Boston: Week 13

A PR in Boston? I must be nuts...
But that is exactly what I am going to go for.  That's the goal three weeks from now.  3:15:00 or better.  There are a whole lot reasons that it might not happen, and I'll honestly be happy to finish.

After the first half of this week, I would have thought that the prospect of just finishing might be in doubt.  I took a couple of days off after last week's 18-miler because I was feeling run down.  Speedwork went fine on Wednesday, but I could never shake the run down feeling.  On Thursday, I went out for a 10-miler tempo run and crashed right out of the gate.  I cut it short after five miles, and skipped running Friday altogether.  Luckily, I felt better on Saturday and went out for an easy five...and by my last long run of 20 miles today, I felt great.

It was the perfect last long run on a perfect day.  I felt good the whole way on a route I picked to mimic Boston's elevation changes, and I challenged the uphill segments.  I finished strong - much stronger than I finished before New York and even San Diego.

And now the taper begins.  I still have 24 miles this coming week - with speedwork and a 10-mile tempo run - but the hardest part is done and it is time to heal.  My pal Erin has always told me to "trust the training," although I think she is reminding herself more than she is telling me!  I trust it, though.  I haven't missed any speedwork and only a couple of other runs along the way.  I think I am in better shape and more prepared than I was for San Diego last June, and I came within 2:51 of 3:15:00.  Boston will be harder, but I am ready.

I'm not nuts...I've just got a goal.
More to come later on what to expect on race day.  For now, I think I'll just enjoy today.