| Author |
Topic: Too Soon for a Boston Marathon thread? |
PacerChris
Cool Runner |
 posted Nov-21-2006 09:35 AM
   
Got my card in the mail yesterday...now the key is to not lose it between now and then!
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spankee
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-21-2006 09:33 PM
They look exactly like last years and a bit like the results card so you can just put them in a stack for safe keeping.Spring time in New England-- I can feel it already.
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bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-22-2006 01:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by spankee:
Spring time in New England-- I can feel it already.
Oh how I wish spankee! I am not looking forward to the winter weather here in New England! Spring can't come soon enough, at least the prospect of running and training for Boston will give us all something to look forward to. ------------------
My User Profile "Keep on Running"
Bob
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lbasciano
Member |
posted Nov-22-2006 06:09 PM
I qualified for Boston at the Philly marathon! Well... I think I did anyway. I finished in 3:40:42. Do they really allow the extra 59 seconds? If so, I really got through by the skin of my teeth!
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PacerChris
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-22-2006 06:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by lbasciano:
I qualified for Boston at the Philly marathon! Well... I think I did anyway. I finished in 3:40:42. Do they really allow the extra 59 seconds? If so, I really got through by the skin of my teeth!
Shoot - you had 17 seconds you could have hammed it up a little down the home stretch! Anything under BQ+59 seconds is just showing off! 
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runninlaw
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-22-2006 06:49 PM
Man, I guess I should register already!When looking for hotels, I found that almost everything close to the finish was either $400+ or sold out. So I talked to my aunt (who lives in Weymouth) and she suggested Waltham since it is relatively convenient to downtown and has suites (we were considering bringing kids). I could get a full suite for $120 per night. I just went on the BAA website and saw they have more hotel options listed than was there a month ago. I called around and got into the Radisson Boston. It isn't cheap, but it is probably a lot more convenient and a lot more fun. ($335 per night). Any opinions on this (i.e. Waltham v. Radisson)? The price difference is about $210 per night, so it is significant. I am looking forward to starting my training next month! I have been feeling like somthing of a sloth since Des Moines. I am one hoping to PR - I know I have it in me if I train well and this is the last year I will be able to devote so much time to my training without significant stress in other areas of my life.
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Q46
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-25-2006 08:43 PM
Hi everyone,I recently qualified and registered for Boston. Does anybody know how frequently the entrant database is updated. Last I checked it was updated on the 17th of November. I applied on the 19th. I'm pretty sure that I am in, but would really like to see my name on the list. Anyhow, i'm very excited to run in Boston, and looking forward to racing with everyone! Thanks,
Q46
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paulmitch
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-28-2006 08:42 AM
Haven't gotten my confirmation yet either. Just the email telling me my application has been received, and my credit card will be charged when they confirm my time. I'm hoping soon. I'd rather have the piece of mind knowing I am in before starting an intense program. Good luck.
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PacerChris
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-28-2006 09:10 AM
paulmitch - don't go looking for excuses to not train hard!  What marathon did you qualify at? They submit the results to BAA and periodically the BAA will confirm the entries.
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paulmitch
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-28-2006 11:06 AM
Ha ha pacer Chris thanks. No excuse. Just qualified in NY. Hey did you guys see the video of the course on active.com. I'm not sure if you posted it on here yet.
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gagiii
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-28-2006 12:31 PM
I just got an email from registration/Boston. If you qualified at NYC 06, they are still waiting for printed final results from NY.GAG
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altair
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-28-2006 04:55 PM
Re Waltham vs Boston: I live just outside of Boston. I recommend Waltham to visiting family precisely because the hotels are so much more reasonably priced. But it's not particularly convenient for the marathon. You're not on a train line. Nor are you in an area that is remotely touristy. Those hotels primarily support the corporate parks. On the other hand, it's not wildly inconvenient either -- assuming you have a car. Probably the best way to get into town is to drive (if you are familiar with Boston, it's not far) or drive to the Riverside T stop on Rte 128 and take the Green Line from there. To get to Hopkinton Monday morning you'll have to leave really early to go in town for the buses or else drive to the satellite parking on the outskirts of Hopkinton. I think the BAA organizes buses back to Hopkinton afterwards... you should check on that. If you weren't planning on having a car, don't go to Waltham.
