taper time to marathon monday
Let’s just say I cave to peer pressure pretty easily.
Well, maybe not. Way back in college (as much as I would like to think it was just yesterday, I actually graduated four year ago…crazy!), I was never a big drinker. In fact, I didn’t drink at all until a month before my 21st birthday when Sara and I locked ourselves in our dorm room and drank Smirnoff Ice in the form of a drinking game while watching The OC. Yes, we were awesome. Like most college kids, I went to parties and, yes, even joined a sorority (believe it or not!), and while drinking was always present, I never felt much peer pressure to drink, and even if it was there, I did a good job of declining.
However, when someone makes an offer about which marathon I should run, I fall pretty quick. Especially when that person is Lauren, when that race is the Boston Marathon, and when Lauren is saying we’ll run the race side by side.
I had an internal debate about whether or not I wanted to run Boston this coming year. I ran it back in 2010 and purposely took 2011 off because I felt bad taking the spot of someone who potentially hasn’t ran it before, as I already had a qualifying spot for 2012. Instead, Marathon Monday 2011 found me on the streets of Boston, being way too excited to cheer on all my friends and basically anyone who ran by. It reminded me how awesome of a race Boston is, how great the spectators are, and how the city comes alive for the weekend. I thought about not running Boston…I’ve already done it, the new registration process means even more people are going to be locked out, and there are so many other marathons to run.
But then I realized…I ran Boston injured. When I toed the line back in 2010, I never thought I’d actually finish. Around mile 6.7, I was convinced my race was over, but somehow made it to 26.2. I ran Chicago in 2007 when the heat wave hit, and I got my redemption in 2010 with an awesome race. I want that redemption with Boston, and I know that running with Lauren will definitely help make that happen.
So on Monday, I pulled up the registration site on my computer and entered my information to register for the 2012 Boston Marathon. When I ran the Ocean Drive Marathon earlier this year, I wanted to run sub-3:20. At the time, I didn’t even think about the fact that this would put me in the group that would be first to apply to Boston. I just wanted it for myself. I ran it by the skin of my teeth (3:19:58 or 3:19:59, depending who you ask…I’m confused as well), so I was lucky enough to register on the first day.
It took a day for verification, but I received this beautiful email yesterday:
Boston 2012, here I come! I keep referring to it as a three-legged race that I will run with Lauren, as we better be side-by-side the entire way. She’s a smidgen faster than me in just about every event…and earlier this year I ran a half marathon and she ran a 10 mile race, and our times at the 10 mile split were within seconds of each other. As Lauren said to me in an email, I’m looking forward helping each other hold back in the early miles and push through the final miles. (And we’re trying to recruit Mason to be our official 3:10 pacer….wait, did we just say that??) It’s going to be amazing.
And I will start thanking Amy (hostess extraordinaire) now for putting up with my Boston craziness for the third year in a row.
Cheering with Amy in Ashland!
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Oddly enough (or not so oddly?), I ended up registering for Boston minutes after I finished my last long run in my training for the Twin Cities Marathon. Due to weekend commitments (and not having to be at work until 7:30pm…), I moved my long run to Monday morning. One of my biggest hopes for my last long run in any training cycle is that it’s solid and that I feel ready to hit 26.2. Let’s just say this one was a victory.
I ended up sleeping a little later than I wanted, rushed my breakfast, and headed out the door with a full stomach…this led to my first few miles feeling quite full, which is never a good way to run. I knew it would pass with time, as it did, so I just did my thing running around Central Park. One of the nurses I work with was walking home through the park and yelled hi to me…that was a fun surprise! Being drenched in sweat, I waved back and continued on before heading over to the west side highway for my favorite place to do a long run.
I did an out and back south on the west side highway and I was surprised at how quickly the run was going by. The sun was hotter than I thought it was going to be (it was only 66 when I left my apartment!), but I stopped at the water fountains and just felt good. One of my goals was to control the pace (maybe even run slower like you’re supposed to…newsflash: that didn’t happen), and while I didn’t run slow(er-ish), my pace was awesomely consistent and felt good. Not hard by any means, but solid.
Before I knew it, I was off the Hudson and running back to my apartment, and it couldn’t have felt easier…definitely felt like I had another 6.2 miles in me, which is fabulous for coming off of a forty mile week. Certainly an amazing feeling to have when wrapping up a training cycle!
