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Pinterest Marathon Race Recap Boards

This year I opted to run the ING Hartford Marathon due to my dear friend Amy’s persuasive skills – she wanted to support her sister in law and Hartford is just a train ride away from NYC. Her sister-in- law was more than willing to host us for the weekend and I ended up partnering with the Hartford Marathon Foundation to drive awareness about the marathon. The weekend was a wonderful experience and the perfect girls weekend for me and Amy, as we’ve enjoyed girls’ running weekends together for more than 7 years. VIP after party

However, there is a part of me that misses the excitement that comes with running a large marathon.

  • Fellow runners across the internet providing motivation and words of advice
  • Facebook groups and in depth race pages which provide details about every curve, feedback from people who have run it in years past and tips & tricks
  • The opportunity to meet fellow bloggers and readers due to the number of people congregating in the marathon city
  • Streets lined with people, sometimes as deep as 20 people, just wanting a chance to cheer on a friend or looking for an excuse to party and celebrate

Part of me wishes I’d signed up for a large marathon in addition to Hartford. But, it’s a good thing I didn’t as there is no way I could make another flight back to the United States. Preparing for the ING Hartford Marathon wasn’t as easy as New York City or even Philadelphia, which I signed up for last minute due to Sandy.  I wasn’t able to chat with people who were familiar with the course. There was only one race recap I could find online which unfortunately was from the old course. Sure, maybe there is some benefit of showing up at a marathon with no clue what to expect. Every turn becomes a new adventure and there is no part of the race that is familiar or boring. But, I’ve found that I’m a runner who likes to know what to expect. I like training for the idiosyncrasies of a course.

At work the other day, I had the opportunity to gush about the New York City Marathon to one of our marketing directors who is running it for the first time this year. I introduced him to my Pinterest boards via email following our conversation. After my 20 mile run with Charlie, who is heading to New York City next week to conquer 26.2 miles, I sent her the link to my NYCM Pinterest board. Each time I share the link, people thank me profusely. Each recap makes their future steps and journey seem a bit more real. Reading and learning from those who ran before them helps calm the nerves. I realized this year just how much I missed that aspect of the race preparation. There was no movie to watch for inspiration. There was no book to read about each of the boroughs. There were no race recaps to study. There was a video posted on their YouTube page but that just made me nervous as it wasn’t taken on race day so all I saw were empty suburban streets.

Don’t get me wrong. The Hartford Marathon was a wonderful experience this year and due to circumstances it was the right marathon for me. It allowed me to learn about dealing with negative self talk during a marathon, boredom and loneliness. It helped me realize just how special my New York City Marathon memories are. You better believe that I’m putting my name in the lottery this year for the 2014 New York City marathon. The energy and passion that radiates from the marathon is contagious and I can’t wait to feel that again.

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As I’ve realized how much these Pinterest boards help my friends and colleagues, I’ve decided to make more of them, covering more marathons, focusing first on the Fall ones. Thus far, I’ve collected race recaps for the following marathons:

But, as I’ve made these boards, I realize how much each recap inspires me. Therefore, it’s my goal to make them for most of the big marathons including some of the upcoming Spring marathons such as Boston, Cincinnati, Country Music, Big Sur, San Diego, and Vermont City.

I hope these boards help you or a friend who is preparing for their marathon. If you have a race request, just send it my way! Good luck!

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ING Hartford Marathon Goals & Excitement

Finally, this evening, the excitement switch clicked in my brain. For the past few days I’ve had a lot on my mind and that has kept me from getting excited for the marathon. Each of my runs has been at taper speed and I’ve enjoyed more sleep than normal and eaten very well. But even though my mind and body was in taper mode I didn’t have the same excitement running through my blood that I’ve had in years past.

swiss taperMaybe it’s because there aren’t flags lining the streets of Geneva and multiple events happening on a daily basis to welcome athletes. This is the type of excitement and hype I’ve experienced for three years in New York City. Runners thrive off the energy that runs through the city beginning with the day the orange flags go up, marking off the marathon course.

