Training Run on Boston Course

What about the traffic? The course is along busy roads and you undoubtedly had to come to a stop at any number of intersections.

Steve Winwood wrote:

What about the traffic?

I bet he was OK Stevie. He was running with the High Heeled Boys.

If indeed you did run that fast and did run the entire Boston course you did a very very hard training run compared to your time goal. Your first priority is to recover recover recover from this run. Any hard workouts this week and perhaps next week you have planned, I would either scrap or dramatically adjust. It would be wise for you to get a massage this week. Think of it this way, if your goal is 2:45, and you did a 2:53, that's what a lot of runners might end up doing for their actual race. In my mind you actually did a solo race rather than a training run. You really need to recover from this. Good luck.

That's what I was wondering. Is it really possible to run the course unimpeded?

Steve Winwood wrote:

What about the traffic? The course is along busy roads and you undoubtedly had to come to a stop at any number of intersections.

Nope.

Gin soaked runner wrote:

That's what I was wondering. Is it really possible to run the course unimpeded?

Steve Winwood wrote:

What about the traffic? The course is along busy roads and you undoubtedly had to come to a stop at any number of intersections.

Sorry, what is your point about the traffic? Yes I hit some traffic. Had to stop for a few seconds, at most 30sec, a number of times.

In training over the years, I have done all of my training long runs leading up to BOston on the course. First, you say you didn't see the mile markers? They are there year-round smack in the middle of the road - the whole way. THe 5k, 10k, 15k, etc are also marked. So that's odd that you didn't see them? YOu are wondering if it is possible to run the course from start to finish without having to stop for traffic, and the answer is yes. HTe course is basically one long road and then you take a right at the fire station in Newton. Hundreds of people are out there running it every weekend, you can't possibly get lost. If you time the stop lights right and either run fast in front of a car or change your stride just a bit to get behind one, there is a chance you can run the whole way without stopping. I should interject here that I have only gone 22 on my long runs on the course, so if I am wrong about miles 23 - 26 then someone will jump in and tell me so. Bototm line: Your 2:53 yesterday was possible but man, why???? I hope for your sake you didn't run your marathon yesterday. WIth 6 weeks to go you have time to recover but only if you take it super easy for 2 weeks.

Why? I said that. I messed up. Really, I don't know about the markers. I saw 7K, 5mi, 9K, and a few other "k "markers and that's all. Someone told me they would be there so I planned on using them. I tried looking, but I didn't want to trip because I wasn't looking in front of me. I wasn't running down the middle of the road either.

So do you think I would have problems even if I don't feel extra sore or tired now? I guess that's more of my concern. I feel fine today. And it really didn't seem hard. I was coasting and when I started to get tired going up the hills or near the end, I slowed down. It was easily within conversation pace the entire way.

p.s. i still don't get this traffic part of the thread. don't we always deal with traffic when training?

BostonTraining wrote:

p.s. i still don't get this traffic part of the thread. don't we always deal with traffic when training?

No. Not always. Especially not where I live and train on trails and in the 'burbs.

but the original poster sounds like he thinks it's not possible to run on the boston course because there is traffic. that doesn't make sense to me. Most people run in areas with traffic.

BostonTraining wrote:

but the original poster sounds like he thinks it's not possible to run on the boston course because there is traffic. that doesn't make sense to me. Most people run in areas with traffic.

Actually my point was that I don't think a 2:45 marathoner can do a 2:53 training run on the course. You would have to stop repeatedly. There's no way around that. Your claim is also dubious because, as already mentioned, you claim to not have seen the mile markers which are permanently part of the course. Sorry, I just don't believe you.

what a dumbass question....

of course you can run pretty damn close to race pace on the course...it doesn't change but whats the point? while there some cross roads with lights its few and far between that you really even have to worry about. did you stop and stop your watch? or did you stop and let it continue...if you stopped running and stopped your watch its a moot point.

so you ran from start to finish...you're sure...you actually started at the start line in hopkinton and finished at the finish line in front of the library in boston? how did you get to the start? you must have had some help getting from one place to another...right?

what "knowledge" are you trying to get?

Please read my first post more carefully before saying something stupid like, "dumbass question". I'm not the one who brought up the traffic question. I didn't consider that a factor. I did stop my watch when I had to wait for more than a few second. I'm used to running shorter races where competition, adrenaline, and other race day factors allow you to run faster than you ever could on your own. I didn't know if this theory applied to marathon running. I ran start to finish, yes (but who cares if I'm a 1/2 mile off, does it really matter in this discussion?). And someone drove me to the start. This is not that complicated. The "knowledge" I'm looking for is probably something you don't have. I'm not usually obnoxious on this board, but your post was useless.

what a dumbass answer with dumbass questions....

Steve Winwood wrote:

Your claim is also dubious because, as already mentioned, you claim to not have seen the mile markers which are permanently part of the course. Sorry, I just don't believe you.

So Stevie, you are calling the OP "Mr. Fantasy"?

this is the first of several Empty Pages, I'm afraid...

He probably stopped the watch when he had to stop for traffic.

Dave Mason wrote:

this is the first of several Empty Pages, I'm afraid...

Dave, Leave it alone, cause we can't see eye to eye.

This guy says he's Feelin' Alright during this run, but I smell a troll. On race day it'll be No Name, No Face, No Number.

I read you post and other then being very poorly written...I really think you were trying to brag about your little esapade even though there isn't much to brag about...

i understand you didn't bring up traffic i was just getting you to clarify for the others regarding if you stopped your watch in which case you really shouldn't have a huge problem running the course in close to the same time as on race day...assuming you're actually trying to do that for some reason and you've tapered and what not...

well yes a 1/2 mile does make a difference...like 3:15-3:30 of a difference so you're 253 is more like 256. i get that somehow you didn't see the mile markers on the middle of the road every mile or the kilo markers every kilo for the first 10k then every 5k thereafter. but don't you have so idea as to the course...like when you got over near fenway you should have realized that oh crap i'm getting close to the finish maybe i should stop/slow down...