Training for the 2010 Boston Marathon Starts TODAY
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 5:00 AM | Dena Harris Today's the day. I am officially 16 weeks out from the April 19th, 2010 Boston Marathon, which means training starts TODAY. I've blown the dust off the Furman Run Less, Run Faster training book and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new treadmill.
Unlike this past July when I was pumped to begin my training, I find myself struggling mentally with the task that lies ahead. I trained really hard this summer for Chicago--mentally and physically. I was religious about sticking to the training plan and not missing a single workout. And it paid off. I shaved 31 minutes off my PR (personal record) and qualified for Boston. But I had a goal in July. I desperately wanted to run under a 4-hour marathon and--once the training took hold and I realized what I might be capable of--to qualify for Boston.
Right now... eh. I want to run Boston in under 4 hours but I don't know that I'm looking to better my time. I'm still feeling a little burnt out. Not on running, but on the idea of a constant push, push, push to get better, go further, get faster. I'm thinking I might modify the training plan. Instead of running intervals every week, I may alternate between intervals and hills. Although I lost my hill running partner, Barefoot Josh, to a nasty almost-frostbite injury. (It's all about me, Josh. Always.)
Being honest, I foresee a LOT of this training being done on a treadmill. Part of the draw this summer was that we had a Furman training group. Six of us dedicated to the plan and meeting twice a week for tempo and long runs. I'm a social runner - love the company. I'm going to have to do some fast talking or come up with bribes to get friends to go out on some 15 and 20 mile longs runs with me this winter.
However, I am curious to see what I'm capable of. This summer, the idea of running an 8:35 pace for 6 miles, let alone a marathon, was a stretch. Now, that's a comfortable pace for me, which means I'm starting off on a higher level. We'll see if the initial training feels any easier or still leaves me a sopping mess on the floor at the end of a workout. (I'd put my $$ on "sopping mess.")
"Beantown Bound" -- my new mantra.
Dena
4 Comments | Email | Print | Share | tagged 2009 chicago marathon, 2010 Boston Marathon, FIRST training, Furman training, Run Faster, Run Less, boston qualifying in Running 
Reader Comments (4)
Ha - you just train to be ready to run the hills with me by February. I might be using your exercise bike soon, so don't go thinking I'm going to be easy pickings.
Ironically, my marathon path is similar to yours. I ran Chicago in 2008 (and finally qualified for Boston after 10 attempts!), ran Boston in 09, qualified again for Boston, and will be heading back east in April 2010. I, like you, get in a rut and have trouble motivating myself for those long runs, hill workouts and intervals. What helps me (and I'm soon to write about it in a blog post) is limiting my running to 3 days/week. I cross train on the other days to keep the routine more interesting and less injury prone (and my marathon times don't suffer either). I cannot handle the treadmill, except for speed workouts, so good luck with yours. Maybe I'll see you in Boston.
Hello,
My name is Janine Mitchell. I am a broadcast journalism major at Emerson College.
My partner (Kayla Harrity) and I are looking to do a news package on preparing for the Boston Marathon.
Would you want speak with us on camera about the preparations/training process for running the Boston marathon, and tell us your story and/or struggles? We would like to conduct an interview on Wednesday night, February 24th.
Please let me know if you're interested!
Thank you,
Janine Mitchell
janinemitch@yahoo.com
Good luck to you. It is a fun race. I ran it 10 years ago. Please check out this site for some inspiration for the last American woman to have won the race - http://www.bostonwinnerrainsberger.com.