Tonight when I came home from work I sat down to focus on my marathon plan. I checked the Runner’s World packing list twice, I reviewed the course again, watched the marathon video on YouTube, and chatted with Laura and Melissa, who are also running the marathon.

While this all helped me get excited and feel more prepared, it was the 20 minutes on the phone with Gia that brought everything together.

For the past 10 weeks I have focused on this marathon. I didn’t let a move across the ocean derail my hopes for a PR. I found inspiration and running partners in both Geneva and London. Tonight as we talked through my hopes and fears for the event, we put together a plan together. I have never been more thankful for a running coach. Gia’s calm voice and attention to detail was exactly what I needed tonight.

Before tonight I was hesitant to share my goals with readers and friends. When people asked me what my goal was I smiled and said I wanted to enjoy 26.2 miles or improve versus last year. But, that isn’t true. I want to enjoy 26.2 miles but I want to CRUSH my current marathon personal best of 4:53. Below is the plan for how I will hopefully achieve this goal. There is some cushion in the numbers and please keep in mind that this is my plan. What works for me may not work for others.

ING Hartford Marathon Foundation

Race day outfit: Stick with what I know and dress for warmer weather, not colder weather.  I am going to replicate last year’s outfit other than the top – CW-X compression shorts, Team Sparkle running skirt, Pro Compression socks in hot pink, and my favorite New Balance running tank on top unless the temperatures change. Right now it is supposed to be in the 60s with at least 70% humidity which is warmer than I’m accustomed to running in after the cool Geneva and London running weather.

Before the race: Arrive early enough to do some dynamic stretching and use the restroom. Ensure that I eat breakfast at least 1.5 hours before running. Take a salt packet before the race to help with hydration.

Miles 1-5: Focus on keeping my pace slower than a 10 minute mile but faster than 10:18. Take advantage of the gradual downhill and try to find a few running buddies in the crowd. Do not listen to music at this point. Instead, focus on the surroundings and just enjoy, remembering all the work I’ve put into this marathon. Sip water constantly, having at least two sips each mile.

Miles 5-13.1 Take my first fuel at mile 5 then find a groove right around a 10:18 pace. Try and stay in the middle of the road so my ankles don’t grow tired from any slant in the road. Enjoy the people watching along the out and back course. Take another fuel at mile 10.

Miles 13.1-20 If my body needs, slow the pace to a 10:20. Take out my headphones and begin to zone out with some upbeat music. When I fuel at mile 15 also take another salt packet. Start watching for friends who will be spectating the second half of the race. Make it my goal to be strong enough at this point that I can start passing people, slowly but surely. There is a small climb between miles 15 and 17 during which time I can drop my pace if I need but focus on pushing forward and proving my strength up the hill through constant running versus walk breaks.

Miles 20-26.2 I can do anything for a 10k. This is the equivalent of a midweek run in terms of distance. Do a body check to assess how I’m feeling. Try changing sides of the road if one ankle is tighter than another. Check in with my shoulders and back to ensure I’m not sacrificing form as I grow tired. If I get lonely on the course, remember that last year I ran the last 10 miles of Philadelphia Marathon solo and actually loved every minute. I am strong enough to run solo and just need to focus on my breath, music and surroundings. Focus on the goal and how far I’ve come. Know that if I can hold a 10:18 pace I can PR by 30 minutes versus Philadelphia.

So there you have it! If Saturday’s marathon goes as well as my training went then deep down inside of me these legs and this heart have a 4:30 marathon.

I have to keep in mind that there is 12 hours of travel which stand between me and the United States. There is a 6 hour time change. These two things, occurring within 36 hours of the race could screw with me and change my performance. But, Gia and I both believe that I’m strong enough to overcome them!

If you want to track my progress on Saturday, just click here!

