• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Run The Long Road Coaching

personalized coaching for distance runners

  • Philosophy
  • Services
    • Policies
  • Shop
  • Success Stories
  • FAQs
  • Meet Kristy
  • Contact
  • FaceBook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

15 miles

Three Torturous Loops

March 26, 2012 by Kristy 17 Comments

For the past few weeks I’ve been studying the Boston course.  A book, YouTube videos, race recaps from other bloggers – you name it, I probably read it.

I’m not so concerned with the quad-thrashing downhills.  I ran Steamtown in 2010 – a course where the first 8 miles are practically downhill – and I was fine for the later uphill miles.  I’m so glad I had the experience of Steamtown before Boston.

I’m more concerned with my ability to maintain MP over all the hills.  Let me rephrase that…I know I won’t be able to maintain MP on all the uphills so I’m worried about it affecting my overall time.  Definitely a valid concern.

My typical long run route is a hilly 5-mile loop with the perfect mix of all types of hills:  long, windy stretches, short, steep climbs, and rolling hills.  The flat stretches are few and far between and rarely last a half mile.  I generally do 2 loops and then transition to a flat, paved trail for the final miles.

This week I did 3 torturous loops totaling 15 miles.  Whoa, was it tough.  I’m hoping this is a worst case scenario and Boston is a bit easier!  I climbed the hills strong and tried to pick up the pace in between.  I finished in 2:08 (8:32 average pace).

I wore my Oiselle distance shorts and, as suspected, they were perfect.

DSCN2263
Taken post-run.  I was a sweaty beast. 

On Sunday, I spectated the OD Marathon since my sister was running it.  Spectating is almost as fun as running one!  The race was so small – my sister said they capped it around1500 runners.  Can you believe the race wasn’t chip timed?  I think that’s terrible for a marathon.

DSCN2273
Just before Mile 12

DSCN2278
Finishing strong!

My sister did a great job and she said it was the best she has ever felt in a marathon.

Have you ever run a marathon that wasn’t chip timed?  Or a half marathon?  Luckily, I haven’t.  Most of the 5Ks I’ve done were not but that’s expected…and potentially dangerous if you have a large, competitive field.  Everyone wants to be in the front but not everyone is going to start off running a 6:00 minute mile. 

© 2023 · Developed by JX2 Development.