Monday, March 17, 2014

Boston Training and Goals

The longer that I go without writing, the more I have to write about. And the more I have to write about, the harder it is to begin... May as well go back 11 months, right?

Last April 15th, in the hours just after the Boston Marathon, I remember turning to my husband and saying through tears that it was "my first and last Boston Marathon -- I will never run it again." Of course, anyone who is even remotely tied into the running community knows how much we all want to be there this year. Runners all over the country signed up for marathons, ran countless training miles and pushed themselves to the limits of their abilities in order to qualify for this year's Boston Marathon.

Here's a little data to illustrate my point. This shows the Google search history for the phrase "qualify for Boston Marathon" from 2008 through the week after the bombings.

(source)

We runners want...
...to be a part of something historic
...to honor those killed and injured in last year's bombings
...to recognize the heroes that ran towards danger in order to help save lives
...to be together with our running family
...to help the people of Boston come one step closer to healing from this tragedy
...and to show the world that our spirit cannot be broken.

Because of all these reasons, last September 11th, I registered for the Boston Marathon. At the time, I hadn't run in over two months due to a chronic knee injury that began to plague me over the summer. I had no idea if I would even be running this spring but I hoped and dreamed and prayed I could somehow make it to Hopkinton on April 21st.

Over the past few months, my knee has slowly improved to the point that in mid-February with just 9 weeks left to train, I bought plane tickets to Boston. My training has been much different this cycle than last year. I can only run 3 days a week if I want to keep my knee pain in check so I am also supplementing with 2 days a week of deep water running. I am walking that very fine line between being trained and being injured -- trying to figure out just how much my knee can take without setting me back. I am so lucky to live just five minutes from incredible trails where my mind wanders as my feet just follow along the mud-packed trails.




Yesterday was a good test for my current fitness. I ran the 15K Shamrock Run in Portland. It is a very tough course with a long uphill climb followed by some fast miles to the finish. I have been running mostly flat routes for months in order to minimize the stress on my knees so this hill was HARD!

(source)

I finished in 1:10:52, which was a little over two minutes slower than my time last year. Truth be told, I was initially a little disappointed in my time. No one likes to feel as if they are getting slower. But then I remembered how lucky I am to be running at all and how much different my training has been this time around and I quickly changed my perspective.

I have to learn to appreciate every race for what it is...not for what it isn't. So I celebrated with a green smoothie! (Yes, I'm so wild and crazy.)



******************

Last year, I was very focused on my time goal in Boston. This year, I will be focused on everything but time. I want to high-five all the kids standing along the sidelines. I want to scream with the girls at Wellesley. I want to give encouragement to the other runners. I want to thank all the volunteers for their support. I want to cheer for Dick and Rick Hoyt as they complete their last Boston. I want to take pictures along the course. I want to show my gratitude at being lucky enough to be a part of the race. I want my face to hurt from smiling so much. Basically, I want to savor each and every moment of the 26.2 miles.

And after the race, I want to celebrate! (Preferably, with something stronger than a smoothie!)

Who else is running a spring marathon? Boston? And have you ever ran a marathon just to enjoy it and not with a specific time goal?

- Kristen

12 comments:

  1. Oh girl - I am SO on board with your plan - I'm right there with you. I want to soak it up - I want to celebrate all of it. Life. Friends. Love! And I'm so ready to run a race just for the fun, not to race it. Cannot WAIT to see you. XX

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    1. Cannot WAIT to see you, either!! And I can't wait to ask you a million questions about your Ironman training. I am in awe that you have taken on this huge challenge! :) xo

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  2. Love your perspective and your plan. And I'm so glad your knee is cooperating enough that you can go!! I almost signed up this year but knew that we might be pregnant by then and now I'm glad I didn't but I'm also bummed since I missed my chance. I'll have to BQ again so it will be Boston 2016 at the earliest, but I do still hope to get there!

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    1. Thanks, Laura! I know you will have no trouble getting another BQ after baby #2 is born, especially considering you can run a 23 min 5k race at 20 weeks pregnant!! Every year is a special year at Boston so it doesn't matter when you get there. :)

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  3. I've already run one marathon in Feb and have another in April (Salt Lake City). I ran Boston in 2012 with the intent of finishing, enjoying the experience and not getting hurt. In 2012 we had red flag conditions so they allowed people to defer to the following year. I was there already so I ran, it was a neat experience but it was also one of the slower marathons I have ever done due to the heat and humidity. I don't know if I will ever make it back or even if I want to with all of the changes for security and the BQ times changing. Good luck and enjoy the experience this time!

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    1. I didn't run Boston in 2012 but remember hearing how hot it was. I can't even imagine runner a marathon in those conditions!! Just finishing 26.2 miles in 90 degree weather is amazing. Good luck with the SLC marathon!

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  4. I am so glad that things worked out so that you can be there this year. If I was running it, it definitely would be just to soak in the experience this year. I would stop for the otter pop!!!
    So much has changed, but I still see you as a strong runner and I have high hopes of seeing PRs to come.. Your shamrock 15k was great, even without the knee to contend with-- it was solid and on top of a huge run only a few days before!
    As always, love the pics!!!

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    1. Oh, yes, I'll be stopping for an otter pop for sure! And maybe even a beer this time if I see them being offered along the course. :)

      Thanks so much for your confidence in me, Raina. I really want to train for and run a half-marathon in the next year. I'll have to find a good one nearby to run. Any suggestions?!

      Let's run in Forest Park again soon. :) xo

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    2. I have a few thoughts! Do you want a fast course with no frills, or do you like the "atmosphere" of a larger race? EWEB run to stay warm is a fast course, covers a lot of the Eugene marathon course, and is in November. I Know of another in June, but it is a tiny race! maybe 100 people in all distances, and is very cheap/good course. No chip timing- not needed :)

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  5. It's so good to hear that you've found a way to run without (too much?) pain! And I love that your plan is to soak it all in. I'm still working on getting my BQ, but when I do that's exactly how I want to run Boston - soaking up the experience! Those trails look absolutely amazing and make me long for runs on dirt, which have been far too few for me recently. It's incredible what carefree trail runs can do for the soul! And the joints ;)

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  6. Wow. Your training 'trails' look awesome. Good luck with the race and enjoy it.

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  7. That is how I ran Boston that year and how I plan to run Boston this year. Have a great run in Boston!

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