Big Bear 2018

  • Oct. 14, 2018 (age 57, Boston Qualifying = 3:35; cutoff = 1:39, so 3:33:21)
  • Finish: 3:25:42 (7:51 pace, negative split 1:44-1:41)
  • 281st of 1360 overall; 230th of 747 men; 17th of 98 men 55-59

This was my sixth full attempt at a BQ and the one where it all came together. What made the difference this time? More training, perfect conditions, and smooth race execution.

Training:
– Jack Daniels’ “Advance A” plan, 17 weeks, 825 total miles, 5x 20 milers
– 2-3x/wk core work and leg strengthening (mostly at Planet Fitness), considerably more than I had ever done before

Conditions:
– Absolutely perfect: cool + dry + cloudy + fresh (it had rained the day before)
– Shivering cold at the start but doffed gloves fairly early
– The usual excellence in Revel course setup and support

Race Execution:
– 250g maltodextrin 30h prior for carbo loading
– No coffee, took one 200mg caffeine pill before and another at 13 mi
– Used disposable camping hand warmers at top
– Ran with music (1st time racing; I don’t like to but no question it helps)
– Used HotShot to fight cramps (but one minor calf cramp at 25mi)
– Took fluid at every water stop, slowing pace to actually get it all down
– Took 1 Gu every 30-45 min, sipping some of them slowly
– Managed ZERO portapotty stops (I’m SO thankful I took one last one at the top, even though this meant missing the gun start and initial surge–actually all the better since that way I got a full speed start)

Took a BIG RISK and ran in a pair of Altra Escalantes I’d only first tried less than two weeks and about 40 miles before (well into my taper). But I fell in love with them instantly! My first minimalist shoes, they’re so much lighter and bouncier than my usual New Balance 840s, I’m convinced they alone were good for 5-10sec/mi. Still, I had never run more than 6 miles in them, so it was a big gamble.

OK but here’s the sad thing: the 124th Boston Marathon I qualified for became the COVID-19-cancelled 2020 run! And, as it happens, Patriots’ Day 2020 was cool and dry, perfect for running (unlike, say, 2018’s blasting, cold rain). The Boston Athletic Association is letting runners use 2020 qualifying times for 2021, so we shall see.

For the 2022 Boston I would be 60. The current BQ time for 60 is 3:50, so I’d need to train for at least 3:45. Perhaps?

I’m pretty sure 3:25:42 will be my lifetime PR, both as I’m pushing 60 (now with new injuries and issues) and because this was the max time and motivation I had for an extra-full, extra-hard training season.