Post by brucedenton on Apr 5, 2007 14:17:31 GMT -5
No, you didn't ask, and you guys might know all this stuff already, but for what it's worth....
Be careful. It's easy to spend a lot of time on your feet walking around Boston in general and the expo in particular. I have done this myself and it is part of the experience, but it can sap your legs a bit. The Duck tour is a great way to see the city in the comfort of an old converted World War II amphibious landing vehicle. www.bostonducktours.com/
People in Boston are rude. This may not be true, but my two times there, I had multiple bad encounters with members of the general public. Everyone affiliated with the marathon was fantastic, but those not involved seemed to resent our presence screwing up traffic, etc.
Be prepared. Boston offers obstacles that most marathons don't. The bus ride to the start, the long wait in Hopkinton. Be sure you have enough clothes to stay warm and dry...extra socks because your feet might get wet walking around the fields in Hopkinton. The weather forecast can change significantly from 6:00 am to noon. Bring your iPOD, book, or magazine to pass the time. The nature of the start makes a last-minte bathroom break challenging. A great trick I learned is to wear a garbage bag to the start (this helps you stay warm also) and sip on a 24-32 ounce Gatorade or beverage of choice. About three minutes before the gun, stick the empty bottle underneath the cover of the garbage bag...and fill it back up, if you know what I mean. Put the cap back on, wrap it in the garbage bag, and set it on the side of the road. Running with a full bladder sucks.
Patience, Grasshopper. It's a strange feeling to be a good runner and see so many people in front of you at the starting line. This will not be a problem, especially with the chips now. The people in front of you, by and large, are faster than you. The people around you are about your speed for the most part. You will probably finish higher than your seeds, but the point is that you will be running comfortably and at a good pace by the time you cross the starting line. Don't allow the crowd, the atmosphere and the downhill start to lure you into an excessive early pace or you will pay for it later, especially if it is hot.
You guys sound like you are ready to rock and I look forward to following your races. Don't worry too much about Heartbreak Hill...training around here you will probably agree with me that it does not deserve such an ominous name. I was past it before I even realized I had run it. Once you get past it, you can let it rip to the finish. Good luck! If I think of anything else between now and then, I will post it.
Be careful. It's easy to spend a lot of time on your feet walking around Boston in general and the expo in particular. I have done this myself and it is part of the experience, but it can sap your legs a bit. The Duck tour is a great way to see the city in the comfort of an old converted World War II amphibious landing vehicle. www.bostonducktours.com/
People in Boston are rude. This may not be true, but my two times there, I had multiple bad encounters with members of the general public. Everyone affiliated with the marathon was fantastic, but those not involved seemed to resent our presence screwing up traffic, etc.
Be prepared. Boston offers obstacles that most marathons don't. The bus ride to the start, the long wait in Hopkinton. Be sure you have enough clothes to stay warm and dry...extra socks because your feet might get wet walking around the fields in Hopkinton. The weather forecast can change significantly from 6:00 am to noon. Bring your iPOD, book, or magazine to pass the time. The nature of the start makes a last-minte bathroom break challenging. A great trick I learned is to wear a garbage bag to the start (this helps you stay warm also) and sip on a 24-32 ounce Gatorade or beverage of choice. About three minutes before the gun, stick the empty bottle underneath the cover of the garbage bag...and fill it back up, if you know what I mean. Put the cap back on, wrap it in the garbage bag, and set it on the side of the road. Running with a full bladder sucks.
Patience, Grasshopper. It's a strange feeling to be a good runner and see so many people in front of you at the starting line. This will not be a problem, especially with the chips now. The people in front of you, by and large, are faster than you. The people around you are about your speed for the most part. You will probably finish higher than your seeds, but the point is that you will be running comfortably and at a good pace by the time you cross the starting line. Don't allow the crowd, the atmosphere and the downhill start to lure you into an excessive early pace or you will pay for it later, especially if it is hot.
You guys sound like you are ready to rock and I look forward to following your races. Don't worry too much about Heartbreak Hill...training around here you will probably agree with me that it does not deserve such an ominous name. I was past it before I even realized I had run it. Once you get past it, you can let it rip to the finish. Good luck! If I think of anything else between now and then, I will post it.