Boston Marathon

My Boston Marathon: Plan the Run, Run the Plan

April 28, 2013 by Alison Gittelman 19 Comments

A few years ago a seasoned marathoner and training partner of mine said these words to me: “Plan the run, run the plan.” We were discussing marathons and how so many people (including me) go out too hard and blow up. Phil’s philosophy was simple: if you have a reachable plan, and you follow that plan, you will run well.

Easier said than done. In every marathon, the adrenaline and people around me would get to me, I’d go out too hard for the first 5 miles and pay for it in the last 5. After discussing the Boston Marathon course at length with my coach, and reading this article, particularly the discussion on conserving energy during the initial downhill miles, I created my race plan as follows:

Miles 0 – 10: 8:30s

Miles 11 – 21: 8:20s

Miles 21 – 26.2: 8:00 or better

This would get me close to my goal of 3:40 without blowing up or reinjuring my calf. I realized I’d have to put up with a lot of people passing me in the first 10 miles, but was confident I’d be passing them back in the last 5.

And that’s exactly what happened. I started out conservatively for the first 10 miles: 8:36, 8:27, 8:27, 8:28, 8:33, 8:32, 8:28, 8:48 (pit stop), 8:20, 8:29

My mantra was “run the plan.” I didn’t think about much else those first few miles. Well, actually, I thought plenty about how I needed to pee but didn’t want to stop to wait for a porta potty. I finally found an open one at mile 8. It cost me a few seconds but was worth it.

“Run the plan” became even more important when I had to pick up the pace at mile 11, which was right around the time my hip flexors started to complain. “Kinda early to be hurting,” I thought, but I didn’t let it get to me, and I didn’t allow myself to think about running 16 miles in pain. I just focused on the plan. Pain in a marathon is inevitable. You have to prepare for it. Granted, I didn’t expect to be dealing with it this early on, but the game plan didn’t change because of it. In a way, it may have been good that the pain started early because I could stop wondering when it would start to hurt. I did not slow down. I focused on the fact that people were tracking me. I didn’t want to let my coach down, and, most of all, I didn’t want to let myself down. I had a little phrase – “DNF” – which stood for Do Not Fail.

Miles 11 – 21: 8:19, 8:21, 8:18, 8:18, 8:23, 8:19, 8:31 (start of the hills), 8:27, 8:19, 8:31, 8:49 (heartbreak hill)

There are three hills from miles 17 – 21, although it felt like there were twelve. But the crowds were with me on every one of them. My friends and family tracking me were with me. And thousands of other runners were with me. Early on in the hills one of my sister’s friends from college, Laura, found me. We both knew the other was running, and she knew what I’d be wearing, but it was still incredible that she found me! We exchanged a few words. I distinctly remember her asking me how I felt and I answered, “Great, really good.” Yes, that was a total lie. But I felt that actually voicing my pain would make it worse. Instead, I buried it deep down inside me as Laura and I passed back and forth on the hills. I found myself looking for her, which was a good distraction.

Finally, the hills were over and it was just the downhill stretch to the finish. I felt confident that I could pick up the pace, and I did. Mile 22 was an 8:07. What I hadn’t factored in was the difficulty I’d have in getting around people while maintaining this pace. A lot of people were walking. A lot of people were slowing. And I was trying to speed up. Just getting around all the bodies was hard. And of course I wanted to keep running the tangents, which I’d been working on the whole way.

Miles 22 – 26.2: 8:07, 8:16, 8:26, 8:13, 8:11, 7:30

I was really thirsty, too, so I wanted to get water at every mile. But the Gatorade always came first, so I’d have to skirt along near the tables and dart in when it switched to water, so as not to miss it. I think I shoved a few people out of the way to get to the water…

So the last 5 miles didn’t exactly go according to plan, but not for lack of trying. I believe that I left 100% out there on that course in Boston. I negative split, going through 13.1 in 1:52:20 and finishing in 3:44.

Finally, I ran the plan. Thanks, Phil.

