Boston Marathon 2019, week 7, the bad back edition

I feel like this update is so late, that I should just tie this week's recap into it.
But that would be cheating.

Last week began well enough. I ran a few recovery miles on Monday and things felt fine. Better than the week before, actually.

Overall, the whole week was spent in better energy. Part of this may have had something to do with needing to bail on my only hard workout of the week. I had planned some long endurance/speed miles (3x2 mile reps) on Wednesday. At 10 days out from a potential marathon a workout like this can be a risk, but so can the weather at this time of year. If a blizzard was looming to cancel the race event, or it it was shaping up to be 70 degrees, this workout would have been well timed (and the biggest challenge of an otherwise easy week.)

Alas. At lunch on Wednesday I did something AMAZING and HEROIC and really, really tweaked my back. I basically had to cash in my chips and call it a day- which meant that I was really hurt. It sucked.
(and "amazing and heroic" means "picking up a dog toy" so, there's that...)

How my crap back made me feel

Thursday was slightly better. Eric and I took Ellie on her first hike up Mt Tirem, and it was such fun!

Adventure dog!

Ellie was a real trooper in the snow, and it was a really nice Valentine's Day evening.

NO FILTER

I basically felt recovered on Friday and did a few sucky treadmill miles. The treadmill feels like shit to me at this time. I don't know if it is me, or the treadmill, but I hate it.

I ran a kickass 11 on Saturday in the most sloppy and damp conditions. I was an absolutely sopping wreck by the time I reached the pub, but I got the job done. And it was a really excellent pre-taper run.

Sloppy world

Because I finally pulled the trigger.

Because why not

And the weather looks amazing, as usual. WTF.

Typical 

Oh, and I feel like I need to include the traditional Saturday group photo to prove we were all there! And to show how much Ellie is growing (a lot, she has doubled in size!)
She is also extremely popular. She made countless new friends this weekend, and is really very good in public for such a young dog.

BIG DOG

So, what do I anticipate at Hyannis except for rain?
This has been a very reasonable training cycle. Not quite as perfect, or intense as last year. Taking that into account, I imagine that I will be able to finish successfully, but most likely slower than last year.
Honestly, if I get to the 13.1 and I feel like a bucket of assholes I'm going to bail and come up with a plan B. I have no intention of running 26.2 shitbag miles, thanks.
The rain doesn't bother me, I seem to have had a bit of practice in similar conditions!
So yeah. I'm just going to run along and see what happens. I have rarely found that there are any surprises, or "unexpected" PR's on marathon day. I know I am not fit enough for any kind of PR, but I do believe I am in condition to BQ. Who knows, it's always a crap shoot!

Stats:
Mileage: 26.5 
Long run: 11.1
Beer at pub: A flight of double, pink pils, picea and cyborg sour (which I don't really love)
Coldest day: There were a few- it was never super warm. Sunday was pretty chilly- I think the day started at 6 degrees and got to like, 19. 
Snow days: Wednesday due to 10 overnight inches, 3 inches of grossness on Friday, 2 more on Sunday. And more to come. 

Boston training week 127: the one with one week to go

GUESS WHAT!

It is time for the annual event, when we all say together:

EVERY YEAR!!!!!

I never won't post a Game OVER gif before Boston. It is what I do.

Basically, my job here is done. Game fucking over. Mic dropped, blog post over.

But actually, we will have a quick recap of last week's training.

Taper week! I love taper. I really do, I am not lying.

I did a couple downhill repeats on Tuesday in the most bogus weather. 33 degrees, windy AF and pelting down this sloppy, soaking wet snow. It was less than ideal, if we are going to be completely honest about things.

Yeah. Look at that snow...

Thursday was my last speed work, 4x1 mile repeats. I ran these solo, which happened to be the first time in this training cycle that I did unsupported speed work. Up until now, I have either been on the treadmill, or had Eric's help, with his amazing metronome like internal speedometer. Needless to say, I was a little uneasy about my ability to crank out 4 repeats at "close to" 7:20 pace with any kind of consistency. I was successful though, and managed all 4 in just under that time. It was a very cold evening- like 36 degrees and raw af. My feet were frozen from being at work and did not warm up until I was all done running and cooling down.... It was most unpleasant running on little ice block feet.

