Spring marathon training w/e 19 April and boson race reports

BosTon

Wind was pretty strong at times. Didn't stop my hometown running buddy ran a 7 minute PR (3:22) I thought I could tuck my 6'2" frame behind a couple runners every now and then, but that thought was not a rational one! Four-month Achilles issue was never a problem but I felt a strange twinge in my left hammy at about six miles that never really got worse but I had to pay attention to it. Went out steady and actually got through 30k on my optimum goal pace. After topping hill #2 in Newton, abductors and quads started talking to me. Very tough last few miles after topping Heartbreak. TV girl at the top had a mike and said 'Wanna give a shout out to anyone?" I smiled and couldn't reply; hurting too bad Still got in under four hours.

Overall it was a great experience...crowds were amazing...kissed a Wellesley girl..had a small glass of beer at the foot of Heartbreak..life is good!

Great job to all finishers!

Probably my worst marathon ever. I knew I didn't have it right from the start, and the feeling was growing in me for days before as my taper never felt right.

Still, I started out at goal pace to see how long I could hold it and briefly at miles 4 and 5 thought I'd somehow make it. However, I could tell by the level of effort I needed to make it just to 10 miles I was in deep trouble and that the day would be long.

By 15 I was seriously hurting. Even trying to relax on the downhill at 25k, my legs were in agony. I was still on goal pace by 30k, but by the 3rd heartbreak hill at 19 it became too much and I was done. Ran/walked it in.

My lesson was, that as a master (47) it is especially important to err on the side of caution in your training. Somewhere I fell off the cliff of fitness and into the abyss of overtraining. I definitely did something stupid weeks and weeks ago, I'll have to go back and try to find it.

MarathonMind,

Sorry you had a tough day. It's a tougher course than I was expecting. I hit the hills pretty steady but slow. I did notice, when I crested and started down, some pain in muscles I didn't know I had. Probably spent too mnay hours at the Expo Sunday morning, too. First timer mistake, I guess, but no regrets. I'm eligible for next year and, right now, am planning to give it another shot.

Being a little less star-struck with the Boston mystique will help.

One of the worst days of my life. Wanted 2:58, trained on the course for every long run, training all went perfect never felt overtrained, learned to love the course, and I loved rolling through the hills on the end of a long run. Bib # was high 8000s, wasn't allowed to get in the third corral so I had to juke and sprint on the sides of the road to manage 6:40 pace in the midst of 8:00 mile people. Because of this I tripped twice, rolled an ankle and couldn't even relax on the first miles. Never felt in rhythm, it was very loud and i couldnt concentrate but i just ran anyway. On pace till 9, took a gel and got sick. 1:32 through half I figure I'll just 7:00-7:25 mile it from here since I feel so nauseas, but after mile 14 I feel so sick I don't want to run anymore. Legs are fine except ankle. I walked about 20 times in the last half, feeling really sick after 5 minutes or so if running. Got blisters, thought that was funny.I completed said f*** my time and ended up with a 3:24. I never felt so ashamed. Felt like I let everyone down, and I'm contemplating running it again next Sunday alone at 7:10 pace for piece of mind. I feel sick that I wasted that day and I'd do anything for there to be another Boston marathon in the next month, but there won't be.