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Post by brucedenton on Apr 16, 2007 18:46:33 GMT -5
Great running guys...got too busy at work to post any further but I was tracking your progress and very impressed. Just started watching the race after getting home and I will be on the lookout for any face time with the cameras. You guys have enjoyed a day you'll never forget...congratulations!
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Post by frojoe23 on Apr 17, 2007 8:26:15 GMT -5
I have become more happy with my race yesterday. I realized that I was seeded to finish around the upper 100's - 200, but I did a lot better than that. I did have a tough time because I could never seem to latch on to a group. It seemed that after 10k, I was just relegated to run by myself and watch people pass me. There wasn't a whole lot of people that did though. I probably gave up 1 spot a mile.
The wind wasn't really bad until the around 17. The back half of the course is very tough - I was pretty shocked - had a hard time running up some of them hills. The back of the Newton hills was where the wind really started to shake my race. My legs were feeling pretty trashed at that point and there were at least 4 occasions between 17-22 that the wind just put me at a stand still. Rob didn't have much trouble with the wind - he got in with a good group, but being out there on my own, I'm sure that I was battling it the whole way and then when it started to gust, I just felt it more!
All I can say is that I didn't really know how to run the course and ran a pretty terrible second half, but when I look at some of the guys ahead of me, they crashed more than I did. If I was only 2 minutes behind Deena Kastor, then I'm pretty happy!!!
I didn't like sitting under the tent at the start and then having to walk to the start and stand in the corral. There is just no chance to relax and ease any tension that you are feeling - it gives your legs that "heavy" feeling and then you have no way to loosen them up - and for me my legs were done at about 8-9 miles. I could feel that they were already starting to cramp up. I think it had a lot to do with that wind - notice Gilmore's quote in the paper where he says that his legs cramped and seized up from the cold (of course that happened to him at 17, no 9).
My shoes didn't hold up quite so well. The balls of my feet really started to hurt in Newton and it was painful every step for the last 4 miles. I'll have to show you my shoes. I was surprised I kept them on - I almost ended up tearing the upper off on each shoe!!!
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Post by brucedenton on Apr 17, 2007 12:47:17 GMT -5
Just look at the winning times...slowest in over 20 years for women, 30 years for the men. Better conditions and you guys shave off a few minutes. Although it sounds like the conditions could easily have been much worse, according to the announcers. It was a fun race to watch...I made it through the day and evening without finding out who won until I sat down to watch it last night. Safe travels back home and look forward to hearing everybody's stories.
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Post by baldisbetter on Apr 17, 2007 19:43:00 GMT -5
Thanks for all the support, but it’s our running community that makes marathoning worth while. Honestly, knowing that we have a growing and strong running community motivates me to train and race.
The race weather reminded me of most the long runs this winter and spring cold, wet, and windy at times.
Jaron’s is right about the course. Oh and by the way, Jaron was 95th out of more then 20000 runner. Their was a 1000 runners in his corral a lone.
The hills wear you down during the second half of race. I guess running in Western Maryland and developing the “goat hill climb stride” helps some but it’s all the down hills as well. Having completed Boston twice and for the second time, total quad destruction from going down hill. I haven’t figured out to train for that.
The one thing I have to live with until the next marathon is “3:00:00”. Not a hundredth of second either way. I can’t round either way. No matter how you look it, it still reads 3 hour marathoner. ugh. I stopped and watered a tree before mile 2. Just 1 second less at the tree would have made the difference. Oh well, that is training motivation. I guess that’s all for now, time to go drain the blisters.
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Post by marc on Apr 17, 2007 21:32:03 GMT -5
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Post by frojoe23 on Apr 18, 2007 9:03:44 GMT -5
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Post by Justin on Apr 18, 2007 10:12:08 GMT -5
Rob,
I have thought a lot about specific training for the downhill-up aspects of Boston, and I would think it would be similar to GAR. I would think a good time trial from Mt Savage to the Narrows on Mt. Savage Rd, that would be 10k, then maybe turn up the Highlands Trail at the narrows to get some uphill pace work. At the very least you could get a feeling of what that 1st 10k should feel like pace wise. Or jump on the Highlands trail there and go on into town, where you'd have about 9 miles of downhill-to flat running and maybe then find some hill work in town, maybe Washington St, to simulate some hills after a long gradual downhill.
I really think specific time trial training runs like this is very important, especially in cases where races mean so much, like doing a marathon every 6 months.
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Post by flyinghighrunner on Apr 18, 2007 17:18:32 GMT -5
Another good one (and Dennis could give some feedback on this one) is starting at Frankfort and running up 956/ABL to the top and then hanging a left on Waxler and continue to the top. It kind of levels out around 5.5 miles.....loop it back....and for those who want to be REALLY prepared, repeat for a tough as ballz 22 miles. I've done the loop once about 4 times, and I have never been much faster on the downhill as I am on the uphill since my quads are toasted. It is also the only run I've ever done that made my legs feel like they did when I ran Boston.
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Post by baldisbetter on Apr 20, 2007 6:52:44 GMT -5
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