It snowed on Friday. Nothing horrific but a solid 3" in about an hour. So, fast and furious.

Stop now

The stupid fresh snow did make for a pretty start to Saturday. Luckily, it melted for my 3PM final *long* run to the pub.

Not ugly. But too snowy, 

I ran a solo 11 miles, at an 8:20 pace to wrap things up for this training cycle. It was a very good run, on the chilly side, with a pretty serious head wind.
Overall, it was a very solid way to end this long season of running.
(and I keep having these lonely, solo workouts because Eric has been sick for a legit month. He is now suffering from a festering and miserable sinus infection.... No good. He did drive to Bear Bones with Lee, and drank water and sadly played chess.)

PUB RUN COMPLETE

I'm certainly looking forward to next Monday. I feel about as prepared as one could wish to be, and with no pressure surrounding any time goal, I feel very relaxed.

The weather also looks good (for me, and only me. Sorry....)
Fools summer is rolling in on Friday and Saturday (with temps into the 70's, FUCK NO!!!) But, as of now, the heat wave will be getting the hell out just in time.

I am feeling JUST FINE about this!!!!

Monday is forecast to be mid 50's and raining.
Yes it is.
YES. IT. IS!!!!!!

(my apologies)

Let the games begin!

Miles Run: 25.2 (slightly lower than normal, it will make no difference)

Elevation this week: 1,005

Lowest low temp: Cold. It was 21 on Thursday morning. Lots of cold days with temps in the 30's

Highest temp: Cold. It was not a nice week. I think it was 46 for one random second. 

Total snowfall: 3" and a few snow showers here and there

Coldest day that I ran outdoors: 34 but dripping wet snow and wind and gross

Random fact: I much prefer marathoning in shit weather than sunny and 70. 

Week 15: Go time.

Just like that, training is really over. Like over, over.

Or, as we always like to say at this point (yearly)

Game. Over. Man. 

Anyways...

Quick recap, since I am the middle of packing for the big weekend. 

Last Monday, it was a nice day! Warm and sunny, muddy and melty. 

Eric and I enjoyed a few miles together. 

Current state of the big snowbank

I ran a few more Tuesday miles, with a few pickups thrown in so that my legs don't think they are on permanent vacation.

I did not run over the bitch hills this week, so instead, I give you pictures of rushing brooks. 

This brook is no more than a trickle in the summer

I had a rest day on Wednesday, but it might have been the best day of the week.

WHY?

Because my amazing BAA approved fanny pack arrived, and it is fucking majestic. 

I am so excited to keep my items in this lovely thing, for all occasions. 

Fucking. Majestic. 

On Thursday I had a tiny, baby "workout" or 4x800. 

It wasn't too warm, so I added some extra layers to try to prep for a too hot marathon day. I don't have many options when it comes to forcing acclimation, so the best I can do is overdress like a dork. 

Overdressed 

Friday was EXPO DAY!!! EXPO DAY!!!

Possibly my favorite day of the year. 

My Dad and I got off to a nice early start. My original barn helper for the day came down with a vicious bug, so Eric got to step in as guardian of the horses. 

Yay!!

It was busy at the expo but not like, Saturday busy (thank the lord.)

We basically zipped in, spent  million dollars, and zipped out. 

This was the least awkward shot. Still so awkward. 

I really had wonderful luck getting everything on my list. Some years are like that, it's like you follow the dots to exactly what you want/need. 

I got gifts for friends, one of the houndstooth jackets for myself, and a pair for the new Hoka slides which are SO comfy. Dorky, but they give you footgasams. 

And, of course, we made it to Sam Adams for a teeny tiny beer!!

Lee and Sara adventures for the win

We managed to avoid ALL the normal traffic on the way home, so we had time to stop in at Austin Street for the Beer of the week!!!

A REMARKABLE DIPA. Perfection. I plan to fill my growler with this ASAP. 

Jesus, just LOOK AT IT.

And that brings us to today. 

The first day in (wait for it) a three day warm spell. Of course. 

Overdressed, again

Because this is my blog, I am going to say it. 

I'm a little bummed that for the second year in a row, I nailed a training cycle and, due to the too hot (for me) weather, I won't be able to test myself. 

Now don't get me wrong!! I have not thrown in the towel at all, and I am planning to run my best race and there is NOTHING more exciting then participating in the Boston Marathon. 

