#13 is in the books!

Well, it may be an unlucky number, but I was fortunate to have a strong, steady tailwind for pretty much the entire Boston Marathon yesterday. I finished in 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 30 seconds....not my best performance by a far cry, but respectable, given the late start and minimal mileage logged training this past winter and early spring.

Many runners achieved personal bests in Boston this year. I wish I had been better prepared to do the same; but, I'm healthy and walking well today (well, except for the sore quads, a blister and a majorly painful planters wart that I can finally get taken care of!) so I'm holding my head high.

I look back at my "MapMyRun.com" stats (where I log my training info), and the log is kinda pathetic, actually. I did make time for the "long runs" and I think that's what (again) paid off, in light of truly building up my stamina with a more regular training program.

Final run tally looks like this:
Month - # of runs - Total Mileage - Longest run
FEBRUARY - 7 - 41 miles - 10.3 miles
MARCH - 6 - 65 mi. - 19.3 mi. (excludes a coupe mile of walking!)
APRIL - 7 - 65 mi. - 14.2 mi.

So a TOTAL of only 20 runs, 171 miles and long of 19.3....no wonder I was pooped at Heartbreak Hill!

Anyway, I'm feeling good and am getting closer to my fundraising goal for two worthy, local charities, so I'll file that 4:17 as a "success" and keep moving on.

Thanks again for your interest and support!

Countdown to Marathon Day -- this weekend!!

OK. So I've been teased mercilessly that my "blog" hasn't been update in about a month.

Well, given how insanely busy I've been with local politics, work, and prepping for an upcoming business trip to Brazil, I haven't exactly been lighting up the open roads with training runs. I've managed to drop a couple (literally a couple) of pounds, and have felt pretty good when I have gone out to run.

I've done my share of moderate distances (3 14-milers a couple of weeks back, and another 10 miles over hills in Natick and Wellesley last Tuesday, but it's fair to say that this year's training has not been one for the record book - too erratic, not enough 'build up' - so am a bit nervous about my stamina this year. Legs feel good and will be fine until Newton...those hills and the 'final 5 miles' through the canyons of Beacon/Comm Ave and onto Boylston will be as challenging as ever.

The good news as of now is that they're calling for a tailwind for much of the day and partly sunny, upper 40s-low 60s -- good for most, but it will be a bit warm for me come 1:30-2is when I'm in Boston. Better than 90 degrees, though, so I'll take it!

I've been "light" on the fundraising so far, but hope to finish strong. Please consider a small donation if you haven't yet done so.

Thanks for checkin in!