20 Miler...HBH

THOSE NEWTON HILLS.........SIGH SIGH SIGH. AHHHHHHHH. THOSE DAMN NEWTON HILLS.


Distance: 19.96 miles
Time: 3:03:09
Pace: 9:10...soooo speeedy!

This morning we had our fourth and final Tufts President's Marathon Challenge Team Run on the Boston Marathon course. In true New England fashion, a week of 50 degrees and sunshine turned into low 40s and rain on the day I had/got to run 20 miles on the Marathon course.

Jen and I got to Boston College at around 8:20, and began stretching, using the bathroom, debating what to wear. At 9:05, the 2 of us were leading the 9:00-10:00 minute pace group although we weren't exactly sure where we were going. I knew that we were running 10 miles to the far end of Wellesley, and then running back. What's good about that is that we were running the right way on the course at the actual miles we will run them on race day. The course started with a big uphill, and then a series of rolling ups and downs. We were running pretty fast/FLYING, discussed how fast we were running, and kept it up.

I started thinking about this bar that I used to go to in Santiago, Chile called "HBH" and how I thought it was a name ripped off from Hofbrau Haus in Munich, Germany, where Jen and I traveled to together. Then I realized that HBH is also an acronym for HeartBreak Hill! So Jen and I decided to start referring to it as HBH (but pronounced in Spanish.) We thought we were going to be running it that day, but were unsure.

We cruised to the first water station at 4.5 miles in 37:50 (8:24 pace!). Around here our friend Casey teamed up with us, and the three of us kept on trucking. I felt incredible during the first 10 miles. We were CRUISING. There were tons of people out on the course today both running and providing aid. I was astonished that there were people completely unaffiliated with running groups just handing out water and snacks to runners...so sweet. Also one of the big running stores here in Boston, Marathon Sports, had a tent set up at 4.5 (which is 15.5 on the way back), providing aid to runners. So amazing.

It was raining pretty hard, and so so so cold. I lost complete feeling in my hands and arms, so badly that at one point I couldn't even fix my running tights. Although it was annoying at the time, it just lends to the badass-ness of the run!

We hit the 10 mile turnaround at 1:29 (8:55 pace!). I did not take energy gel because it made me really sick last long run. Instead I munched on some sharkies and endurance beans. They stuck to my teeth, but they were tasty. On the way back I kept thinking that we should slow down, but never vocalized it or took remedial action. Instead, we flew up and down the first two Newton Hills and everything in between.

Around mile 15.5, an all too familiar pain in my left IT band took me by surprise. I have been relatively pain free throughout this whole training process, and it was very frustrating and painful for me to continue running. I stopped to stretch at the water station at the 15.5 mile mark, but ended up losing Jen and Casey when I had to keep on stopping to stretch it out. It was excruciating. When my IT band starts hurting it makes my entire left leg go numb, and I feel like I am dragging that leg, and doing all the effort with my right leg. It was frustrating because I had been feeling incredible and running so well, and now I was running slowly, in pain, and by myself.

And then I hit it. Heartbreak Hill. The one. The only. You heartbreaker, you. Going into the run I didn't know where it was, but as soon as I started the ascent, I knew I was on it. And if this wasn't it, I was probably going to cry, because HBH (pronounced in Spanish), as Jen and I had nicknamed it SUCKED... (great use of my extensive vocabulary.)

The rest was a relative cake walk. And by that I mean I kind of felt like I wanted to cry. I have never exerted myself physically to this extent. It was cold, my leg hurt so badly it was numb, I was running by myself, and for some reason I was getting emotional? I can't really explain that. (After the run I kept feeling like I was going to burst into tears, but I wasn't sad or in that much pain. Inexplicably weird.) Okay, but seriously, given that, the rest wasn't bad, and I finished in record time.

It still hasn't sunk in that I ran 20 miles today. I might not believe it if my body wasn't in the excruciating pain it is in now...

X-Train

Just a note: I run a lot more than I post on here, and I don't post all of my runs ...just as an FYI that I am much better at running/training every day than blogging about it :)


This week has demanded a lot of cross training. I am looking forward to (and daunted by) my 20-miler this weekend, and do not want my shins to hurt the way they did during the 16.5-miler, so I have been cross-training it up all week:


- The elliptical and I are BFF (best friends forever), especially when the gym is empty and I can ignore the 30 minute time limit

- The treadmill is a great mental workout for not wanting to keep putting one foot in front of the other. My newfound love for treadmills that I discovered before Spring Break has vanished.

- I am psyched that the gym installed Purell dispensers! I hate the way weights make your hands smell, and I am generally pretty skeeved out by gym germs.

- Abs/pushups/lifting. Wooo.

Tufts is on a Hill

Distance: 3.64 miles
Time: 31:09
Pace: 8:33


I have overheard so many conversations about the Boston Marathon that include the phrase "those Newton (MA) hills," usually accompanied by a large sigh.
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A large part of the Tufts University experience revolves around the fact that Tufts is on a hill. Do you live uphill or downhill? Is the uphill dining hall (Carmichael) better than the downhill dining hall (Dewick)? (Answer: hell no.) Uphill is closer to Boston Ave., downhill is closer to Davis. The rivalry goes on...As a tour guide, I am always astonished at how winded tour groups get walking up the hill. I find it ironic that we have so much uphill/downhill rivalry, tour groups die walking up it, and yet I hardly notice that our campus is on a hill.


In an attempt to prepare myself for "those Newton hills..." I tried to run hills around Tufts as a workout today. Turns out it is much easier to remember that Tufts is on a hill when you are running up it rather than meandering slowly to class. Running hills was a great throwback to Central Catholic HS cross-country practice, where hills were a staple at every practice.