But for fuck's sake. On Tuesday it will be 47 frigging degrees. WHY CAN'T THAT BE MONDAY??

Ok, whining over. Gotta suck it up. Gotta be brave and zip it. 

Since it is the SAME weather (or a touch warmer) than last year, I have a plan. *sigh* 

Safety first, plenty of water, and an easier pace than I had hoped for because the temp will be 28 degrees warmer than my warmest long run. 

Boston marathon day is a great day, regardless of the stupid weather. I'm looking forward to the whole weekend and will blog endlessly about it (in about 3 weeks, haha.)

Anyway! Wish me luck, and good luck to all my fellow runners!

Weekly stats: 
Miles run: After tomorrow, 20
Longest run: 5 hahaha
Other: A little stretching, a little nothing...
Wildlife sightings: Nothing! How boring. 
Low/High temps: 25/68 BECAUSE THAT IS NORMAL
How am I feeling? Nicely tapered. Good. 
Beer of the week: Austin Street DIPA, basically a perfect 10

ONE WEEK TO GO!!! And training from last week.

One week to go until Boston!!! (which means summer showed up today, duh.)

Summer also showed up last Monday. It was fifty two degrees which (honestly) felt like a boiling hot heatwave. Eric and I stripped down to summer duds and ran a recovery run together like lovahs.

Studs 

The snowbanks were still ridiculous, so in order to properly document the melting process here is a lovely photo. (April 3rd, first t-shirt run, big fucking snow pile, the end.)

BIG HAYOUGE SNOWBANK!

I was WISE and had planned to take Tuesday off. The forecast called for 8-12 inches of snow, which was downright appalling. By some stroke of luck, we only got a couple inches, but the whole day was a sleety, stormy, wet mess. GROSS.

Seriously.....

Honestly.... I started double extra strength praying for a cold rainy marathon day, SINCE THAT KIND OF WEATHER IS MY LIFE.

COME ON.....!!!!

Wednesday was my final foray into Bitch Hilldom. It was not warm, and 38 degrees and clammy certainly isn't preparing anyone for impending summer.
But.... I had a quite good run. There were Sheriffs driving all over town, which was both interesting and confusing. I was very curious about what they where up to, but one can't exactly flag them down and ask them. So, my questions went unanswered.

Bitch Hill on April 5th. STILL SNOWY.

Thursday was my other pre planned rest day.
OBVIOUSLY for  more weather related reasons (it pays to plan your whole training week around the forecast! be like me and let the weather report be your guide!)

So yeah. No running but plenty of Expert Water Relocation. This is what one does, when flooding is not something you want to see happen. Plus, it is fun. Playing in mud is terrific.

It is hereditary. I see mud, I want to move it around. I AM MY DAD OMG. 

Back to it on Friday, with some mile repeats. I am pleased to say that the repeats felt easier than they did a month ago. I planned to run close to a 7:40 pace and I stuck to that. My legs felt like they could have done better, but with the marathon drawing near, there's no point in pushing my luck.

Mile repeats, done. Still cold enough for a vest...

Saturday was the final double digit run.
10 miles at an 8:35 pace, in 40 degree gusting wind, ominous swirling clouds, and sleet pelting down for the first three miles.
Very exciting.
I saw a female fisher cat, and was excited to see some high water in the stream.
(I like nature and crap, and enjoy high water, watching the ice go out and such. I am a proper Mainer who drives around after a big storm to see what kind of chaos Mother Nature threw down. *apparently* not everyone does this. weird. )

NATURE!!! HIGH WATER!!!!!

And then on Sunday, another super easy run.
And then, I celebrated the FINAL can of my favorite beer of the winter....

I must buy more....

And then I took a look at the psycho forecast.

(BTW, today was Monday the10th and it was 72... HELLO) 

And YES.... I have looked at the extended forecast for Marathon Monday and while it is not terrible it is not wonderful. Right now Sunday will be 72 (BAD!!!! BAD!!!!!!!!!) Monday will be 61 (Better.... But for shit's sake, still so much warmer than ANYTHING I have trained in. TYPICAL.) Tuesday FORTY SEVEN. GRRRRR. Give me some 47!!!! BUT, I will take 61 over 72!

