Chasing Boston

Every runner has a "dream race."  The one you'd love to do.  I have several I'd really like to do, but my dream race is the Boston Marathon.  Of course, in my dream, I qualify for Boston by running a BQ time.  I suppose some day I can run the race for charity and get a number that way.  Realistically can I qualify?  I have no idea.  It would take my best race on my best day to do so.  I haven't run close to the time needed in either of my two attempts (the needed time for my age group is 3:35, and even running that time doesn't guarantee entry).

Of course, in analyzing past marathon tries, I now feel that I did not have the best opportunity to run my best race.  In try number one, The Flying Pig, I learned later that I was 6.5 weeks pregnant.  Which, in hindsight, explained the crippling fatigue that I attributed to over-training.  On my second try, Air Force Marathon, I was 9 months post-partum, and feeling great.  However, I did not put in the training effort that I needed.  While I felt significantly better than try number one, for obvious reasons, I simply did not log enough miles late in my training program, and missed a whole week three weeks prior to the raise when we traveled out of town.

While finding time to run hasn't gotten easier with two small kids, I finally feel like I have found my stride so to speak.  I am running better and training better.  I have mapped out a plan that includes lots of speed work, pace runs, and hill work, which I hope will improve my overall stamina.  Additionally, I finally have adopted strength training.  I always sort of half-assed it, adding in some push ups, crunches, and (of course) ITB exercises here and there.  I'm in love with TRX lately, and have been doing it once a week in a class at the Y, and once a week at home by myself.  In two months time I have gone from not being able to do a single regular push up to being able to do 5-6 with no problem and 2-3 with my feet elevated.  This is real progress!

So, to get to Boston, my goal is to run a marathon this fall.  My eye was on Twin Cities for the past year, but I have given that up.  It's too far away to travel, keeping the kids in mind.  I'm trying to decide between three more local races.  My goal is to run 3:30, which equals somewhere in the neighborhood of 8:01/mile (for 26.2 miles).  Time will tell if it's realistic or not.

Wayne Gretzky wisely said: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."