If you would like to help the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, please donate to The One Fund, set up by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: Boston Marathon, training plan

Why Boston Marathon Spectators Rock

April 19, 2013 by Alison Gittelman 8 Comments

If you would like to help the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, please donate to The One Fund, set up by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

One of the things I planned to talk about in my Boston Marathon recap was the spectators. How they carried me 26.2 miles with their shouts, screams, signs, offers of beer, water, popsicles, oranges, you name it. The signs the Wellesley girls hold up provide a welcome distraction from the pain, their screams ear piercing, although I have to admit I prefer the boys of Boston College, who hang precariously over the barricades while they shout and cheer and offer encouragement. They appear at mile 21, right after Heartbreak Hill, when I find myself in most need of some crowd support.

And then some of these very spectators who stand for hours and shout themselves hoarse are injured or killed in an horrific and senseless attack.

And my memories of these people, of the little boy from whom I took water and the kids holding out their hands for high fives and the man who shouted out my number, are imprinted on my brain.

I am trying to remind myself that there is much more good in the world than evil. And it’s the people of Boston who have helped me remember that. Here are a few examples:

1. I dumped my fuel belt at mile 11. In hindsight, I never should have carried it. I hate wearing the thing. The water got warm fast, my back was baking, and the only reason I wore it was to carry my GUs, which my coach pointed out I could have just safety-pinned to my shorts. Yeah, he was right. Again. I’d pinned a business card to the belt just in case, but when I dumped it much earlier than planned (the plan was mile 21, when I’d pick up the pace), I never expected to get it back. But a couple from Natick found it, contacted me, and mailed it back to me. They are both runners, but they haven’t run Boston. I hope they get to run it next year, and either way, I plan to meet them so I can thank them in person.

My fuel belt rinsed and returned, along with some beautiful artwork

2. There were two people behind me wearing Yankees caps. It was entertaining (and a good distraction) to hear the comments from the spectators, which of course poked fun but were never derogatory or unkind. I didn’t even hear “Yankees suck,” just good-humored, respectful fun.

3. When runners finish the race, they’re funneled toward the buses containing the gear they’ve checked. On the way there are two guys sitting up high holding a white board on which is written the top 3 finishers, male and female, as well as the top American finishers. It’s a really nice touch. Oh, and at the bottom of the board is listed the inning and the score of the Red Sox game.

4. I deliberately did not put my name on my shirt or bib, and I was grateful to The Boston Marathon for not printing it on there. Funny though it sounds, I get to a point in a marathon where I just can’t stand to hear my name shouted at me. I know the supporters are simply being encouraging, but what’s great in the first few miles becomes really old by the 20th. But that didn’t stop people from shouting out my number, all 5 digits of it, or “go PR!” – the initials of the store I run for, Potomac River Running, are imprinted on my shirt. And that was enough, and much appreciated.

5. At some races, spectators will come out with their “Go Dad!” sign, stand on the side of the road silently until “Dad” runs by, cheer for him, and then move on. I’m always amazed that they don’t cheer for anyone else. I’m sure it’s not deliberate, it just doesn’t cross their minds to cheer for strangers. I’m not saying spectators should cheer themselves hoarse for every runner, but once in a while, pick out someone and cheer for them. It’s really nice to have strangers cheering for you. At Boston, all the spectators do this. For hours. They line the streets and cheer on every runner. It’s a tradition. They have fun – or at least they look like they’re having fun. And the cheers get louder the closer you get to the finish. So by the time you get to Boylston street, the noise is deafening. And you feel like a rock star.

That’s me in black and white…literally being carried down Boylston street by the crowd

Thanks to Underwater Samurai, another dedicated spectator, and husband to RunWiki who also ran Boston, for taking this picture.

Many thanks to every single spectator at the 2013 Boston Marathon. You guys deserve a medal.

