Give or take a day.
Are you racing?
How is your training going?
Last year it filled by end of February, not a bad time to get the application in if you have not already.
The 100/100 is keeping me motivated, lots of people to chase. Just finished my first 7 week block (14 weeks to go) of training, feeling okay. Nice progression on the long runs so far, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and then 16 miles this week. Just need to keep it going.
I think I am on week 4 of training. A 15 mile run today. I’ve been running a lot of hills so I can practice running the downhill.
I’m a little worried if I’ll be able to keep up the heavy run training when I really start cycling a lot…I think all together it’s going to be as much as training for an IM.
I think I am on week 4 of training. A 15 mile run today. I’ve been running a lot of hills so I can practice running the downhill.
I’m a little worried if I’ll be able to keep up the heavy run training when I really start cycling a lot…I think all together it’s going to be as much as training for an IM.
You have to focus. If you want to do really well at Boston then you should not be cycling a lot. If you just want to finish the race, then cutting back on the run volume and cycling will not be a big deal.
To some extent I agree with triyoda…while I can’t say ‘really well’, the year I went 2:59.52, I strung together 8 weeks of 70-100K weeks with a weekly long run, hills on pretty well every run with fast downhill running for leg speed and my secret Boston weapon which was a weekly downhill 10K in ~38-40 min on the treadmill set at a minus 2-4 degree incline (just jack up the back of your treadmill with encyclopediae). Just make sure you open up your treadmill motor cover and set a fan on it, cause you can easily burn out a treadmill motor if you are a big person and put a huge load on the motor doing this as it has to lift your weight “uphill” on every stride as you run downhill. But I was also doubling my run hours with XC ski hours and was also doing a few trainer rides a week…but frankly I think that XC skiing is more “additive” to run fitness than biking.
Good luck to you guys running Boston…I have 4 locals I am working with also doing Boston, and they will be getting the full hillwork program this month!!!
Dev
You know how the last team to make the NCAA tournament says “We’re just happy to be here?” Well, that’s what I’ve been saying about Boston this year.
I ran 3:14 at Philly in November and am training for Lake Placid again, so my goal is to run 3 hours plus my age, which is 36. So, 3:36 is the goal and I’ve dreamed of running Boston, so want to enjoy the race and have some time to soak it all in. Plus, you know, the Wellesley Girls need some attention too…
So, while some here may shit on my goal and tell me I am nothing if I don’t run at least my qualifying time, it’s my goal and, I’m happy to be there.
Bob
Not running but I’m going to skip school and come watch. You’d think they’d give us “Boston Marathon Day” off as a holiday but nooooo people in northern Maine are relatively clueless about this.
So, while some here may shit on my goal and tell me I am nothing if I don’t run at least my qualifying time, it’s my goal and, I’m happy to be there.
Bob
That is a worthy goal. You qualified, it is your privilege to enjoy the race (even if the Wellesley girls don’t).
Thank Yoda, I appreciate that. Sometimes we get so geeked about going fast that maybe we should have fun once in a while.
I think a lot of people get jaded about Boston because they can qualify year in and year out, but as a 210lb Clydesdale I had to work for my qualification, so having some fun is in order. I’ve already started putting money away for Boston Marathon Clothing too…
Bob
I’m not really ‘racing’ Boston. No matter what I do I’m pretty sure I’ll get a PR (my current marathon PR is from Kona). And I’m not planning on running Boston to my full potetial, nor will I be trained to race it at my fullest runnign potential. I’m doing Boston because I want to, but tris are the focus this year. I’ve never trained for a stand alone marathon (run plenty though), and probably will not run another after I run Boston…at least for a long while.
I’ll be fine with the training I have as soon as I get my cycling legs back. Right now I’m so out of cycling shape that an hour easy spin after a tempo run does not seem easy at all.
Bob (and PirateGirl), I’m right there with you… My A race this year is IM Coz, but I qualified for Boston and I’m gonna do it and have fun. I’ll keep it respectable (for me); but I’m not looking to set any PR’s. We all have different goals and motivations. For the life of me I don’t know why anyone would care if another person races full out or throttles back a little and soaks in the day…
x2. For me I am looking forward to enjoying the event, and setting a respectable time given the amount of time I have to train for it (time TBD). In order to qualify, I pretty much had to focus on running, and since my son was born in August, I had to balance his needs with training which left minimal time for anything else. Now I have a little more extra time (and sleeping through the night) and I want to get back into tri-shape for this season. So my training plan and goals are adjusted accordingly. Boston is priority to have fun and enjoy the experience; I have other races this year I want to PR.
I’m racing. Training is going well. The 100/100 challenge has helped me a couple of times when I didn’t feel like going out the door. The key to a good marathon is consistent weekly mileage, not long runs and the challenge is perfect for that.
I am in!
I am a Boston Virgin, qualified in Tampa last February; after a run focused stretch following AmZof 2007.
100 day challenge is helping, I have never run consistently 5 times a week; I will now.
I am just starting to add back in some more biking and swimming as I am planning on 70.3 New Orleans. Hopefully I can recover sufficiently from that to produce a respectable result 2 weeks later in Boston.
I guess it is better than doing a marathon and having the half-IM 2 weeks later.
I’m doing New Orleans too. I signed up so I wouldn’t forget to swim and bike while training for Boston.
I was going to race it (wanted sub 3H @ Boston). but the holidays came and 7lbs later, 3 weeks almost off, this week with -30F temp I am going to enjoy it…
My longest run is 1h25 so far I need to pick that up !
Fred.
I’m in for Boston. I’ll be honest that I’m a little behind in my training. My wife and had our first son in August which threw me off stride a bit. I was pretty good about getting in three 6-8 mile runs a week through the fall, but I definitely fell off on cross training and the lack of sleep definitely took a toll. Owen is sleeping better now, but not perfect, so I’m thinking that my <3 hr goal might be a stretch. Who knows? My base of fitness is okay and if he starts sleeping better I’ll be able to improve the quality of my running (I’m getting in zero speed workouts a week right now). Maybe it will all fall in place, otherwise, I’m going to have a good time and try to requalify and give it another goal in 2010.
I have done Boston a few times and I will be back again this year. Here’s a strange thing about my Boston results. In '07 and '08 my Boston time was also my Lake Placid Ironman run time. I think it’s a strange coincidence and feel it must mean something. Unfortunately I am not doing Placid this year. I am signed up for Louisville, will I keep my streak…
I’m not doing Boston, but I ran the heartbreak hills last night. Not quite the same when it is 0 degrees F and pitch dark.
I just signed up so I’m officially in for my first ever Boston and feeling pumped about it. My younger brother and I both entered a marathon back in October without proper preparation and used years of running experience to compensate for our lack of marathon training to get qualifying times so we’re both going. I Just went over 500k on day 33 of the 100 runs challenge so training is going well. I’m not doing any speedwork now but my base is coming along nicely and my weight is staying down. By the time April rolls around I plan to be lighter than I have been for over a decade so I’m hoping this will fire me up for a speedy (ok relatively speedy) race in April.
bump.
This sold out a month earlier than last year. Anyone miss out?