Boston: Pre-race adventures

I am an infrequent flyer

Air travel is awesome, but seriously, who knew cottage cheese couldn't be brought carry-on?

 Lunch was eaten at PDX at 8 am. Second breakfast...

Looking pretty nerdy in my glasses and sporting my Eugene Marathon race shirt. I'll tell you that I was only dressed like a bum because I was going to be comfortable for the flight...but ..I love my yoga pants and they hide the coffee stains well. =D

Wearing the Eugene shirt was actually a good decision- not just a "geeky mom" thing; I met some other racers in the airports because of it.

Anyone know what city this is?? 

Layover #2 where I met Sarah, a runner who was headed to both Providence, RI, to run Gansett marathon (formerly Exeter) 4/16, and Boston 4/19. She finished both in the 3:20's. Incredible.  

In Boston 

Saturday morning, I ran a 3 mile shake-out run with a brand new Garmin 305.

 My husband bought it as a surprise for me right before the trip. It was exactly the one I had been wanting and was so overcome that he got it for me- even though we had discussed it earlier as an unnecessary expense. He also stayed back to take care of the boys, since it would have quadrupled the cost of the trip for us all to come. They were missed. More on that in another post, maybe.

Later that day, I headed from my friend's house (45 minutes from Boston) to the EXPO!

The expo was very organized and not too busy on Saturday. I picked up my packet, jacket and a few powerbar gels. 

The adidas Boston gear lined up the entry to the expo, but every other running shoe manufacturer you can image was there...and many other running related booths.

The adidas line for jacket/ official Boston gear purchases ^

I found an awesome sports bra (Brooks Glycerine), which turned out to be GREAT purchase.

Sunday, I headed back to Boston to see the 5k, the middle school 1k, and high school mile races.

What started off to be a wet morning (after thunder and rain the evening before), turned into perfect race weather..cool but not COLD. Of course we were all still speculating how the weather would be for race Monday.

The first wheel chair racer finished 5k with no one else near!

The men's 5k winner- Ben True- finished in 14:07 (official)!!! Amazing!

And the first woman to cross, Lineth Chepkurui 15:52

The rest of the racers continued to come into the finish line over the next hour.  Many women finished under 18 minutes...

Women's winner of the 5k. ^

Men's 5K winner ^

Then it was time for the middle school 1K races. Two boys and two girls represent each of the towns on the Boston course. 

Middle school top 3 at the 1k...

And then there was the girls' high school mile...

And a boys' high school mile... 

(can't find the photo, but he finished in 4:30)

It appeared that adidas furnished the high school participants with new shoes, shorts and singlets.

The races were fun to watch and really helped get the mood charged for the next day!

Following the races, I went back into the expo to get a little information about the race day shuttles and drop off. I also got to see a race preview video that helped me visualize the course. And I had a celebrity moment.

He was a great sport about jabbing him in the ribs like that.

Nothing could really prepare me for what I was going to experience the next day, though!

Hypothermic LR & TM conversion chart

Rockefeller? No. It's Elkton's city Christmas tree in the center of town!

Hypothermic rain

Saturday's long run wasn't terribly long, but is was LONG ENOUGH to learn a few good lessons. I'm glad it wasn't any longer than the 15 I had scheduled.

When I started out, it was still dark and there was light rain. Rain is sometimes refreshing and usually doesn't bother me. It rains a lot here from Oct- May. Usually, though, I can still leave my shell at home and even remove the long sleeves. Most of the time the rain lets up within 2 miles of home.

Saturday was different. I guess I should have taken a hint by the flashing sky way off in the distance towards Scottsburg. It was still dark. I have been wearing glasses for running lately (had to order new contacts after the sinus infection. Oh joy!) and at first I thought it was just reflections in them, not the lightening that it was. By the time I got to the mailbox, I knew it was really a storm coming from the pacific and I hoped that it was almost over.

About 8 minutes later the rain had all but stopped. It was 34F, but I was warming up, so I took off my long sleeve shirt and tied it to my waist. I had on tights and felt comfortable. The lightening was still going and I prayed that it would remain on the horizon.

As I got into town, I even had time to snap a few pictures with my camera, which I wore inside of a plastic baggie in my snazzy binocular fanny pack.