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: Boston Marathon, spectators, The One Fund

We Love Boston

April 16, 2013 by Alison Gittelman 7 Comments

I’m still trying to make sense of this tragedy at The 2013 Boston Marathon, where the only pain we usually talk about is what our legs feel at Heartbreak Hill. My heart goes out to all those people injured and their families, and the families of those who were killed. Boston is an amazing city with people who line the streets for 26.2 miles to cheer on thousands of marathoners and offer support. Kids hand out water and popsicles and put out their hands for high-fives. Adults offer beer. Wellsley girls offer kisses and more. It is an event that’s unparalleled in every way. I know that runners will be offering their support by returning to the race.

I ran 3:44 flat to requalify. I will be back in 2014. I’ll be posting a race report soon.

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: Boston Marathon

Patriots’ Day

April 11, 2013 by Alison Gittelman 16 Comments

Among the many unique things about Boston Marathon (such as required qualifying times, later start time than most marathons, three start waves) is the fact that it’s held on a Monday. Of course, it’s not just any Monday, it’s Patriots’ Day, an official holiday in Massachusetts (obviously) and Maine (which used to be part of Massachusetts), and a public school observance day in Wisconsin (no idea why). Patriots’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the Revolutionary War. By the way, in case you were wondering, the Revolution is not covered in History classes in English schools. At least not in mine. We covered all the Kings and Queens, skipped right over the Revolution and moved on to the World Wars…

But I digress. Because Boston Marathon is held on Patriots’ Day, many Bostonians call the holiday “Marathon Monday.” In addition to the marathon, as is tradition, the Boston Red Sox will play (the Rays) at Fenway Park at 11am; marathoners will run through Kenmore while they are playing. I probably shouldn’t mention the Red Sox given that my husband is a Yankees fan. Baseball is another thing you don’t learn about in England. When my husband took me to my first baseball game (Orioles vs. Royals, I think), I couldn’t understand why the fans of opposing teams were sitting near each other. I am used to English football, where a fence or wall and even designated entrances physically separate the fans of opposing teams, lest they try to kill one another. Baseball, I learned, is much more civilized.

And April 15th also happens to be Jackie Robinson Day. Robinson, of course, is one of baseball’s heroes for breaking the color barrier when he entered the major leagues in 1947. Given that I’m running a marathon on Jackie Robinson Day I’m likely to be thinking about another hero, Kathrine Switzer, who broke the gender barrier when she ran the Boston marathon 20 years after Robinson’s major league debut. (Coincidentally, Switzer was born in 1947.) It was another five years before women were officially allowed to enter the Boston marathon, which just happens to be the year I was born – 1972. Kathrine Switzer will be signing copies of her book “Marathon Woman” at the Marathon Tours Booth (#2335) at the Boston Marathon Expo on Friday April 12th from 2pm-6pm, Saturday April 13th from 1pm-6pm, and Sunday, April 14th from 1:15pm-3pm. I think I will have to stop by!

Speaking of marathon women, I happened to spot Kara Goucher’s Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons, on my bookshelf this morning. I was looking for some nutrition tips for the last few days leading up to my race, and thought I’d see what she had to say. There’s a section of her book called “Your Can’t-Fail Prerace Eating Plan” that I found really useful and highly recommend for those wondering what to eat the day before the race as well as on race day. In the chapter “Running a Marathon” I found this quote, that I felt put things in perspective for me as I think about my race strategy:

Whether you call it Patriots’ Day, Marathon Monday, Jackie Robinson Day, or just another Monday, April 15th will be historic.

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: Boston, Boston Marathon, Goucher, marathon, Patriots Day, Switzer

How to Find the Perfect Training Partner

January 21, 2013 by Alison Gittelman 15 Comments

When my running partner moved to California I was at a loss. We had spent countless hours running together, mostly on the trail, talking about everything but running. What we discussed and what made our runs so rich and fulfilling was our lives and the trials and tribulations that we faced as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends, ourselves. We weren’t solving the world’s problems, but sometimes we did solve our own, or one another’s.

