a couple injuries caused me to adjust my training and neglect some serious runs.

  On Monday, my achillies began hurting and it didn't go away for good :(  I only reduced my mileage considerably and even took a couple days off.  It hurt during my run and afterwards when I walked around.  This was a terrible feeling.  Boston is less than a week away and it's painful to walk... I need to get this healed up and quick.  Not just for Boston, but the next 5 weeks after Boston I am pacing 5 marathons, and they won't all be slow marathons either!  I decided to drop my goal from breaking 3:00 to 3:05.  After a few days off with the shin splints and the minor foot injury, I wasn't in shape for sub 2:50 any longer and now with a hurting achillies, backing off more seemed like a swell idea.

  So, Tuesday i took completely off and the pain went away.  No pain at all when I walked :)  The day before it hurt even more to walk down steps, up steps the my achillies in my left leg felt normal, going down steps - OUCH!  So, i decided to run on wednesday.. it hurt on and off on the morning run, then i was pain free in the evening run at second sole :)  I was so happy with it!!!  I thought maybe sub 3:00 was still possible but see how the rest of the week pans out.

  Also, on Wednesday - the vindicator interviewed a bunch of us that were going to Boston this year.  They took a group picture of us afterwards.  Asked us several questions, about Boston, about the impact it had on us and our thoughts.

                                   From Left to Right:  Jaclyn Disibio, Me, Amy Pagac, Tammy
                                    McFarland, Jane Timmons, Vinny Marino & Kevin Guthrie

   Wednesday ended well, then Thursday morning I decided to run with Jen... but after a couple miles, my achillies began hurting again.  I was worried about it because it didn't come and go, it came and stayed. It hurt less when i ran with my toes pointed up, landing more on the heel than forefoot.  That doesn't make much sense as my achillies is stretched in that position, but maybe since I am not using it like a rubber band as much and just keeping it stretched.  Either way, I tried to run more comfortably sometimes; it didn't hurt to run a different way but i didn't want to run for a long period in a form im not used to and create a whole new injury that doesn't yet exist... That's the last thing i need.

   I reevaluted my condition and the Boston Marathon and backed my goal time down to 3:10 or maybe 3:15.  I still wanna run hard but be able to pace marathons the next 5 weeks.  A couple hours later the phone rang and it was a call asking if I could pace someone at Boston who wanted to run a 3:35.  I told him there was a good chance and I would call back the next day.  The more I thought about it, the better it sounded.  Maybe slowing way down and just pacing someone would be better.  Last thing I need to do is try racing a slow time and hurting myself more.  I could slow down, help someone else finish well and have a good time in Boston, and help my achillies heal up.

   I didn't run again on Thursday and it hurt even more to walk down steps and walk around.. Friday came and it still hurt to walk sometimes... Mostly down steps and now I was scared.  Time to start praying and figure this whole thing out.  I gave my achillies minor massage on the airplane, googled achillies probablems again and mainly just rested and prayed for it.

  Saturday morning I went to go watch the BAA 5k.  It was soooo fun!  I met Kristen and Kevin along the course so we could watch them pass a couple times.  Around the half mile mark and then again around mile 2.9.  It was incredible how fast they were going the second time we saw them.  The leaders were just gliding down the hill, so smooth and quick.  I took a couple shots of them and hoped for the best.

                                          The leaders of the BAA 5k.  The winner ran a 13:31
                                           setting a new course record by 6-7 seconds!

