Shipping Up to Boston

Note: As if my title hasn't been dropkicked to death.... Haha. Don't worry, I won't quit my day job.

Somehow I've managed to focus on Boston this entire week without really talking about running. Funny how things go... Well, with just over 48 hours until the race, I guess it's time to evaluate how things have gone these past few months.

This training cycle has been different for me than my previous 6 marathon cycles*:

• It's my first full cycle as a member of the working world.
• It's the first time I used a 12 week training plan instead of an 18 week plan.
• It's the first time I've been "injured" during training.

But I've put in the miles, got in some on-course training, and had some fun tune-up races along the way. There's really nothing I would change about my training this winter.

Originally I was hoping a PR might be in the cards for Monday, but the current weather reports are not looking promising, calling for highs in the 80s. (My guess, this is nature's payback for our mild winter!) That means it's time to start rethinking my goals and expectations.

Above all else, I want to enjoy my experience Monday. This will be my third trip from Hopkinton to Boston and I want this time to be just as enjoyable as the first two. One thing I don't want is to seriously blow-up in the second half. I haven't decided on my exact strategy yet--that may have to wait until Monday morning--but I can tell you that I'm going to come back with a finisher's medal, a big smile, and, hopefully, an entertaining race report.

Let me also take this opportunity to thank all my readers from the first fourth months of my blog. With any luck this will be merely the first of many training cycles I document on this site.

All right, wish me luck! I'll be back in Harlem on Tuesday.

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*I've run 7 marathons, but New York was so close to Chicago the two didn't get separate training cycles.

A Friday Field Trip: Boston

Today after work I'll be heading to Penn Station for a little field trip to Boston. A few weeks ago I heard that one of the local running clubs had planned a weekend trip to Boston to do their long run on the marathon course. This little factoid set the wheels in my head turning. You mean, you can go to Boston on a normal weekend? The trains run year round? Not just for Patriot's Day? I was as shocked as you undoubtedly are.

Since I booked far enough in advance, I was able to get a "cheap" ticket for the train which is so much more relaxing than the bus. I'll be arriving this evening and staying with the cousin of a runner friend (I just love the way I always meet new people through running!). Tomorrow, I will wake up early, take the commuter rail out of the city and run back into town. Then it'll be time to shower, repack, and head back to New York.

Wish me and my Achilles luck!