I knew it would be impossible to replace a running partner like Lisa and so I didn’t even try. I didn’t even run on the trails. I took to the roads which, for me, is a far different experience from trail-running and one where I can feel numb. The trails literally make me want to pour out my heart and soul. I’m not an earthy or flowery person as those who know me would agree, but trail-running evokes a visceral, emotional response in me. I actually feel the connection as soon as my feet make contact with the dirt; I feel a change occur from within. It’s hard to describe but it’s like happiness, weightlessness, and complete absorption in the moment. I guess it’s like meditation, although I’ve never tried that so can’t really say for sure.

I’ve had some good runs, though, with great friends. I’ve been back to the trails where I feel the familiar pull and enjoy chatting with whomever I’m running alongside. But it hasn’t felt the same. Until last Saturday.

Funnily enough, it was a road run, not a trail run, where I found the connection to running that I thought I’d lost. And I realized it was all about having the right training partner. I was with a running partner I’ve known for years and run with many times, but in this instance we took a wrong turn (I was in charge of the directions…) and found ourselves separated from the group. Once we got back on track we had tacked on a mile and so were far behind everyone else. We ended up running the rest of the 11.5 miles alone, together (like Frog and Toad…love those books).

It was a wonderful hour and 45 minutes. We talked about our families and discovered that we have a lot in common. We kept running and found out all sorts of interesting things about each other, things that define us and things we feel strongly about, experiences we’ve had and events we wish we could change.

I still miss my runs with Lisa but I am glad to have found another training partner (who also loves trails!) with whom I have a similar connection. I can now look forward to my long Boston Marathon training runs!

Here are five ways to find a running partner:

Run with your local running club. There are always a lot of runners at club runs and you can usually find someone your pace. If it doesn’t work out the first time, keep going back. The good thing is that most clubs don’t require you to join right away so you can try them out for a few runs before deciding if it’s a good fit for you.
See if your local running store has group runs. Potomac River Running has organized runs from each of its stores once a week; a great way to meet new running friends!
Local gyms often have running programs.
Sign up for a race. After the race, talk to the people you finished with (your pace!) about where they run.
Just go out and run! While running hill repeats at Manassas Battlefield yesterday, thinking I was the only crazy person running in 18 degree weather, along comes another runner, doing the same hill as me! Turns out she’s training for Boston, too. Now we have a standing date with that hill!

Do you have a training partner?

Do you have a preference for road or trail?

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: Boston Marathon, long run, marathon training, Potomac River Running, running partner, trail run, trails, training partner

Forging my Own Path

December 31, 2012 by Alison Gittelman 5 Comments

“Forge your own path” is my mantra for 2013. I have to find my own way, follow my heart, and do what I think is right for me.

There will be no resolutions. But there will be changes. My goal for 2013 is staying injury free. That’s about it. PRs will have to wait. To help me get to Boston Marathon uninjured, I have hired a new coach: Malcolm Campbell. Malcolm recently defended his Master’s National XC Club Champion title at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. I interviewed him after his win in Seattle last year. He ran 2:22 at both Grandma’s Marathon and Twin Cities Marathon in 2012, and is now gearing up to run Boston. I’ve known Malcolm for over 20 years; he’s been an elite athlete for longer than that. As teenagers we ran for the same team, trained on the same track, raced the same cross-country races. He knows the type of runner I am and this gives me confidence that his training plan will work for me. If you’re looking for a running coach I recommend checking out his coaching site.

I’m looking forward to training for a marathon again. I’m sure I’ll eat those words pretty soon, but during a very windy and cold 7 miler yesterday I felt strong and relaxed while others were complaining about the cold and how far we were running. Sure, they had reason to do that as they’d run 10 miles the day before, and I had reason to feel good because I haven’t been able to run much and I’m still in that “I’m so happy to run!” phase. I’m not expecting it to last long but I’ll take it right now.