  I got inspired to run, so when i walked back to the hostel, I changed and headed out for a short run.  I was only going to do 2-3 miles but on my way back, right before I crossed the street, i ran a block with a girl and then ran a couple additional miles with her... We chatted and I found out she was an ultra-marathoner running Boston backwards to Hopkington then running the race with her husband for his first boston.  She was incredibly nice and gave me a big hug when I said I needed to turn around.  I ended up with 5 miles.. oh well :)  I enjoyed myself and the achillies only hurt a little.  Later, I ran to the expo to meet Kristen and Kevin.  Still hurt some :(

Boston Training week 7 of 7:

M - 9.55 mi @ 8:18/mi 

T - OFF

W - 8.32 mi @8:34/mi

     - 4.63 mi @ 7:16/mi

T - 10.2 mi @ 9:56/mi

F -  OFF

S - 5 mi @ 8:35/mi

      1.8 mi @ 8:36/mi

S - 3.25 mi @ 8:07/mi

Total =42.8 mi @ 8:32/mi running

Boston Training Week 6

   Another good week for me as I ran high mileage again and felt mostly good throughout the week.  Shin was pain free and so was the foot.  One trail run I ended up rolling my ankle a couple times and went back on the roads... we weren't even going that fast either.  I havent been eating as good either... end of the week i splurged on a couple 1.5 quarts of icecream... blah!  Need to stay away from that junk!  No salads at all this week either.. shame shame shame.  Still had smoothies though but not as many as normal.   Hope things go well my last week.  

   I think i'm gonna back my goal down to 3:05 or 3:10 as Im not in race shape right now and faster runs seem tough.  I don't want any injuries coming back either... Not fun surprises.  Need to work on eating better next week too.

Boston Training week 6 of 7:

M - 9.1 mi @ 8:10/mi 

        0.5 mi @ 7:14/mi
T - 8.04 mi @ 9:21/mi

       9.07 mi @ 9:24/mi

W - 18 mi @ 7:56/miT - 6.52 mi @ 7:08/mi

       5.5 mi @ 7:20/mi

F - 8.04 mi @ 9:21/mi

      6.6 mi @ 9:06/mi
S - 10.5 mi @ 8:00/mi

      8.25 mi @ 9:12/miS - 11.21 mi @ 8:07/mi

Total = 107.8 mi @ 8:18/mi running

Boston Training Week 5

   On Sunday I came down with shin splints so I decided to do some cross training the next couple of days and see how the shins feel each day.  I did a 30 mile bike ride Sunday afternoon and a 50 mile bike ride on Monday.  Shins didn't hurt a bit Monday night but I figured I would take a couple more days off just to be safe.  The weather was super nice, with lots of sun and in the 60s, so I biked to work and then added on after work and even bike with Kevin a good 20-25 miles one day after work.  I love bike riding and I miss it sometimes.  Just not as easy to do and I don't feel very safe biking in the winter up here. 

   Anyways, I biked Sunday through Thursday then took Friday completely off.  First run on Saturday was a 22 miler with Kevin, Jaclyn, McNinch and Kayla.  Kevin kept taking off on the down hills and then we hit the high side hard with a 6:52 and 6:37 mile in there.  We did lots of hills, some extra which made the legs sore for a first run after 5 days off, but glad I did it.  Last 2 miles were 6:48 and 6:27 going to ORE with Kevin then back to the parking lot alone.  I only averaged a 7:27 pace, but with some faster miles and extra hills in there it seemed like a fast marathon.  My legs were sore the rest of the day alone with Sunday, Monday and even Tuesday.  I ran again on Sunday a total of 18 miles but much slower with mostly trails.  Much easier than the day before but legs were sore the entire run. 

   Diet hasn't been extremely good this week :(  Been craving sweet cereal and icecream.  Bought less than I used to when I had cravings so at least I'm stepping in the right direction.  :)  Bananas have been high on the list and red grapes went on sale for 99cents/lb so I bought a few bags of them and also pineapples were 99 cents so I bought 5 of them too.  Pineapples won't be ripe for a week or so, cats always love to play with the tops haahaha.  I need to get an s/d card for my phone so I can take pics again.  My kitchen counter is full of fruit :P

Boston Training week 5of 7:

M - bike - 30 miles
T - bike - 50 miles
W - bike - 30 miles
T - bike - 13 miles
F -OFF
S - 22 mi @ 7:27/mi
S - 11.1 mi @ 10:09/mi
   - 7 mi @ 9:17/mi
Total = 40 mi @ 8:31/mi running, 123 miles biking