Could it be that Santa lives in Elkton? No.....all we have are rain-deer.

HAHAHA. I crack myself up! Deer with glowing eyes.

I had no way of knowing that in a few minutes the wind would come, the lightning would comewithin a mile away and that there would be pouring rain mixed with ice in it.

Near my turnaround I seriously wondered about whether I should stay near the tall trees to avoid a lightening strike on the highway, or get away from the trees because they might attract it.  As I crossed the bridge, the wind gusted & pierced (we NEVER have any real wind) and my shoes were filled with water. I had 5.5 miles left.

A mile later a neighbor in her pickup asked if I wanted a ride (thanks Becky!). I said no, but I wondered if I had made a bad decision as she pulled away. In 2.5 years, (and even some 8F runs), this was the coldest I have ever been while running. I had no dry shirt to put on, as my long sleeve top was as soaked as the rest of me and I had left my shell at home.

I had to have Jon help me take my clothes off (he was happy to help!) so I could shower. I skipped the ice bath and took a warm/hot shower as my hands and arms and torso burned during the thawing process.

Since then I did a little hypothermia running research (even though I am sure I was nowhere near that point) and sure enough, a few racers have actually died from it. It can be a real problem with marathon distances, because of the duration of the race and the slower pace (compared with a 5K or 10K). One of the runners who suffered from it had a body temp of 95F (compared with 98.6 normal). Precipitation is a KEY contributing factor in hypothermia.

Two things I might start doing: I think it would be wise to have a dry shirt stashed in a bag somewhere and to always bring my shell and put it in the mailbox for afterwards if it is raining.

Has anyone else ever had a similar situation? What did you do?

Treadmill conversion chart

After I posted Ryan Hall's Boston hill workout, I had a few questions about TM inclines. I still don't have the answers, but my grandpa who reads my blog and is a retired engineer sent this chart to me, which I thought might be useful to one of you readers: (thanks Grandpa!! I love you!

Slope     Angle


%        Degree

1         .75

2         1.15

3         1.71

4         2.29

5         2.86

6         3.93

7         4.00

8         4.57

9         5.14

10       5.17
 
I am very non-mechanical. But I think that there is a construction instrument, or a giant protractor you could use, to figure out your TM's degree relative to the floor, and then check its corresponding road grade if you are training for a specific grade, like 6%.  
 
My TM doesn't have an indicator for what grade or degree it is inclining. I just press up and down! Ha! I could really use the engineer to come to my house and play with my TM...Grandpa? :)
 
Blogging help ?

Is there anyone who could help me post something from the excel program to my blog? I'd like to do it so it's readable as a chart.  I am working on a new training plan and would like to post it when it's done! :)

BEHOLD.

Now. Isn't that precious?!  Notice the chocolate between the eyes, boogers in the nose, and chicken hanging out of the mouth?

The kid just likes to suck his food lately. Gets a piece of something good and presses it to the roof of his little mouth. Hours later, it's still there. He's not eating much with his canines coming in, but he's savoring the flavor! I pulled the car over for this shot. Moments later I tried to take the chicken out, but he clamped down on my finger and I had to release it. He spit out the fragments when we got home. =D

I believe I found the PERFECT Christmas tree! I can't wait to see the look on Jon's face. What do you think?

Don't call the fashion police on me! It's a good day if I manage to wear anything besides old running shoes when I leave the house. Besides, in Elkton no one gives a skunk's tail what you wear. But this was Cottage Grove. I had to dress up.

Training:
Well, it seems I will have some more company in Boston! Looks like Ryan Hall made it past the computer snafu and registered for the race. (Read about it here) Woo-hoo! Looking forward to running with meeting him (in a long line at the expo).

Still trying to decide which route to take as far as training goes. Should I use a trusted plan many have done before (Pete Pfitzinger 18/70)? Or, should I use a slightly more personal approach that gives specific workouts (SmartCoach) . (I do like that I can completely revise it mid-training if needed.) Or...will I be brave and make my own plan - one that will work well for my lifestyle and specific talents/obstacles? I have a little more time to sit on the fence with this.

I did play with SmartCoach tonight, (just a little) to see what types of numbers it would spew out to me for work out paces. Interesting.....very interesting, indeed. I like it better than the McMillan calculator, and McMillan and I are good friends. :)