2007 Races

Larry Robinson 10M: 59:35
Brian Honan 5K: 17:10

Week 16

Sunday December 30 through Saturday January 5

Sunday -- Treadmill: 10 miles (2:00:00) (incline 7)

Monday -- Rest

Tuesday -- Treadmill: 10 miles (2:00:00) (incline 7)

Wednesday -- Rest

Thursday -- 6 miles (43:00)

Friday -- 3 miles (20:00)

Saturday -- 7 miles (1:00:00)

Week 17

Sunday December 23 through Saturday December 29

Sunday -- 16 miles (1:55:00)

Monday -- 4 miles (35:00)

Tuesday -- 4 miles (35:00)

Wednesday -- Rest

Thursday -- 7 miles (1:02:00)

Friday -- 6 miles (54:00)

Saturday -- Treadmill: 10 miles (2:00:00) (incline 7)

Week 18

Sunday December 16 through Saturday December 22

Sunday -- Rest

Monday -- 7 miles (56:00)

Tuesday -- 4 miles (35:00)

Wednesday -- 6 miles (43:00)

Thursday -- 7 miles (46:00)

Friday -- Rest

Saturday -- Rest

The Best Running Cartoon Ever?

You decide.

Week 19

Sunday December 9 through Saturday December 15

Sunday -- 14 miles (1:38:00)

Monday -- 4 miles (31:00)

Tuesday -- 5 miles (36:00)

Wednesday -- 5 miles (37:00)

Thursday -- 8 miles (1:02:00)

Friday -- Hills: Six (2:16, 2:20, 2:16, 2:22, 2:19, 2:19)

Saturday -- 14 miles (1:47:00)

Making Running Easy

Everyone has a different trick to make the miles -- whether running, rowing, or biking -- go by faster. Some enjoy watching television. Others use music when training and when racing, despite the recent ban of iPods from official USA Track & Field events (including the Boston Marathon). Although I would not want to erg in a silent boathouse, I never run with headphones. But apparently I use "dissociation" when I run, focusing on breathing and posture and not the miles to go. An old coach of mine would yell "Clear your mind!" and the effect of heeding those three simple words can be startling.
A friend from law school (a triathlete) sent me a link to this excellent article about tricking yourself into performing better. "The moral of the story? No matter how high you jump, how fast you run or swim, how powerfully you row, you can do better."

My favorite line?
"[M]aximum performance is associated with pain."

Training Photographs

Thanks to my sister for standing out in the cold and snapping a few action shots . . . .

Running Indoors

I received some unusual advice the other day: "Run indoors occasionally." And this from a veteran of several Boston Marathons! But the reasoning was sound: "We train all winter in the cold, yet we race in the heat!" Given that most gyms are a balmy 62 degrees, what better place to escape the ice and snow? (Maybe Phoenix. Check out the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and the course map.)
The bottom line is, when the streets are a mess I will likely run at the BU Fit Rec on a lovely Precor M9.57 and watch SportsCenter. Although perhaps I will row on a brand new Concept2 Model D. Then again . . .

Week 20

Sunday December 2 through Saturday December 8

Sunday -- 12 miles (1:22:00)

Monday -- Treadmill: 6 miles (49:00) (incline 6)

Tuesday -- Treadmill: 6 miles (49:00) (incline 6)

Wednesday -- Treadmill: 6 miles (49:00) (incline 5)

Thursday -- Treadmill: 4 miles (32:00) (incline 5)

Friday -- 6 miles (47:00)

Saturday -- Rest

Week 21

Sunday November 25 through Saturday December 1

Sunday -- Rest

Monday -- 10 miles (1:15:00)

Tuesday -- Speed: 3 x mile (6:10, 5:46, 5:36) (2:00 rest)
and 5 miles (40:00)

Wednesday -- 5 miles (39:00)

Thursday -- 8 miles (1:02:00)

Friday -- 6 miles (46:00)

Saturday -- Rest

Lance Armstrong

Although known best for his battle against testicular cancer, his seven consecutive Tour de France victories, and his Foundation, Lance Armstrong is also (not surprisingly) a talented runner. This year at the New York City Marathon, Lance ran under 2:47, an average of 6:21 per mile. Looks like I need to start training harder . . .

