Pre-Boston 2011, Etc.

This post has been a long time coming, what with recently-passed project deadlines at school. In fact, it seems it's been so long coming that I’ve been making a list of things to incorporate into it for the better part of two weeks.

Boston is next Monday. As in 4 days from now. I.e. I fly out tomorrow at 6:00 AM EST. And yes, I’m increasingly exuberant and a bit nervous. My number this year: 1173 (for further information on how to track me, via AT&T-provided texts and/or emails, simply visit the following link to sign up: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/att-athlete-alert.aspx). My number last year: 1890 (meaning I’m slotted a full 700 positions ahead of my placement last year, as the lower your number means the faster you are…at least in regards to the time you submitted). I’ll be in Wave 1 (of 3), corral 2 (right up near the Ryan Halls of the world, whom I’ll be sure to reach out and touch as they jog past on their way to the starting line, in the hope of some sort of osmosis-type process taking shape within me). Be sure to visit www.baa.org the day of the race for further tracking capabilities.

Goals (in order of “want” and not necessarily feasibility):

1.) Finish under 2:50:00 (my current best is 2:53:40). To do so, it would require me to run consistent 6:29 miles. My best half marathon was completed with 6:19 miles. Should be interesting.

2.) Finish under 2:53:40, thus setting a new PR. This would require consistent 6:38 miles. Yes, that’s only 9 seconds per mile different than my 2:50:00 goal. Yes, a marathon is long enough for that to make a big difference.

3.) Finish inside the top 500 (I finished 786th out of over 23,000 participants last year).

4.) Have fun and high-five at least as many people as I did last year (including any elderly, wheelchair-bound women).

5.) Give serious consideration to not using up a great deal of energy by bellowing at the top of my lungs whilst racing through the so-called Wellesley (an all-girls college) Scream Tunnel (located 13 miles into the race).

And now, because it’s late and I have things yet to do this evening, followed by an early-morning wake-up, I’ll venture further into list mode:

1.) A few weeks back, I attempted a 21-mile training run. It was going splendidly, until this happened without a hint of warning:



Because I was out running, I had to continue on in order to find shelter. By the time I was able to do so (within 10 minutes), the hailstorm (and the accompanying rain) had stopped, thus I continued on. Approximately 20 minutes later, the skies opened up and down came a torrential downpour, which is in no way an exaggeration. While I was, 18 miles in, sprinting (ankle-deep in water) across a golf course on my way to my Grandpa’s house (the closest place on my route to take shelter), every car on the road was pulled over, as it was near impossible to see. And here was some cooky, shirtless 30-year-old out running in the stuff. Oh, and it hailed a bit more then, too. Fun times.

2.) Enjoyed the making of this 2nd Grade-oriented project, for which I used a program called PhotoStory:



3.) My monthly mileage for March: 226.31 miles. This is what happens when you only take one day off all month. FYI, I’d never before hit 200 miles in a single month.

4.) Went in halfsies on a treadmill with my mom a week or two ago, therein allowing me to cancel my never-used membership to the YMCA. Actually, the total cost of the ‘mill was an odd number, so I paid the extra penny in order to be able to say that I was the majority owner. Of course, it resides at her house, so I don’t think I’ll ever make much headway with that assertion.

5.) Went to see Gogol Bordello last Wednesday (April 6) in Atlanta. Didn’t know much about the band, other than to describe their music as “Russian circus music” (though I now believe “Gypsie circus music” is a better descriptor). Very nice (and small) venue. Even better show.

6.) Hope you did your taxes—due tomorrow, after all.