No, I didn’t qualify as I’ve never run a marathon before and even if I did there’s no way I’d make the qualifying time for my age group. I’m going in as a fundraiser for a local charity; it’s a bit of money but I’m not that worried about that yet.
Yikes! I’ve run 2 half marathons (the last one in 1:53) and I think I’ll be able to finish Boston without too much difficulty in the abstract. But my training will be through the winter which holds a whole host of issues for me. I’m buzzing just a bit, since I didn’t know if this would come through or not. And now it’s a reality.
Excellent - I have only run one half marathon (which involved training in the summer) so there are much better sources of advice on this board, but my one tip would be - despite what some say, it is worth running the full distance (or at least almost all of it) before the race (at least 2 weeks before, obviously - ideally at least 4 weeks before). That way, you will know what to expect.
Almost no one recommends running the full marathon distance before the marathon, and certainly not 2 weeks before. The training plan that I am following (http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00novice.htm) has a 20 miler 4 weeks before, and a 19 miler 6 weeks before. I’m sure that will get modified as needed, but I don’t plan on running 26 anytime before the actual race.
One thing I will be doing is running some of those long training runs on the actual course, so I’ll experience Heartbreak Hill when I’m tired and I know where the landmarks are. I think that will help a lot. When my brother ran Boston for the first time he was living in south Florida and had to train for hills by running back and forth over highway overpasses.
I know they don’t, but I (and a friend of mine who has run a full marathon) cannot understand why. You are right that 2 weeks before is not long enough, though, I think. The schedule you mention sounds OK - just bear in mind that 26 miles is a lot longer than 20 miles.
To summarise: IMHO, if I were training for a marathon I think I would want to try for 26 before the race, given the time. YMMV (pun intended).
It’s less than a month away. I’ve been fighting some ITB problems since January but I seem to have worked them out. I did an 18.5 last weekend, a half marathon at race pace this weekend, and a 21 miler planned for next Saturday along the marathon route with all the fund raising groups. I’m feeling a bit more confident after getting that 18 miler in; I had to drop in the middle of my last 18 miler because my ITB seized up.
I don’t know if I’ll run any more spring marathons; the winter training in Boston just sucks. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m looking forward to Patriot’s Day.
I’m always baffled why people who have never run a marathon give advice about training for a marathon.
Enjoy the race, Telemark, and best of luck with training. Be wary of the first six miles or so, as they are all downhill and beat up your quads. The first mile is rather steep, so take it easy early, and be sure to relax. For the most part, Boston is a 26 mile party with the runners at the center of it. Wellesley College is fun too, with the shrieking college girls. It’s a good weekend to be in Boston.
I’m running the first 21 miles of the course this weekend just so I know how to approach the first 6 miles. I’m nervous and excited, and just got my bib number today. I’m in the third (last) wave which is perfect for me.
I’m fortunate to have lots of friends and family who run marathons so I’m getting lots of good advice. I can’t wait until I get to taper.
Ran today from the starting line in Hopkinton to BC - 21 miles in 3:29. My body feels pretty good and I’m looking forward to the marathon. What’s 5 more miles?
The whole course is downhill overall despite the presence of Heartbreak Hill and the quads do get a pounding over the last five as the less prepared or injudiciously paced are hitting the wall about then.
The downhills are worse than the uphills, once your quads are burnt out. But the last 5 miles have ups and down, although the overall elevation is down from there.
One week to go. I hit my fund raising goal this morning so that is not going to bug me the rest of the week. Nice 5 miler today but it’s just a bit too hot at 73 degrees. I really hope it’s not that warm a week from today.
After today’s run I think I’ll mostly be shutting down and doing lots of stretching and hydrating this week. And watching the weather report.
At my first Boston, I went with a bunch of friends. Before the marathon, we did not do much sight seeing. The day after the marathon, we had a mid-afternoon flight, so the others wanted to see as much of Boston as possible. We must have walked four miles before we got on the plane. I recovered pretty quickly from that marathon, unlike the one that I had done the previous fall. Since that one, I have tried to walk as much as possible the day after the marathon. Seems to help with recovery, though your mileage may vary.
And I usually take the day after a marathon off of work (if nearby), more from excessive drinking after the race than being unable to walk normally.
I’m taking Tuesday (and Monday ) off for the marathon. I’ll try to move around after the race and again on Tuesday if I can.
I would love to do a sub-4:00 marathon but I’m not expecting to go that fast. My best guess is somewhere between 4:15 and 4:30 but I’ll worry about my finish time after I’ve passed BC and head towards home.
