I have a guest blogger today! My friend Gail ran the Flying Pigs Marathon and I asked her if she would like to tell her story. This LINK is to the course map and you can zoom in, etc.
In this well written piece she gives some solid advice and insight into her pre-race routine starting 7 days out from race time. Enjoy!
Sunday – 7 Days until Marathon
Beantown to Porkopolis – Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon
Long run today was an easy 10 miles along the Charles in Boston. North Station to Harvard Bridge along the Esplanade and Memorial Drive on the way back. If you are a runner and are ever in Boston , take a loop around the Charles River. On a sunny day with the little sailboats and scullers on the water and Boston skyline in the background, it is just breathtaking.
Since it was a late in the day run, my running buddy Jamie and I did an early dinner at Tip Top Tap near Government Center. We runners need to fortify ourselves with a good brew after a long run. I started my marathon prep diet, so I limited myself to non-meat.
Monday – 6 Days until Marathon
The excitement is uncontainable. Concentration at work is difficult. I keep looking at the marathon website and making notes of what to bring. Since this is a destination race, I am gathering my running gear. Last thing I want to do is forget my GPS. I stick to my reduced meat. I have been plagued with runner’s trots in the past, so I am very particular about what I eat. I focus on easily digestible foods and avoid meat, especially beef. There is really nothing worse than being in the middle of a race, or any long run for that matter, and get the OH NO feeling. For rural runners you can always dodge into the woods, but for city dwellers, well you better hope the Dunkin Donut’s doesn’t lock their bathrooms. And the worst case; you Uta Pippig and well, you get the picture. So my motto is ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE SQUARE.
Tuesday – 5 Days until Marathon
I planned to do an easy six miles with the running club, but got pulled into help with our Walk to Run program. So I did a quick 3 miles, then came back and did the walk/run with the newbies. I am not a ridged training kind of person, so if my plans somehow change, I chalk it up to the universe trying to tell me something.
Wednesday – 4 days until Marathon
Got hot pink hair extension today. I may be 50, but I am not too old to rock the punk look and have some fun. I looked at the weather for Sunday in Cinci. Showed 40% change of rain. Argg… I don’t want to do 26 miles of wet.
Thursday – 3 days until Marathon
Last day of work this week and of course I can’t concentrate. I ran an easy 4 miles this morning with my usual Thursday speed group. Even though running is an individual sport, finding a running club or just a few friends that will meet you early in the morning rain or shine is great for your training and psyche. I can confidently say that if it weren’t for my running club’s Sunday Long Runs and their general support, I would not be running this or any marathon. Those snowy, cold days of training are much easier to endure when you are doing it with a bunch of other nut case runners.
Friday – 2 days until Marathon
I flew out today. Boston to Cincinnati via Chicago.
When doing a destination marathon, travel plans can implode unexpectedly. My original flight to Chicago was delayed, which would have caused me to miss my connection to Cincinnati. As fate would have it, I was able to get on another delayed flight which meant that I could leave on time. When I got to Chicago, I had 15 minute to run across the airport with my bags to catch the jumper flight to Cincinnati. In my haste, I didn’t zip my back pack, and ended up losing my running food and Boston headband. Of course as soon as I get to the gate, they delay that flight an hour. So word to the wise, stuff can happen on route, plan for contingencies and go with the flow.
After checking into hotel, I roamed around town then went to the Expo to pick up my race packet. Race swag included a short sleeve tech shirt, poster and soft cooler. All items were high quality. Cincinnati did a SOLID for Boston by selling Porkopolis to Beantown, Cincinnati Stands Boston Strong shirts. There were also two banners with the slogan that people could sign, along with Boston Strong bracelets. All net proceeds to go to the Boston One Fund
My son Jack, who goes to school at Xavier University, met me for a late dinner and a few pre-race beers. Yes, I believe beer is a food source.
Saturday – 1 day until Marathon
We slept in until noon (kinda late night at the bar), got up and foraged for food then went to the Expo. The Expo was as good as Boston’s plenty of non-profits and vendors for any race need. I purchased Gu and Stinger Wafers to replace the ones lost on my sprint through the airport, and purchased some Flying Pig merchandise. Proctor and Gamble is a major sponsor of the race, so they were giving out free samples. Asics is the main running sponsor. The entire Expo was well organized and very enjoyable.
After the Expo, we venture down to the start line. I wanted to make sure I knew where I was going as the race has an early start time of 6:30. Later that evening I had the mandatory pasta dinner with other friends that were running the race. Early to bed as 4 AM comes fast. I had to force myself to go to sleep, I was so excited. I was as bad as a kid on Christmas Eve.
Sunday – Cincinnati Flying Pigs Marathon
Up at 4 AM, I had a cup of coffee, Gatorade and a few bites of food. Lesson learned from other races, stop drinking an hour before Gun Time. At 5 I meandered down to the Start Corrals. I was having some gastro issues which worried me. I hijacked a porta-john and was determined that I would not come out until I was successful at relieving myself. I was texting Andy and my husband while waiting as I didn’t have a newspaper to keep me occupied. Finally, my mission complete, I headed down to the Corral and met up with my friend Jamie. I found my 4:20 pace team, then proceeded to the outhouse again for one last evacuation. My only mishap was that my GPS watch fell apart when I went to turn it on, so I had to run without electronics.
After the Star Spangled Banner was played and the gun went off, the PA system began belting out Sweet Caroline and Dirty Water by the Standells; both songs a tribute to Boston. In fact, there so many people with Boston Strong shirts on, that you didn’t know who was really from Boston.
I can’t say enough good things about the Flying Pig Marathon. At every mile they had water, Gatorade, Pace Clocks and porta-johns (Praise the Lord). The route was 26.2 miles of people, entertainment, cheering and fun. I did not think the course was that difficult, but then again, we run a lot of hills during our training. I kept the 4:20 pace group in my sights. I also had a 4:30 pace tattoo on my arm, so even without my watch I had a good idea of my time. If you are looking for a destination race; Run where Pigs Fly.
The weather was 62 with a light drizzle. At mile 23, it started to rain harder. At mile 24, my son joined me to support my “sprint” to the Finish Swine. His encouragement along with the cheers from the spectators helped me plod through those last few grueling miles. Finally, the bittersweet crossing of the finish line: exhausted, elated, sad, relieved and hungry, I received my beautiful medal and
Mylar blanket. With my fuzzy post marathon brain, we wondered off to get some snacks and bask in the afterglow of a job well done.
Post-Marathon
I treated myself to Skyline Chili before heading back to Boston. Friends and colleagues sent messages of congratulations on my 4:21:41 finish time. (Editorial Note: this is 51 minutes better than her 1st marathon!) Days later, no longer sore, I am still riding the endorphin wave. There will be a short-time off the hard training, but in less than two months we will start the Sunday Long Runs again. Once the distance bug bites you, it is hard to stop the itch. Next stop 20th Anniversary ING Hartford Marathon.