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runninlaw
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-28-2006 07:20 PM
Thanks altair. Yes, if we do Waltham, we will get a car. If Boston, no car b/c the hotel charges you $30/day to park it there! Yikes! I just checked airfare too and it is jacked up right now. Fun. I guess it all comes down to how cheap I am. I could fly into providence, rent a car and stay in waltham for the same price as just staying at the Boston hotel. But, it is a big experience, maybe I should just go big and enjoy it!!As far as registration and waiting goes, I registered a couple of days ago but did not receive any sort of e-mail. However, when I checked the BAA website, I was listed (it only took 3 days). The waiting is probably entirely dependent on how quickly the BAA can verify your qualifying results. I was at a pretty small marathon, so they were probably quicker than the NY folks are.
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kbmm
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-28-2006 09:51 PM
All this Boston talk is making me INSANE!
I'm off to Vegas Dec. 8 to run the Vegas Marathon on Dec. 10....and hopefully register for Boston on the 11th. Let's just hope the Elvises and Showgirls don't get in my way ; )
I'll let you all know whether I make it!
Karyn
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thereshegoes
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 09:15 AM
runninlaw- you can totally PR in April! You just ran a blazing fast 5k!! Train consistently, prepare yourself for the hills, and run a smart race and you're so there! I'm going for one too and I'm going for a big one. Like you, this very well might be the last few months that I can devote this much time and energy to runnning so we might as well make it count! As for hotels and such, I would err on the side of doing what will make you the most comfortable and help you have a great experience. Of course, spending more money than your comfortable spending can greatly interfere with your enjoyment--it can mine anyway! As for registration, it took about a couple of days for my registration to show up. My marathon was also smaller and I registered online. I got my card about 10 days after registering.
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runninlaw
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 09:39 AM
thereshegoes - are you doing the pfitz 18/55 to train or are you doing the 70? I am going to do the 18/55. I tried to do it last time, but was unable to follow it closely until the latter stages of my training. I am hoping to follow it very closely this time.I am reading 26 Miles to Boston right now and it is a really cool book. It is criticized because it is written by a guy that bandited the race, but it has a ton of info on the marathon and its history. Very interesting. I think I am going to spend the cash and stay in Boston. I think it would be much more fun that way.
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thereshegoes
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 10:09 AM
Hmm. I plan on peaking at 70mpw, but that's just a coincidence. I believe I follow more of a Jack Daniels approach, but I don't really know since it's all second-hand knowledge at work here. After I build up my miles I'll start doing some shorter Vo2 threshold repeats, then do longer intervals and then move to more tempo runs and finally marathon paced stuff. That's what I did last time. I will probably spend less time on the short fast stuff this time around since I seem to be doing well there given my recent short races. I'll focus more time on tempo runs and marathon paced stuff. I'll also of course be working on conditioning my legs for the hills. Last time I did most of my weekly runs on hilly terrain but my long runs were almost all on a pretty flat trail. This time I'll be doing the long runs mostly on hilly roads/trails. The best thing I did last time was push the last 2-6 miles of my long runs aiming for 10 seconds or so faster than MP. I plan on doing that again, but instead of going 7:40 I'll be aiming for 7:15--yikes! I think the main things are to get my mind and body happy with a 7:25-7:30 pace and make that seem mentally and physically easy and to make hills my friends. So whatever plan that is, that's my plan.  How does this mesh with Pfitz? PS I think staying in Boston is a great plan!
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paulmitch
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 12:10 PM
Thanks guys for the info on qualifying in NY. I thought with the bigger race, and more exposure they could get my results fairly easy. Just want to make definite plans. Thanks again. Best of luck with training.
