I'm Going To Boston, Baby

Well folks, it seems time for me to admit that I am running the Boston Marathon in a few short weeks. I'd like to blame the Bouvier, but in reality it was my choice. I registered for Boston in a moment of insanity or desperation last fall.

Because hotels fill up so quickly up to a year before the Boston Marathon, I had to make a snap decision to run last fall when I heard a lot of hotels were already full. So I committed the $150.00 entry fee, made a reservation and deposit at a ritzy Boston hotel, and booked my points flight. None of these choices came with a refund option should I choose not to run, so before I was ready to train or contemplate whether it would be physically prudent to attempt Boston, it became financially imprudent to bail out. So, I'm going to Boston, baby!

(Bouvier will not be going to Boston, he'll be resting quietly here in "The Valley" with his new nanny, circling the house for exercize, peeing on our six cedars, and dining on wild salmon, herring and organic broccoli stalks.)

To get ready for Boston I've been training with the NSA marathon clinic. We do long runs on Sundays, intervals on Tuesdays, and mile repeats at race pace on Thursdays. I did my longest run so far this past Sunday (33k) and felt good. I ran most of it at race pace, that being on pace for a 3:45ish marathon finish - which would make me quite happy as everyone seems to say "you don't PB at Boston" you just go for the atmosphere and experience. (Truth be told, I'm going to see what it's like to stay in a $500 per night hotel room - don't worry, Boston runners get a good discount!).

For a bit of an adreneline rush to get reved up for Boston, I did the Dirty Duo 25k trail race a few weekends ago. It was my first trail run of the season, so trial by gnarley trail was the order of the day. I started out slowly, but felt good and picked it up half way thorugh. True to form I ran up the long gradual hill that is the Old Buck Trail, and picked off many who chose the power walk option. I was, in the end, the 7th woman finisher and was quite pleased with my day. Even moreso I was pleased that my foot didn't hurt, as it was my foot which curtailed my trail running last year even forcing me to withdraw from the Kneeknacker. (On the positive side, it was my foot related abandonment of trail running last year which got me onto the road and which resulted in me qualifying for Boston and thus this blog. There is a positive side to everything if we care to look for it).

I am planning to do one or two more big runs before Boston, with the longest probably being in the 38km range. I'll be heading to Boston with Guy 4 days prior to the race in order to de-jet lag, preview the course, and feel the vibe of the marathon. On race day, Bouvier willing, I'll complete the world's most famous foot race! What more is there to say. I'm going to Boston.