Well its a little over 6 weeks to Beantown. This will be my first trip there. I found a calculator (http://www.rrca.org/resources/articles/baasplit.html) for the splits I should probably be running given the uphills/downhills on the course. I guess it makes sense given the terrain, but the opening miles seems pretty quick given what I hear about how tough the hills become later in the course. If you have any insight into this or any other tips about the race, I would appreciate it.
Try to run comfortably hard through the first half.. it is very easy to run the first half fast and blow up the second. Boston is also notorious for crazy weather. Adjust your goal time accordingly.
Don't refer to Boston as "beantown".
get used to the clanking of cowbells, because that's all you'll be hearing for 26.2 miles...
I know what not to do!
In 1986 I went:
1:09:54 @ 1/2
2:37:20 @ finish.
I'll let you do the math!
I think I'm still recovering..........
Jimmy Bulger wrote:
Don't refer to Boston as "beantown".
Shove it up your ass
Early on there's downhills. Don't get sucked in by running them too hard trying to put time in the bank. Also train on some downhills before to get used to them. Those downhills will tear your quads up if you don't. Also try to get as far up to the front as you can. There's so many runners that if you get caught in the middle of a pack that's slower than your pace you'll have to weave around to stay on pace and that will waste energy. Be mindful of the weather too. It seems to get hot on that day for some reason. If it is hot make sure you don't miss many water stops. Also I like to eat something salty a day or 2 before any marathon to retain some water, this will help you through those later miles when your sweat losses drop your fluid levels into that critical zone.
Check out the post by Average_Joe about half way down, he has a great course breakdown.
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=78427&thread=74386
Jimmy Bulger wrote:
Don't refer to Boston as "beantown".
Lax Player wrote:
Shove it up your ass
I wouldn't recommend that. It will make running your marathon far more difficult.
If it is your GOAL to sound like a clueless tourist, however, by all means respond to Boston as "Beantown". We just LOVE people who do that.
Wear a New York Yankees jersey, they love the Yankees in Boston
Jimmy, where are you? I could use the dough if I knew.
To original poster:
Average Joe knows his stuff about the course and race in general.
here's a fun spread sheet
http://www.box.net/shared/75o3rqgty9
note you can adjust your pacing for varying efforts
here's some random things from a 13-time Boston finisher:
pick a line in the road and try to run straight. don't waste energy bobbing and weaving around folks.
with each and every fluid station, they are set up on either side of the road - separated by from a few yards to as much as over 100 yards. there is no need to cross the road to get to fluids. if the first one isn't on your side, there will be one soon.
if you're not going to get a drink - move to the middle of the road if the station is on your side.
take something waterproof (like a garbage bag) to sit/lay on in Hopkinton. take something to read if you get on an early bus or you're in the 2nd wave.
don't plan on meeting your people in the 'family meeting area' it's a total zoo. pick another spot. the Public Garden (next to the Boston Common, where you get on the bus Monday morning) is an easy walk from the finish area.
if you've got someone who'd like to see you on the course... they can take the 'D' train on the green line out to Woodland station (next to last stop) and see you in either the 17th or 18th mile - and the crowds isn't too thick at that point.
good luck!