Other Ways to Help

In just a week I have heard several powerful stories. Here is one:
"My cousin's life was saved by a random bone marrow donor when she was diagnosed with Leukemia two years ago. Do you think as a part of your campaign to raise money you could also encourage people to join the national donor registry? It is really quick and easy (just four cheek swabs and some paper work). The website is: http://www.marrow.org."

Week 22

Sunday November 18 through Saturday November 24

Sunday -- 12 miles (1:30:00)

Monday -- 6 miles (43:00)

Tuesday -- Speed: 2 x mile (6:00, 6:00) (2:00 rest)
and 5 miles (38:00)

Wednesday -- 4 miles (30:00)

Thursday -- Hills: Five (2:06, 2:10, 2:09, 2:08, 2:05)

Friday -- 8 miles (57:00)

Saturday -- 4 miles (29:00)

My Running Goal

On race day, I hope to run under three hours (a qualifying time). If I can do this, next year I will not have to ask Dana-Farber for a charity entry. Follow my training (progress?) on this blog. I will post my runs from each week.

Speed and Hills

Speed
This is for the Tigers: I do all speed work at Downes Field in Brookline, right off the Jamaicaway. For those who do not remember, this is where Newton North runs against Brookline.
That wonderful red track.

Hills
I run all hills up Summit Ave, from Beacon St to just before the park at the top. This is somewhere under four tenths of a mile (say 0.38M). Heartbreak Hill is about 0.44M. The rise of the two hills is about the same.

Marathon Trivia

Race Facts and Marathon Milestones

Boston Globe Coverage

WCVB-TV Coverage

Quick Marathon Splits
per mile => sub (x) marathon
4:57 => 2:10
5:20 => 2:20
5:42 => 2:30
6:06 => 2:40
6:28 => 2:50
6:51 => 3:00
7:15 => 3:10

The Boston Marathon is one of five World Marathon Majors.

As a point to point course, the Boston Marathon is always favorable for one reason, and can be favorable for another. First, the four Newton hills notwithstanding, the course drops about 440 feet between Hopkington and Boston. Second, given a west wind, runners will have the wind at their backs for the entire race. For these reasons, no times posted at the Boston Marathon are eligible for world record status.

For a chart of world record marathon times in the past hundred years, check out this interactive graph.

What trivia would you like to see? Let me know!

The First Marathon?

When intelligence of [the advance of the Persian army on Marathon] reached the Athenians, they likewise marched their troops to Marathon, and there stood on the defensive . . . .

. . .

And first, before they left the city, the generals sent off to Sparta a herald, one Philippides, who was by birth an Athenian, and by profession and practice a trained runner. . . .

[Philippides] reached Sparta on the very next day after quitting the city of Athens. Upon his arrival he went before the rulers, and said:

"Men of Lacedaemon, the Athenians beseech you to hasten to their aid, and not allow that state, which is the most ancient in all Greece, to be enslaved by the barbarians. . . ."

Thus did Philippides deliver the message committed to him.

Herodotus, The Persian Wars, Book VI 103-06

Context
Contemporary couriers seldom ran more than 60 miles in a day. Philippides covered 150 miles between Athens and Sparta in two!

Links
Map of Ancient Greece
Browning's Pheidippides
(Browning's poem is based on the legend that the runner ran from Marathon to Athens (about 26 miles) to announce the victory of the Greeks over the Persians.)

Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Cancer Research

This year, my teammates and I hope to raise $4.5 million for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Cancer Research. 100% of every dollar donated will fund innovative cancer research. The Barr Program has had a tremendous impact on not only cancer research but also the scientists receiving funds. The Barr Program provides seed money to young investigators with unique and promising ideas. Indeed, scientists who begin pioneering research with Barr Program funds are almost all successful in securing future grants from other sources (generally the NIH) to continue their work. Thus funds raised each year can be used to support new projects.