I also ran today without my iPod. I haven't decided whether I will run the Boston Marathon with my iPod or not. I enjoy running with music, but hate switching between songs, and I am really really looking forward to all the cheering on race day, so we shall see. I am trying to mix up my training runs, and do some with the iPod, some without. I am running 20 miles this weekend (!), and I might do it without my iPod to see how it goes.

Roadtrips and Marathon Training

Let's just say that roadtrips are not conducive to training for a marathon. Unless maybe you are familiar with the cities you are staying in, or either of your traveling companions likes to run. I was not lucky enough to have either of the last 2, so my training was a bit shoddy this week.


The week following my 16.5 mile run I was in and out of the gym, cross-training and running outside. In true New England fashion it snowed the day after the 60 degree weather, so I cross-trained until the snow melted again. My shins did not hurt at all this week, which I am psyched about!

I ran on the beach in Miami, which was not the best training run I have ever done. It was hot, and the sun was beating down on me, but I ran until the boardwalk ended, and then ran back to my friends. I understand that that gives no concept of how long or how far I ran, but I wasn't wearing a watch, and really have no sense of the distance. Usually I can gauge my time/distance to a certain extent, but I think because it was just straight and flat (and hot) I got disoriented.


I am back at school now, which is good because I ran, elliptical-ed, and lifted in an empty gym. Before spring break the gym was a madhouse with everyone trying to shed those last pounds before the beach, and now it is deadsville. Excellent.

Just 16 Miles

Conversation with friend before run:
Me: "How far are you thinking of running today?" (There were 3 groups: 14-16 mi, 16-18 mi, 18-20 mi)
Friend: "Just 16 miles."
Me: ......I have never heard 16 miles prefaced by "just!"
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Today I ran the furthest I have ever run in my life! 16.5 miles on the Boston Marathon course! Today was the 3rd Long Run with the Tufts President's Marathon Challenge Team. We ran from the Massachusetts Bay Community College 7.5 miles out into Natick, then back (in the direction of the actual marathon) towards Wellesley.

The best part was that it was about 55 degrees, blue skies, and sunny! I was in complete amazement at how beautiful the day was, and how incredible Spring is! As I was in the Northen hemisphere, then Southern, and now Northern throughout the course of the past year, I have had NO SPRING since my sophomore year at Tufts. I'm amused at my reaction to Springtime as such a novelty.

The first few miles of the run I was incredibly frustrated. My shins were really, really hurting, and I felt as though I wouldn't be able to finish this run if the pain kept up. I persevered, and by about 5 miles my shins were hardly bothering me. I was listening to my iPod, which was great because I had made a mix the night before and didn't have to keep shuffling through my music. I ran pretty conservatively because I didn't want to die on the way back.

The next 5 miles were the toughest part of the run. I generally don't like courses that involve an out and back, and that's exactly what this chunk of the run was. I guess the whole run was like that, but these 5 miles felt particularly tough. As we ran through the water station at mile 10, I felt daunted by 6 looming miles ahead of me.

Luckily I got over that pretty quickly, and let myself enjoy running the last 6.5 along the course. One of the best parts was trying to envision what it will be like on race day. As it was, there were a TON of people training on the course today all chatting and cheering each other on...it was great. It made me soo much more excited for April 20!

New England Weather part 1

I spoke too soon! Beginning early Sunday morning, the sky opened up and dumped inches upon inches of snow on the Boston area. So much snow, in fact, that I was granted my first college snow day! While I was obviously disappointed that I wouldn't be having my classes that day, it was an excellent excuse to spend the day sledding and having snowball fights.

This also meant that my outdoor training was on pause. I have returned to the gym, which is teeming with obsessed almost-Spring Breakers, trying to shed those extra pounds before break. I have luckily been able to find some times that are less crowded to fit in some lifting and endurance workouts on the treadmill and elliptical.

My fitness level has definitely improved - I'm seeing that in my gym workouts as well as my runs, which is exciting! Less than 2 months until the marathon!

(Almost) Half Marathon

Distance: 12.99 miles
Time: 1:59:30
Pace: 9:11

Spring-like weather graced the Boston area last week, and I got over my respiratory issues, which meant....no more treadmill! It was fortuitous timing to no longer be sick and be able to run outside in the warm(er) weather.


On Wednesday, my professor let us out of class about 45 minutes early, which meant that instead of going to the gym after class, I had time to run outside. I set out on my run with no plan about where I would run, how far I would run or anything. I've learned that these are my best runs because it makes it seem like less of a chore.


I ran down the bike path through Davis Square, and then toward Alewife and Spy Pond. Usually I would run back via Mass Ave., but I want to take it easy on my feet and shins and the bike path is not as rough on the body as the street. When I got back to Davis I still felt great, and proceeded to run around Davis/Tufts area until it got dark. I wasn't sure how long I would be able to run for, and I didn't have my T pass, so I literally ran around the Tufts campus for about 6 miles. It was really fun, but I felt silly passing friends and classmates, chugging along at my slowed pace.

While I was running I kept thinking about random things that I thought would make interesting fodder for this blog, but I noticed that a few miles later I was already thinking about something new, and had forgotten what I was originally thinking about. Mostly during this run I was thinking about how much I love running, and how when I just get out there and hit the streets it feels good to just go with no real destination in mind.


I'm so excited that it stays light out longer now, as it means that I can run outside later in the day! This marathon training business is starting to look much better as the snow melts and spring begins! I was really pleased that I ran almost a half marathon in under two hours and still felt great at the end of it. I know that the real marathon is over TWICE the distance that I ran on Wednesday, but I feel like my training is going incredibly well, and I am getting more and more excited for the Boston Marathon!!