Sigh. I'll make the best of it no matter what. We all know that the risk of a Spring marathon is that random warm day and, for SURE, it could be worse.
I plan not to even bother checking again for a few days. It helps that I am quite busy this week.

Anyway. Here are the stats.

Weekly stats: 
Miles run: 34.6
Longest run: 10
Other: TWO full blown core/strength days plus one abs/hips day and stretching. 
Wildlife sightings: One Fisher Cat
Low/High temps: 30/52 and snow and sleet and all kinds of crap
How am I feeling? Totally decent. 100% better than before Hartford (which does NOT mean I will run faster. not at all. but I feel great which counts for a lot.) 
Beer of the week: My FINAL Trillium Mettle.... So delicious. So gone 

Suddenly... It is TWO WEEKS until Boston!

Two weeks to go...
GAH! How did THAT happen? For the longest time I had about 1,856 weeks to get ready and now the shit has hit the fan and I'm tapering.

Snow. Hill reps. Nut butter. Hoka's. Basically my life.

My final long run, of 18 miles was yesterday and it was the worst. It was 35 degrees with a serious 35-40 MPH wind which made things just as amusing as you would think. At mile 10 I turned onto the road back home and face first into the most intense head wind that I have had the pleasure of running in in quite some time. (also, Emma's Dad- if you are reading- I notice you have a cat. Yeah, I'm the creepy runner that notices spare animals in driveways, let that cat inside and get your son an allergy pill, he'll be ok! ;-))
Anyway, wildlife aside the run was fun good times, and perfect acclimation for what is sure to be an 80 degree day in Boston. I felt as though I was being pushed backwards and I could do little more than laugh and swear and try to stay upright (yeah, now the people in my town think that I run while intoxicated due to my staggering gait. Woof!

THIS

Horrid long run aside, last week was decent. All of my other workouts went off without a hitch and that is encouraging. It is hard to believe that I have only spent two weeks fully back on the road vs in on the treadmill but I might as well believe it- because that's the truth! Luckily I was able to get some road time in during the last two weeks in March so that counts for something. I'm also thankful for a successful run at the Eastern States 20- without that I might feel like a hopeless case.

My LEFT FOOT is a hopeless case...

Per the norm I am reflecting back on this training cycle and wondering how this Boston experience will play out.
Two years ago I ran in a 3:31:xx  and felt like I had trained hard, spent 90% of my time road running and despite my worries about the hills I was able to push through. I had an amazing second half of the race and set an (at the time) PR. Like a boss.
Last year I felt like I nailed my training cycle and despite a decent amount of indoor running I had been able to get in all my long runs outdoors, I had run several lead up races and had cross trained like a complete hero (and I was on the verge of a serious burnout but did not know it yet.) Nothing could have prepared me for a hot day and I had a miserable run, ran the first half at PR pace and then blew up, finishing in around 3:55. (this is a respectable pace for sure- simply not what I had trained for. No disrespect to any marathoner of any speed- but when you are training for a sub 3:25 and miss it by 30 minutes it is a lie to say that you are pleased!) 

I ran every run this year, until a few weeks ago on the treadmill- and certainly felt it when I got out onto the roads again. (sorry trashed quads.) It has been terribly cold and I'm used to it, I run nicely in the chilly weather and ask that it just stick around in some capacity until the 21st. While I'm not exactly setting speed records this time around I have been extremely consistent in my training and have been enjoying it. (if only more of it had been on the road in real life conditions...) My mileage has made me happy and has balanced out my concern about lack on endurance over tricky terrain. I'm always worried about the Newton hills- for good reason. They are scary as you think they are.

Bottom line, if it is an 70 (or 60- who am I kidding!?) day in a couple of weeks I am effed to the maximum but will still have fun. I will have a beer with the drunk BC boys, kiss a Wellesley girl, take selfies with my Dad at mile 18.5 and steal candy from the kids in Kenmore. This actually sounds like a really great time!

If I luck out and it is a maximum of 42 degrees and variably overcast, with freak snow showers, maybe some ice, and also a 50 MPH wind (tail wind, or tail gale as I have been calling it) I will win the whole race and be on the cover of Runners World next month since the entire world will be shocked by my running dominance in horrible conditions! HAH! This too is a great plan. There will be no middle ground, I plan to either win or walk. The end.

