About that whole BOSTON thing…
So…the BOSTON MARATHON is on Monday. Yep, the big race that I’ve been thinking about ever since I decided I wanted to try a marathon. I signed up for my first marathon in 2006, and even before I started training I had my eyes set on running Boston one day. Four years later (yikes!), here we are. I’m super excited and ridiculously nervous. Why, you might ask? Let’s recap my training a little:
Longest run: 17 miles on February 20.
Last run of longer than four miles: 10 miles on March 23.
Mileage for the last three weeks: 10 miles. (Plus lots of swimming and biking.)
26.2 miles is a LONG way to go. My IT band has been driving me nuts, hence the lack of running and lots of swimming and biking. Yesterday, I received an IT band compression wrap in the mail as a last ditch effort to save my Boston attempt. It looks something like this:
Compliments of Running Warehouse!
Some people have said that they’ve worn these before and they’ve helped, but not to become dependent on it. I wore it today for a short, slow run and my IT band felt okay…not amazing, but I didn’t feel like I needed to stop or anything. Check it out:
Thursday, April 15
3.02 miles in 25:06, avg pace of 8:19
No speed demon there, but at least I was able to get through the run. I just hope my cross training the past few weeks will carry me through the race cardiovascular-wise…if my IT band holds up, that is. When I was out searching the local running store for the band shown above (they were out…must be a common problem these days!), the guy at the store told me to switch the insoles of my shoes from a previous pair that I didn’t have any problems with, as maybe the slight change in height could be causing me problems. He also recommended that maybe I switch to a shoe with less support (I currently run in Brooks Adrenaline, which is a shoe with moderate-maximum support as far as support shoes go). I LOVE my Adrenalines, but maybe giving a different pair a try wouldn’t hurt…especially if it would make my pain go away!
We shall see.
so what’s the plan??
My plan for the race is to…see what happens!! Working with that whole positivity thing, I’m going to give it the old college try (what does that saying even mean??) and just see what happens. My plan is run maybe 8:30-ish miles since that seemed comfortable today and didn’t hurt my leg (although I recognize that 26.2 miles is much greater than the three miles I ran today…). Emily is in my corral and has a similar plan, so maybe I’ll have someone to run with for a little bit! At the end of the day, I want to enjoy Boston and FINISH (pretty please?). It’s a race to experience and although I had plans to ROCK it, there will be another marathon in my future (two are currently planned), so I need to heal up after and get back out there.
After all, I’M GOING TO BOSTON. 
other fun things
This weekend will be glorious no matter what the outcome is because:
-
I’m staying with my friend, Amy, from college and she’s awesome.
-
Amy got tickets to the Red Sox game on Saturday…I’ve never been to Fenway before, so yay!
-
My dad is flying in on Sunday.
-
And he’s driving me back to Philly on Monday in case I’m
paralyzedsleepy. -
My college roommate, Sara, and her boyfriend are coming to Boston for the weekend too!
blogger meet up??
If any of you bloggers want to make plans to meet up…I’m currently trying to figure out what my weekend will entail! I think I’m going to the expo on Sunday, although I might go on Saturday. (I’m so helpful, I know.) I guess we have plenty of time to hang out before the race at the Village on Monday, so that could be arranged too, although I’ve never ran Boston before so I don’t know where the best place to meet up would be. If anyone has any grand ideas, please let me know!
a question for you experienced boston marathoners
I’ve never done gear check at any of the marathons I’ve ran, but I’m sure I’ll be taking stuff with me since we have to get on the buses so early. Do we check stuff on the way to the corral so I can throw all my warm clothes in there, or should I count on wearing throw away clothes? I have no idea!
And of course….any tips in general?? I don’t even feel like I’m going to be running a marathon on Monday…this is nuts.
have a blast girl!!! like you said its BOSTON so make sure to soak it up and enjoy every second since you have been dreaming about being there for so long! i hope the ITB cooperates, but i am sure the crowd and adrenaline will pull you through to the finish. cant wait to read all about it!
I think it pays to be away from the big media tents in the village, and closer to grove street where the buses are. Basically, if you walk past the school to the area where there ARE no tents…its much, much less crowded. (Last year I hung out there by myself for the longest time…) You are uphill from the big tents and the track, and it spills out into the lawn.
I’m planning on heading to this area. I’m also planning on stopping by the Adidas tent again…last year they had tattoos and yoga mats.
Also, I should mention there is a Trader Joes pretty much across the street from Hynes.
GOOD LUCK!!!I can’t wait to hear about your experience – running or otherwise! Just be careful and listen to the Bod!
Even if you end up walking/not finishing/etc – I have no doubt you’ll qualify and run it again!
no matter what the outcome is, I am SO happy and proud of you chica!! you are an awesome runner, and awesome lady, and i am LOVING all the positivity I can feel radiating off of your posts.
Good luck with Boston!! I’m glad the band helped a little, and I’m hoping the IT holds up for you!! Sending positive vibes your way!!
good luck on Monday! I’ll be thinking about you and hoping that the IT band doesn’t give you too much trouble!
Good luck! Can’t wait for the report.
I think you are doing all of the right things! Try to enjoy boston as much as possible. It does not have to be your BEST performance. Enjoy it and push to finish happy!!! I have so much faith that you will!
I am wishing you the very best of luck in Boston! I hope you can get out there and enjoy and finish the course. Fingers crossed for you girly that your IT Band stops being a pain!
BEST OF LUCK AT BOSTON!!!!!! Have a blast with your Dad and don’t worry too much about your IT band. You’ll have plenty and plenty of more Bostons to come.
Don’t forget to hit up FLOUR BAKERY!!! Get the granola bar!!!!
Good luck and have fun in Boston! No matter what happens, you’re a Boston Marathoner! Enjoy yourself out there. Woohoo!
best of luck! i hope your it band behaves and you get to run the whole thing. regardless, enjoy it and boston!
Have a great race–one that you enjoy! Best of luck!!
Good luck and have fun, too!
good luck to you!!! positive thoughts, listen to your body, you are AWESOME!!! wow, what the experience, you go girl
You’re running right now and I hope it’s going well!