Monday, September 12
20.45 miles in 2:39:15, avg pace of 7:47
A smoothie, ice bath, and compression socks later…I registered for the Boston Marathon. Because it’s totally normal to start your taper by registering for your next marathon, right?
Right?
That’s what I thought.
Twin Cities, I’m ready for you.
Boston, see you in April.
Congratulations on registering for Boston! It is a dream of mine (a pretty f a r – o f f dream) to someday qualify for Boston, too! It seems like a pretty ridiculously amazing race!
YAY! You must have been giddy with excitement when you got the boston email
I’ve been running to the mailbox every day looking for my chicago packet, but alas, nothing yet. Congrats with Boston!
YAY! Congratulations on running Boston. I’m thinking of making the trip up to show off my spectating skills. I can hold Gatsby if you want…
Congrats on Boston! I have pretty much given up hope that my time will allow me to run in 2012, but I am definitely planning on improving my time and running in 2013. This year I might also be making the trip up to spectate…
Holla Boston 2012! I’m excited for the upcoming months! I’m definitely going to need a buddy for those snowy, winter long runs…
Oh and you ROCKED that 20+ miler…can’t wait to see how this fall’s marathon shakes out for you (I predict awesome).
Ahh your blog is so inspiring! My boyfriend ran Boston in 2009, and it was so much fun to be a spectator there. While I’m nowhere near ready to run a marathon, your posts always get me excited for my regular runs during the week!
So very excited for you!!!! Part of me wants to run Boston someday… but the other part of me doesn’t like the torture. I’ll leave it for you hardcore runners!
You were in a SORORITY?! Color me shocked.
Anyway, YAY for Boston! I need to make it out to Boston to cheer at some point. I will never, ever qualify — even the old lady qualifying times look like a bit of a challenge to me. Since I refuse to be a charity runner in a race I’d otherwise not make it into, I won’t run it.
But I LOVE Boston. And I’m a damn good spectator, if I do say so myself. Hmmm.
Hi Susan! Just stumbled across your site and love it — congrats on Boston 2012! I’ll be there with sparkly posters on the sidelines
Paper chain countdown says: 18 days!
Jerbear says: holy crap you are speedy!
Congrats on Boston!
Yes!! I love this!! Boston as a three-legged race? Sounds perfect to me. Now if we could only get Mason to agree to be our pacer, we’d be golden!!
Regardless – I think we are going to be good race buddies…as long as one of us stays rational at all times and we don’t encourage each other to race even more crazy than usual.
Congrats on rocking your last 20 miler! Can’t wait to hear how you do in a few weeks!!
That is awesome Congrats!!!
Fast 20 miler! I’d say you’re ready for Twin Cities, NYC, Boston… you are a marathon machine. I always spectate Boston (until the day I qualify, sooner or later…), and I can’t wait to cheer for you!
Do you and Taper get on well? I know some people struggle with the taper…i don’t
You are going to crush Twin Cities as sweetly as you stomped that 20
Awesome about Boston…getting excited to watch you do that one on YOUR terms!
HOLY CRAP! That is so fast!!! How do you do it?!? That is ah-mazing. You inspire me to not slog through my long runs. I can’t wait to see how you will rock Twin Cities like a BALLER!!!
Congratulations on registering (and qualifying) for Boston. It’s a major accomplishment for me to simply finish a marathon so when I hear about someone like you who can run so fast, I’m in awe.
Good Luck on Twin cities!
You are my hero! That is a seriously amazing 20 miler! Woo hoo! I can’t wait to see how you do in a few weeks. I am SO happy you registered for Boston, may you stay healthy and have the race you should have had a few years ago!
So exciting that you’re going to be running Boston next year! I hope to make it there again someday…but not too sure when or if it will be possible now that the time standards are changing. Who knows. Stranger things have happened. Congrats on the awesome last long run!
I am truly jealous of anyone who has run Boston. I would like to think that I still have time to qualify, but at the end of the day – I just don’t think I’m fast enough. I keep working though. Congratulations!
Wahoo! So happy that so many bloggers are doing Boston next year!! You were an awesome cheerleader this year, but clearly next year you need to be on the streets with everyone
Congratulations on making it in to Boston! I am also in for the very first time. Maybe I’ll see you in April. I will be about 20 minutes behind you and Lauren, though, as I am an old lady!
How awesome!! A BQ is such a huge accomplishment and you should be proud! Good luck with your upcoming marathon
I am so excited for you to run Boston again!!! I tracked you and remember all of the frustrations leading up to that race. Can’t wait for you to get a good “race” redemption there