We are less than 2 weeks from the big day! The day I have been dreaming about, for the past 7 years. As part of my “final push” on the training plan, I just did my last long run (21 miles) with the Spaulding marathon team. And to tell you the truth, it felt good! It felt really good!!
Before the 21 miles run with the Spaulding team!
My feelings right now are very similar to what I used to feel towards the end of every semester during my college days.
If I just had 2 more days to study, I could have been so much better prepared for the exams.
I would have loved to do just one more practice run on the marathon route.
I would have loved to do just one more 16+ miles run.
I would have loved to do a little more hill training.
But at this point, I am in tapering mode and starting to give my body rest and recovery to be prepared for 26.2 miles. And no matter how much I could have done and wanted to do, all I want to focus now is on the final run.
I won’t let you down
Even though I wish I had trained harder, I have trained so much better than my last 2 marathons that I am feeling confident. With three 16+ miles practice runs under my belt including my longest 21 miles with no stop/pause/walk, I am in really good spirits. I am nervous about the 4 Newton hills from 17.5 miles to 21 miles but I will have Lisa Radley waiting for me between 19 and 20 miles (around Heart Breaker hill) to cheer me up. And I have also run 18-21 miles of this route at least once so I very confident that I will get through this. I have Brandin Tumenski supporting me around 7th mile and my family somewhere around the route. Bart Rys might show up as well. And I am running with my buddy Vini so I promise that I WILL cross that line and not let you down.
The final push
Decision to run Boston Marathon had 2 big challenges for me.
- TrainingThis is something that I had full control on and I was confident of doing well here even though this was my first time training in winter. Now don’t let me get started on this please. Running in snow, sleet and slush and wet/cold shoes was way more painful that I had imagined. I had to deal with running with frozen running water bottles, getting up early when it was single digits outside, having my glasses covered in fog from breathing under face cover and the endless troubles of running in winter. But that’s all behind me and I so proud of being able to put in so many training miles in winter.
2) Fundraising
I am running this marathon for the Boston Spaulding, a leader in rehabilitative care and my goal is to raise $7500. I have done my part and have contributed to the fundraiser as well, but this is where I can use some help from you. If you have been following my blogs on my passion for running, please consider donating to my fundraiser here. Every dollar counts and no amount is a small amount. I have another $1400 to raise and I am confident that with support of friends like you, I will meet my goal in the next couple of weeks. Can you please help me with my final push?
Guest tickets to the finish line
Are you going to be supporting the runners by being on the Marathon Route on April 18th? Are you supporting any other friend/family who is running? I have a couple of guest tickets to Mandarin Hotel right next to the finish line. If you are interested, please reach out to me. If you want to be there for me to give me a high five when I finish, that would be even better :-). My bib number is 29529. In the next few days, Boston Athletic Association will release their BAA app where you can virtually track me if you aren’t planning to be there.
Wish me luck
This may be my final blog before the big day. I can use all the good wishes from friends and family so please don’t shy away from wishing me luck! Oh and if you are there to support me, please be prepared for a lots of tears from me. This is an emotional run for me and I have a feeling that when I cross the finish line, I will be sobbing hysterically :-)