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runninlaw
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 01:24 PM
thereshegoes,I have the Daniels book but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. lol. pfitz breaks the training down into 4 mesocycles (1st endurance, 2nd lactate threshhold, 3rd race prep, then taper and race). Basically during the 1st phase (endurance), it is all base building. The only speedier work is throwing in striders. During the 2nd phase, there is more tempo work and long intervals. It is during this time that mileage reaches its peak. During the 3rd cycle, he throws in VO2 Max workouts (speed work) every week and several tune-up races. I too have been focusing on hills and speeding up at the end of my runs. I am in a very hilly area, so that part should be no problem. I also want to focus more on MP. Last time around I did not really do that until the last couple of weeks. I am hoping to hit 3:25, but I am worried it may be tough with as crowded of a field as Boston is. I am going to give it a whirl though!!! Good luck to you!
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PacerChris
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 02:06 PM
runninlaw,
Have you not run Boston before? Don't worry too much about the crowds - it is indeed crowded but assuming 3:25 isn't too far from your qualifying time, most of the folks in your corral will be going at a similar pace. Any seconds you might lose in the first few miles are offset byt the downhill that you start on - I was hoping for 6:45 in mile 1 and hit something like 6:50, 6:55. People all around, but all moving at the same or similar pace.Just get yourself in the middle of the road - the people who tend to dart around are usually on the sides so I stay in the middle till it thins out.
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thereshegoes
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 02:13 PM
runninlaw- I really think a 3:25 will be very attainable for you from what you've said about your training/races. If I recall correctly, you ran a pretty solid negative split in Des Moines (on top of all the craziness in your life around that time!) and it sounded like you did it relatively comfortably. Add in a consistent training cycle and I really think you're there. Sure it's going to be crowded at Boston but I like to think of the crowds as insurance against going out to fast Going for a big PR in Boston (from what I understand) usually means you get to pass A LOT of people too because of the corral system. Imagine how awesome that will be. I am somewhat worried about the crowds since I've never run a race of this magnitude, but I am most worried about the course and the weather. I am not sure how I will handle the varied terrain and of course the weather can really throw a wrench in plans. We can't do anything about the weather so all we can do is love us some hills and running next to strangers Anyway, good luck to you too with your training. It's going to be fun to put in all these miles in the snow!!
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runninlaw
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-29-2006 03:21 PM
PacerChris, yep, this is the first Boston for me. I guess the crowds freak me out b/c I know people that have done Chicago and they say the whole race is "dodge and weave." Both marathons I have done have been pretty small races. I am actually shooting for 12 minutes faster than my qualifying time. Hopefully I will be able to move up without killing myself. Thereshegoes, I also think a 3:25 as attainable as long as I can train injury free. I felt great at Des Moines and did have a big negative split (good memory!). I don't mind the snow, but boy did I wish it didn't get dark by 4:30 already!!
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actonrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-30-2006 10:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by runninlaw:
PacerChris, yep, this is the first Boston for me. I guess the crowds freak me out b/c I know people that have done Chicago and they say the whole race is "dodge and weave." ... Hopefully I will be able to move up without killing myself.
Boston is not Chicago. I can assure you that you won't have to do the dodge and weave at Boston unless your qualifying time is far, far slower then your target time. In fact, doing the dodge and weave in the couple of miles to make up a few seconds is a *monumentally* bad idea. Your first mile may be slightly slower than your target time (maybe 10 seconds or so), as wise runners use it to warm up and keep their pace under control, but if you're not careful you'll more than make that up in the next few miles when your excess adrenaline causes you to take the downhills too fast. Every year I see a few obvious newbies doing this, and I'm confident I'll see them later in the race. Remember this: Everyone in your corral is, on paper, just about as fast as you, and everyone ahead of you is, on paper, faster than you. You will (almost certainly) pass some people, and you will (almost certainly) be passed by other people, but by and large you'll be surrounded by people running your pace the entire way [This message has been edited by actonrunner (edited Nov-30-2006).]
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Jotto23
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-30-2006 02:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by dhuey:
Has anyone seen a hill-adjusted split calculator for Boston? For New York and a few other marathons, NikeRunning.com has suggested mile times (adjusted for hills) for any given finish time goal. Strangely, they don't have Boston. Anyone know of such a site?
The Nike site calls it marathon monday... that will give you the Boston mile splits
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paulmitch
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-30-2006 03:47 PM
Okay cool. I just got my email confirmation, and I show up on ths site. Official! thanks for the advice. Lets get this thread cranking.[This message has been edited by paulmitch (edited Nov-30-2006).]
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