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Tapering Tips for 26.2 Success

It’s that time of year again when thousands of runners who have been putting in great efforts during the previous 3-4 months are entering taper time. Each weekend there are countless marathons taking place across the world ranging from huge ones like New York City to smaller local races with less than 1,000 runners. Regardless of the race size, the distance remains the same. 26.2 miles deserves a proper taper.

What is it? Tapering is the training phase right before a long distance event, such as a marathon, when a runner starts to cut back on his or her mileage. This reduced training phase gives runners a chance to rest, recover, and mentally prepare for their race.

For some people, taper is a welcome break from high mileage weeks. For others, the extra rest brings anxiety, phantom pains, negative thoughts, and over eating.  In order to help everyone with their upcoming taper, I reached out to a few of my favorite running coaches. These ladies have completed more than 150 marathons between them and are coaching and inspiring many other runners daily.

tapertips

1. Respect the taper! I believe the biggest thing to remember is to respect them. We are given a taper for a reason. Our bodies need a little time to rebuild from the relentless pounding we have been inflicting for the past 12-16 weeks. – Mary Baum, Food and Fun on the Run

2. A proper taper is actually not nearly as complicated as many runners make it out to be! A proper marathon taper should last two weeks and cut back one third of the mileage – so if you run 21 miles on day 1, you would then run 14 miles on day 8, and then race on day 15. – Laura Skladzinski, 50by25

3. You cannot get enough sleep. Resting is the single most important thing you can do during taper. Even if it’s putting your feet up after work instead of going to Happy Hour, that rest will add up by race day morning. – Abby Bales, Run Stronger Every Day

4. This is not the time for catch up. Regardless of the reason, if you missed a few runs during your training or even were sick for your last 20 mile long run, this is not the period to squeeze in extra runs. Follow your training plan and do not try to make up for lost time. Your legs need this time to recover before the marathon. – Mary Baum, Food and Fun on the Run

5. Resist the urge to try something new – stay away from new to you foods and new workouts, including those you will encounter at the marathon expo. – Gia Alvarez Run Gia Run

6. Do not run any of your runs faster than marathon pace during taper. Every run should feel ridiculously easy. Believe it or not, muscles grow and get stronger with proper rest. -Abby Bales, Run Stronger Every Day

7. Planning your nutrition carefully is at least half the battle, and it pays to do it properly.

8. If you’re traveling to the marathon, especially long distance flights, ensure you use a hydration supplement, like NUUN, in your water. You will need the electrolyte balance and  plain water may actually further dehydrate you. – Abby Bales, Run Stronger Every Day

9. Stretch/foam roll – Spend 10 minutes a day stretching your legs and upper body.  I like to do this before bed, it helps me wind down and sleep better. -Gia Alvarez Run Gia Run

10. Carry your race essentials on the plane. Be sure to pack your race essentials (shoes, socks, clothing) … things that cannot be replaced in your carry on.  In the event of lost luggage you don’t want to be stuck with brand new clothing or shoes. -Gia Alvarez Run Gia Run

11. Stay healthy with your eating.  Add in one extra serving of protein on days 3-5 leading up to the race, add one extra serving of simple carbohydrate on days 1-3 before your race.  -Gia Alvarez Run Gia Run

12.  Try to minimize extra stress in your life where you can. Training for a marathon for 12+ weeks puts a lot of stress on your body and your mind. While you are allowing your body to repair itself physically, don’t forget about mentally. While you may be tempted to fill up the time you were spending training with other activities, be sure to allow yourself some time to rest mentally, too so your mind is as strong as your body on race day. After all, so much of the marathon is mental! – Theodora Blanchfield Losing Weight in the City (newly minted running coach)

13. My number one tip for taper is TRUST the plan. You put in the work. All those long runs. All those sweaty miles. All those pieces of toast before a morning workout. The training is done, now your job is to rest your legs. Don’t question it. Trust yourself. You got this! – Monica Olivas Run Eat Repeat

Hopefully these tips will help you have a successful taper and cross the starting line of your marathon in a positive mindset!

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