Week 9: The Infamous Heartbreak Hill

Hello All!

Wow, I really appreciate all the comments and training advice you have sent me. I feel a bit isolated running down here with no one to bump into and share my aches and pains with or the high of just completing another week of training and a 3 hour run. In the past I have either had a training partner or have trained in the city where the marathon is held and you always see those lonely runners on a Sunday wearing a marathon shirt from previous years indicating that they are probably in training again. Or the couple that heads out together, the smart one on the bike and the other running along side.

Running is a very solitary sport and for many, too boring or sedate. I know a lot of people are not runners and so running a marathon seems like just a crazy idea to torture your body, but really there is truth behind the “runner’s high”. I didn’t start running until I was 25 and I decided I wanted to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. I started running and walking a mile until I could actually run the mile and then I just worked my way up and within 8 months I was ready. I didn’t break any records but the high and feeling of accomplishment was enough to get me hooked. Since then I have been running for health and to work off extra calories throwing in a few races here and there.

Since I have run a few of these I have tried several training schedules and have found that no race is the same no matter how well you train, it’s all in your mind and your mood. I once ran a marathon only training as long as 10 miles once a week with a few shorter runs in between and I did really well vs. a marathon that I religiously followed the training plan and was miserable the whole race. I am a firm believer that if I feel good during the training, have more good days than not, then that’s how I go into the race. I approach it like “another training day”.

I say this all with such confidence, but I think I must take a step back and say, could the Boston Marathon be different? Could this marathon be the one that surprises me and catches my weakness? I am taking the comments about this with a healthy bit of skepticism as I don’t want to psyche myself out but I want to be prepared so I will just nip this in the bud and say that from here on out I will make beating the “HEART BREAK HILL” my number one priority! I have gotten two weeks of long runs in and I am feeling good and prepared for the distance portion so I can now focus on the specifics of the race. Hospitality Homes is making a shirt for me to wear and for the people who will be supporting me along the way and maybe we should have the shirts say, “Are You Gonna Let a Little Hill Like That Beat You?” That would do the trick! :)

The folks at Hospitality Homes and I check this site regularly and we squeal with delight at the comments and generous donations so many people have made. We are all making dreams come true and that’s enough to get me to lace up my shoes and get out there. I just have one more week of the really heavy running and then it’s all down hill from there. So keep the words of encouragement coming, I really appreciate it!

Gotta go run…