I'm excited though. I feel like there isn't pressure this year, I already qualified for 2016, I don't feel like I have trained for a PR, I am taking the casual approach to the whole shebang (says the person who just tapped out a million miles.... it's all relative!)

My motto for this year is "flexibility' I plan to roll with the punches, adjust according to weather and have a helluva great day out there. I'm lucky to be able to experience something as cool as running the Boston Marathon and I appreciate every year that I make it to the start. After questioning my ability as much as I did last year I appreciate even more what it takes to make it to the start of this journey and it isn't something that I would ever take for granted.

All of us who line up in two weeks have a hard earned spot there. We all deserve to celebrate the fact that we made it, and this year I plan to enjoy every step on my way to the finish.

Stormageddon Update....

We are more or less in a holding pattern here in Maine.

The great news is that the officials running the Marathon have been excellent at keeping us informed.

We expect an official decision on the race status at 4 PM tomorrow.

 

 

Hahahaha.... Glad it won't be THIS bad!

As it turns out it looks like Hyannis will be experiencing mostly heavy rain, and remarkable (possibly 50 MPH!) winds.

Ummmm. Less that ideal? But much better than snow!

 

We're operating as though this marathon will take place. Getting stuff packed and organized. Refusing to fall face first into a large vat of ice cream and/or wine... (for the time being.)  My taper tantrum has ceased much to the relief of my exclusive dating partner and I'm pretty much ready to man up for whatever we end up doing.

 

I have prepared a slightly crazy back up plan but am planning on taking care of shit at this marathon as long as they will let us run. I'm seriously contemplating the purchase of some rainy day gear- as much as I don't like adding tons of layers the thought of 3.5 hours in driving rain makes me feel prune-y to say the least.

 

Planning to spend the day working (duh) eating (DUH) and getting everything ready to leave the house and head for Mass at 4:02 tomorrow afternoon. (good, positive thinking!!)

 

Fingers crossed. Let's do this thing!!!

In which it appears that the shit is about to hit the fan....

This morning I sent my coach an email that read like this:

Dear Kelsey,

I AM FREAKING OUT!

That is all,

Sara

 

This is why.
SON. OF. A. BITCH.

Double Fact.

I'm seriously contemplating what Plan B is going to be if this weekend goes as is currently is forecasted to. It seems very unlikely that a race can be held in blizzard like conditions. It seems just as unlikely that I can run a sub 3:35 in hurricane force winds with even a couple inches of snow on the road... And honestly (no need to hate) I haven't spent 16 weeks training HARD to injure myself now, or to run less than my best effort. Yeah, I'm a jerk like that!

 

Marathons are not easy to find here at this time of year so it isn't like I can just bob over to town x, out of the storms path and get my marathon in. *sigh*

 

There isn't much I can do about it now. Between being at the very end of a taper and now dealing with the shenanigans of this stormy mess I have had a few moments of irritation.

 

(yes, I know this isn't life or death. yes, I know that the world does not revolve around marathons. yes, I know that "in the big picture" blah, blah, blah...) (anyone who trains for a marathon just wants to do it, ya know?) (and yes, I'm sure that whatever plan B ends up being will be fun and successful.) (But for this moment of today I just want to be grouchy!!)

 

See? Grouchy!

I'm currently operating as though things are going to be a "go" on Sunday. By tomorrow evening we should have a somewhat more factual (or, at least a closer-to-the-day) forecast which will make the decision easy. I am crossing my fingers that it turns out ok and that this storm will go out to sea, up to Canada or just vanish into thin air!

Let's all be hopeful!

One Week... ONE WEEK!!!

With one week to go until Hyannis I am officially ready. FOR IT TO BE OVER!!!

No lie, I'm just ready to get this shit over with.

Yeah, yeah. It's "about the journey blah blah blah" Please don't make me barf...

No we should not

At first tapering makes me a little bored and antsy. THEN in turns me into a terrible runner. My legs weigh 600 pounds each and (according to them) have never run a day in their lives. Any training that they have done since December 1st has been forgotten in favor of sluggish behavior and malaise. GROSS!

ERRRR! MER FERVRIT!!!