So it’s New Year’s Eve and that often means all sorts of overindulging, especially in the liquid calorie department. If your NYE looks like this:

…Then on New Year’s Day you may be interested in this:

The ingredients are simple (don’t want anything too complicated with a raging hangover!):

8 oz OJ
4 oz almond milk
2 handfuls frozen cherries (optional: hold bag against throbbing head)
2 handfuls frozen pineapple
3 scoops Orange Pineapple GU Recovery Brew

To make: Throw everything in the blender, turn it on, retreat if your blender’s as loud as mine, return when it’s done. Drink.

This is also a great post-race recovery smoothie for those who are racing New Year’s Day!

Cheers, and Happy New Year!

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: 2013, Boston Marathon, GU, GU Recovery Brew, injury, Malcolm Campbell, New Year, NYE, recovery drink, run coach, smoothie

2013

November 8, 2012 by Alison Gittelman 12 Comments

Did you see the movie 2012? I watched it one time while running on the treadmill and wasn’t sure if it was a comedy or a drama. It’s basically your typical apocalypse story, in which the earth’s core is heating up rapidly and is going to boil, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and a huge tidal wave that will engulf the earth. So the powers-that-be go about secretly building these massive arks that of course can only save a small percentage of the population. All the usual fights ensue, people get crushed, maimed, go crazy, etc. There’s the typical crescendo toward the end when someone has to risk their life to save the ark from crashing into Everest and – spoiler alert – does it with about 0.02 seconds to spare.

Source

Happily I didn’t waste any hours of my life watching this drama/comedy as I was running at the same time. Something I haven’t been doing lately, due to my own stupidity in not allowing my calf tear to heal before increasing my mileage. In fact, my entire 2012 has been about as disastrous as the movie, because I’ve been injured for most of it.

Cue the violins…

- At the beginning of the year I battled a glute/hammy injury. I ran two half marathons and an 8K on that in February and March.
- The compensation from running with a super tight glute/hammy gave me a hip problem in the other leg. In May I ran a 10K and in June a 50K on that.
- Then, while training for JFK 50, and already behind on mileage, I tore my calf. I ran a half marathon in October while still rehabbing and retore the calf the following week.

Yes, I see the pattern. Not sure if I’m martyr, hero, or just glutton for punishment. But, as disastrous as 2012 has been, I still managed to pull out:

- 2nd place in my age group at Annapolis sprint triathlon in May.
- 2nd female overall at Infinitive sprint triathlon in June.
- 2nd in my age group at Rockville Rotary 8K in July.
- My second-fastest 10K time at USAT Age Group Nationals in Vermont in August.

I guess I had a decent summer.

Right now I’m not running and not even thinking about racing the rest of the year. My husband asked me if I was signing up for the 10K I usually run on New Year’s Eve. I told him I can’t make any plans right now…

That doesn’t mean, of course, that I can’t make plans for 2013:

- In March I hope to be able to run Shamrock Half Marathon. I’ve run one of the VA Beach Shamrock races for the last 2 years (Marathon in 2011, 8K in 2012) but haven’t run the half since 2006.
- In April I’ll run my second Boston Marathon. I’m really looking forward to going back, this time with my good friend Lisa. I have no expectations for the race; my hope is to get to the start uninjured.
- While I’ll still race some of my favorite triathlons, and I’m waiting to see where USAT Age Group Nationals are this year, I’d like to focus more on duathlons this year. My swim is the weak link of the three triathlon disciplines, so I can do better in a run-bike-run than a swim-bike-run. That, of course, requires me to be able to run well, so I’m not making any concrete plans yet. But if I can run well I think I have a shot at making Team USA for the ITU World Championships…

So while it may only be November, I have big plans for 2013. And in case they don’t work out, I can always build an ark.

Have you made plans for 2013?

How do you handle injuries? Do you try to push through them like me?

What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen?

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: 2012, 2013, Boston Marathon, calf injury, duathlon, hamstring injury, hip injury, Shamrock marathon, triathlon, USAT

Boston 2013…A Pacing Story

March 20, 2012 by Alison Gittelman 4 Comments

My good friend and partner in trail running crime, Lisa AKA RunWiki, just qualified for the Boston Marathon!

