April 2017 Running Challenge

lporter229 wrote: »

@MobyCarp- That is so cool that your club has a Boston send off party! So I guess you are heading out tomorrow? My husband and I are flying out Friday morning. We have a direct flight, so we should get in with plenty of time to hit the expo on Friday. He is running the 5K on Saturday, which should be fun.

Do you have any last minute bits of advice you would like to share? Things to do and not to do? Things to bring? Things not to bring? Things to worry about? Things not to worry about (yeah, right!)? Anything you care to share from your experience would be much appreciated! I can't believe it's almost finally here. Qualifying in an October race was both a blessing and a curse!

I'm flying out Friday, a direct flight. Tomorrow will be mostly preparing for Friday, with an evening commitment to play handbells at my church's Maundy Thursday service.

You're all set with my biggest piece of advice, which is build enough time in Boston into your schedule. Arriving Sunday was probably my biggest mistake last year. Things to do . . . I hope to figure that out this time, with some extra time to spend. I might or might not see the Red Sox on Saturday; depends on how the schedule works out. I can tell you that on Marathon Weekend, the Red Sox will be at home, but are kind of a side attraction compared to the marathon.

Given decent running weather, I want to be out on the last 2 miles of the course doing an easy run Easter morning. Last year, I got in Sunday morning and it was cool to see all the multi-colored Boston Celebration jackets running on Commonwealth Avenue. This year, if the weather is similar, I'll be wearing a teal Boston Celebration jacket.

Things to bring: Sunscreen. If it's sunny on Monday, you'll need it. Things not to bring: Backpacks, including hydration packs. Not allowed, and security is a bit paranoid about them. If you've trained with a Camelback, too bad. You won't have it on race day.

Things to worry about: Making it to the bus to the start line. Get that done, and you can just go with the flow. Not going out too fast. The early downhills will feel easy, but can really kill your legs for the downhills after Heartbreak Hill. Managing the race. Or maybe you're better at marathon race management than I have been; race management is *my* big worry. Perhaps you should put some thought into where you'll meet your husband after the race. Crossing the route can be a problem for spectators, so he needs to be on the correct side of the street for whatever your post-race plans are.

Things not to worry about: Unfriendly locals. There is no such thing on Patriots' Day weekend in Boston. Your finishing time. You'll be a rock star to the locals when you walk down the street with a medal, regardless of time. Long lines. There will be long lines, but they will move reasonably well. I've never seen a big event so well organized to get people through the process. Getting stuck behind slow runners. It will be crowded at the start, but you're seeded near people with similar qualifying times to yours. Unless you're a lot faster now than you were when you qualified, the crowd won't be all that far off your pace.

4/1 - 4 miles on the dreadmill + cross-training - zumba
4/2 - 12.7 mile long run (night on a crappy couch-worth of sleep, and stomachache from a new gel)
4/3 - rest
4/4 - 9 mile glorious run in the misty rain / 1 mile treadmill + cross-training - strength training
4/5 - 5 mile slow recovery run + cross-training - strength training
4/6 - 8 mile rainy/windy run + cross-training - zumba
4/7 - 9 mile glorious run at Piermont Pier/Tallman Mtn. State Park
4/8 - cross-training - zumba awesomeness!
4/9 - JFK Runway 5k Race + 10 miles to get to my planned 13 for the day
4/10 - rest
4/11 - 8 miles in the ‘it’s way too hot for early/mid-April’ heat (84° when I finished) + strength training
4/12 - 7 miles in the comfortable rain + strength training

April Total: 76.8/170

423.8 miles/2,017 miles - goal for the year

Today was 7 miles in the rain. And it was good rain! Warm enough that all I needed was a cap to keep the rain out of my eyes, but perfectly comfortable in just a tank top (was right around 62°F I think). Overall, just a good-feeling, average run. I've come so far in terms of mileage building, but every once in a while I just stop and think, wow, I'm in the middle of a 7 mile run, and it's no big deal at all, just an average, not-super-long run. When did I become that person?! Lol.


@7lenny7 that was an awesome race report!

Hello y'all
Will I did the same 6.35mi run as I did last week but happy to report I ran the whole distance this time. Slowed it down a bit and found myself not dreading the incline portion of the run due to some helpful tips I found from you peeps on here. Just took it one mile at a time and when she got tough on the hills I just picked marker points to run to. Average speed of 5.4mph, just had to stop at 2 crosswalks.

@7lenny7 - Too cool man! Thanks for the good read and pics! I also love the PB&J's!!

April running:
4/3: 4 mi
4/4: 4 mi
4/5: 4 mi
4/6: 4 mi
4/7: rest
4/8: 6 mi
4/9: 4mi
4/10: 4mi
4/11: 4 mi
4/12: 4 mi