I run the Poland Spring Marathon Kick-off 5 miler every year, mostly because it’s an excellent way to kick off marathon week (i.e., the best week ever in NYC). It’s also a perfect way to get in one last tempo before the big race, which I have been lucky enough to run twice before.
Last year the race went on just before the area was devastated by Sandy, but at that time we had no idea how bad it would be. Betsy and I ran together at marathon pace – one of our first runs together that solidified our running buddy/training partner 4E status – and got super excited for the week to come. We all know what happened after that…
So fast forward to this race, where I’m hanging in our meeting spot (red corral, back) panicking because I can’t find Betsy and the gun is going to go off in 5 minutes. “We have to run together! We just have to!” I told myself and was starting to get really bummed about the prospect of running the race alone. This is so unlike me because I do a lot of things alone, and before Betsy came along a large chunk of my training was with me, myself and I. And I liked it that way – running was mine and I didn’t want to share it with anyone. I’m pretty independent and never like depending on anyone for anything (tragic flaw, if you will). In the past year, my whole mindset has changed. The exhilaration and joy I get from running with Betsy (and other buddies, but mostly Betsy), and the support we’ve had for each other through our training cycle, marathon and this pseudo-training cycle has been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Running is more than just “my thing,” it’s our thing, it’s all of the random things we’ve talked about during our runs, it’s pushing each other during workouts, it’s knowing what to say to ease pre-race/life anxiety, it’s all of our emails and texts, it’s being totally content staying in a (somewhat) seedy hotel room in the middle of nowhere eating microwaved pasta and broccoli and watching chick flicks on a Saturday night. Having someone to train with that knows the ins and the outs of everything we’ve gone through (and way more) doesn’t take away from my running, it makes it so much better.
<3 buddies
So I was pretty relieved when I felt a tap on my shoulder just before the national anthem. She was a little late (ahem), but she was there just like I knew she would be. The goal was simple – marathon pace, stay smooth, even and fairly easy. I had run ~5 miles before the race at a pretty easy pace, so these were to be my last and final “MP” miles before November 3. We chatted the entire time (another friend said she ran by us and saw me but said, “you were so deep in conversation, I didn’t want to interrupt you to say hi! – oops) and stayed pretty true to the goal. A few times we had to force ourselves to slow down a bit, which I guess is good practice for next weekend.
5.25 miles before, 5 mile race @ GMP, 2 mile cooldown: 12.25 miles for the day.
Feeling pretty good after this week’s running – here’s a brief recap:
- Monday: rest
- Tuesday: 9 miles with 4 @ tempo (was supposed to be MP, went a little quicker ~7:50-8:00); strength (abs, arms)
- Wednesday: 7.5 miles easy, strength (arms, legs)
- Thursday: 9 miles steady state, strength (abs, arms)
- Friday: 5 miles easy, 20 minutes yoga for runners
- Saturday: 7 miles easy, strength (abs, arms)
- Sunday: 12.25 miles, 5 @ MP
Total: 49.75 miles
I ran a smidge more this week than I did during taper before Wineglass, but since I’m winging this whole thing, I guess it’s fine (??). We shall seen pretty soon, I guess.
The bleachers are up in the finish area, and even though I’ve been there done that before, every time I run by them I get goosebumps. I really hope this year’s marathon is as great as last year’s wasn’t.