I don’t want to tell her race story because I want to leave that to her. This is simply a pacing story. I had the honor of pacing her for the second half of her qualifying race at Shamrock Marathon. Pacing – and being paced – is a real test of the bond of friendship. I discovered Sunday that it’s much more than one person relying on the other. You might think that Lisa was just relying on me, but I was relying on her just as much. Just as she relied on me to pull her, I relied on her to dig deep, listen to me, push away the demons, and believe in herself.

It wasn’t easy. I wish I could have shouldered more of the burden. I knew exactly what she was going through, because I’ve been there five times myself, but I couldn’t make it go away. At times I felt like a broken record: “just give me a little bit more, just a little faster, dig a little deeper” over and over. I handed her water, Pringles, reminded her to take GU, peeled a banana and joked that it was like being with your kids, but I couldn’t take away the pain nor could I run the race for her. That, she had to do all by herself.

A couple of times, I thought she had given up. When she stopped to walk I told her she had to choose whether to let it go or keep fighting. Walking meant letting go of the dream of a PR and BQ. And that was OK. But she had to choose. She started jogging. She kept fighting. And she prevailed. And she also did it in style.

So RunWiki is going to Boston. Hopefully I will be going with her….now I have to requalify!

Filed Under: Blog, Running and Triathlon Tagged With: Boston Marathon, BQ, pacing, Shamrock marathon

What's Better than Boston?

February 18, 2012 by Alison Gittelman 3 Comments

Duke from Cambridge Sports Union (CSU) e-mailed me last week to inquire if I was riding the Boston bus this year. The Boston bus is a service provided by CSU that takes runners from MIT in Cambridge to the start of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton. A spot on one of the buses costs $30. They always fill up so Duke wanted to be sure I got my spot. Nice guy. But hang on, you say, doesn’t the BAA provide buses? Well yes, BAA does provide school buses that transport runners to Hopkinton, and unceremoniously dumps them there. If the weather is nice that’s fine, but if it’s cold, raining, windy, etc., it’s an awfully long (depending on your wave, could be 2-3 hours) and miserable wait.

Meanwhile, the CSU buses, equipped with bathrooms, remain in Hopkinton so you can stay on the bus until you’re ready to head to the start. Given the long porta-potty lines I saw when I ran Boston in 2009, I was glad for a semi-private bathroom and a quiet refuge away from the madness of “athletes village” – which I wandered over to and from which I hastily retreated. If you’re running Boston and are interested in the CSU bus, contact Duke at dukehutch@yahoo.com. I won’t be needing my spot.

Truth is, I’m not running Boston this year. And I’m not even sad.

Why?

Because my best friend is getting married.

When I signed up for Boston way back in October she had just become engaged and I had no idea her wedding would be April 20th. But hang on, the Boston Marathon is April 16th! Yes, it is. And her wedding is in Maidenhead, just outside London. For a moment I thought about running Boston, coming home, flying to London possibly the next day, and I realized how hectic and crazy and exhausting that was going to be. And what if she needed help before the wedding? She flew out here a week before my wedding and helped me with all those pre-wedding crises…

We’ve been friends since we met our first year of college – 20 years ago:

We’ve run races together:

She’s hung out with my kids on her birthday, trips to DC, and Halloween:

We’ve kidnapped her from work in London:

We’ve been to Iceland:

We’ve shared 20 years of adventures, stories, successes, disappointments. We don’t have to make excuses to one another and we don’t have to talk all the time because sometimes we just know what the other is thinking. In fact, sometimes we don’t communicate for months yet are always able to pick up where we left off. While we live far apart I think we’ve seen each other almost every year. I either travel to London or she comes here, or we meet in the middle, which was Iceland last year.

And so while I don’t mean to negate or in any way belittle a marathon that is a dream for many, an accomplishment for a few, and a wonderful experience, THIS:

is so much better than Boston.