Marathon training is hard work dammit, even when it is a good training cycle as this one has been.  Remembering back to the last time I had a legit taper (in July, I didn't taper for MDI because I hadn't really been training. That's the way to do it!!) Anyway, I didn't really enjoy that taper either. Yes, I was pretty nastily injured but I also felt worse and worse as each easy run was checked off my training plan. I think it's all just a bunch of mental hulabaloo but that doesn't make it pleasant...

This is a good sign.
I hate the ones at mile 18 that lie about being "almost there!"

I have been complaining excessively to my poor coach about all my various imaginary maladies and severe boredom in my training log. Luckily, she finds me amusing and continues to put up with my shenanigans. Eric has taken to wearing ear plugs while in speaking distance from me as to avoid the constant flow of marathon disaster jargon. 

I kid, I kid. Kind of...

I plan to, thank you very much!

In reality, all moaning and wailing aside I feel (except for an hourly, I mean daily, oops weekly) panic attack, as prepared as I possibly can be. At this point there is NOTHING that anybody can do about it even if I am woefully unprepared so I might as well just suck it up.

One week. I'm ready to do some epic shit and get it done!

The Middle-Aged Household Status (a cohabitors guest blog)

So, I was tapped to be an epic guest blogger here on Middle-Aged-Runner, even though I still dispute the fact that I am middle aged, and calling me a runner is a stretch. I will not go into the details here on what was used to coerce me into writing this entry. No, not that. It mostly involves food and beer, and maybe some cheese and crackers and some wine. I like wine. Anyway.

As you wish.

Things here at the middle-aged household are coming down to a more normal level after hitting a peak of insanity recently due to horses, snow storms, races and parallel peaking marathon training plans. And by more normal level, I mean that while we now have more time in which to do household things like vacuum, do dishes and fold laundry (HA! like the laundry will *ever* get folded!) We are both going taper crazy whilst and at the same time. It’s a good time. Actually, to tell you the truth, it’s not too bad. We keep each other sane and talk each other off of the arm of the couch before anyone does anything terrible. (FYI - Danielle has perfected the art of couch-arm-talking-down, I learned everything I know from her.) 

This is a fact.

With under 2 weeks to go until Hyannis (which is an ‘A’ race for both of us, my 1st marathon (No, the run of an Ironman doesn’t count. (Also, I love parentheticals.)), and Sara's 2014 Boston qualifier) talk has begun to focus on logistics and weather. I find myself constantly refreshing future forecasts hoping to will the weather into being warm and wind free come February 24th.

Oh magical intertubes make the weather awesome.

Also, I am in a constant debate with myself about nutrition and what to carry and what will be supplied by the aid stations. Annoyingly, Sara is very cavalier about nutrition and if she can get a gel or two down she is all set (she tends to eject said nutrition after (or sometimes during) the race so who can really blame her.) My current plan has me downing no less than eight (8) packets of the gooey, slimy things at intervals that are very unlikely to have conveniently placed aid stations. Ugh! I don’t want to think about it anymore! So much stress!

On the plus side, despite the fail that was the Mid-Winter Classic X 2 20 miler, I am feeling strong and fast (just maybe not long enough (TWSS)). 

Mid-Winter Classic Team Pic - Also, I love the GIMP.

As you can tell I need some work on the positive thinking side of things. I have set up a few mantras for just this reason.

Here is a small sample:

• Why do I do this to myself?
• I quit.
• Is this all you've got?
• You might be able to do this, on a good day.
• Don’t let the geriatric old lady get away, damn.
• How many miles left?

I’m told that these might not be ideal.

The only other thing going on is the constant battle that Sara fights with herself about getting a new pooch. We have plenty of four legged children running around (3) who are constantly underfoot, barking annoyingly and eating all the pompoms on the winter hats.

Including my fantastic Jyane Cobb hat :-/

But, she keeps seeing cute puppy pictures on the FB and then goes about making puppy eyes at me asking if we can get one more. I of course say, “Sure! why not? We have plenty of room!” thereby making her realize that if I agree to it, it must be one of the most terrible ideas ever, and the crisis is averted. For at least the next few hours. Or until she sees the next cute puppy picture.

Hopefully, Sara will stop being lazy and start blogging again so you don't have to deal with my incoherent blathering anymore. ( I can feel the followers fleeing as we speak.)

Eric