I know my body is not quite ready for April 18, but my mind is already there. I know from past experience that as my body heals up from training and begins to store up energy, I will start to get anxious and maybe even a bit irritating to those around me. I don't think I've ever developed "taper madness," like some people get, though. For me, it is more like slowly stretching a rubber band. The longer the stretch from the end of Week 13 to Marathon Day, the more tension that builds up. I think I've handled it pretty well in the past, although this will the first time I've done it in the middle of the legislative session where - let's face it - many of us are on the precipice at any given point during the day as it is.
To keep my mind busy, I've started visualizing the race and plotting my race strategy. I found an excellent guide on course strategy on the Runner's World website, although the first paragraph of the article promptly inserted a flock (?) of butterflies into my gut:
"'Boston is a course you need to do many times before you get the hang of it,' says Bill Rodgers. 'I know I did.' Coming from a four-time champion, that's saying something. Boston, the world's oldest marathon, isn't just tricky; it's diabolical."Fantastic... I'm not going to get to do it many times. I may only get to do it once. I certainly don't plan on doing it again, but those words of warning from a great champion serve as notice to be smart on Monday the 18th...and to be realistic.
I am going for 3:15:00, which would be a PR by 2:51, and I know that is a long shot but an attainable goal. I also know I may not finish, let alone achieve a PR, if I don't respect the course and run smart. When I get to the Newton Hills after Mile 17, I hope my training pays off and I can attack take down the hills one at a time up to Heartbreak Hill before descending into Boston during the last 10 kilometers. I trust my training, and I know it will get me to the finish. I'll know by the time I crest Heartbreak Hill if it was enough to have a chance of getting across the line in 3:15:00 or less - a 7:26/mile pace. Holy crap...
My pace in San Diego was 7:33, but the data from my Garmin from that day shows that without my pit stop during Mile 7, my 30-second walk at the Mile 20 water station, and having to stop for about a minute to regroup in Mile 23 I would have been dang close to 3:15:00. I chose the same training program for Boston as I did for San Diego, except I got in all my speedwork, most of my tempo runs, and I was smarter about how I structured my long runs.
Trust the training. I've been told that many times, and I do trust it. Time will tell just how far the training will take me.
"One if by land..."
The Boston Marathon will be on Patriots Day - April 18 - commemorating the 236th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride. No doubt that will add an extra special flavor to the whole day, but I am reminded that Paul Revere - that lucky SOB - had a horse!
See you in Beantown...
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