Most Americans visit Disney World for the first time as a kid. I was 26 years old for my first Disney experience – my first marathon. Some may say that I was a deprived child, but I disagree. Needless to say, I loved Disney Marathon! Yes, both the physical running of 26.2 miles as well as being at Disney.
Continue reading “Throwback to First Marathon @Disney!”
Marathon training requires workouts most days of the week. In an ideal world, I would run around 11am, but my full time job doesn’t allow for that kind of flexibility! While I’d love to consistently get up early and run before work, I sometimes find running later in the day works better for me. My workouts happen before or after work depending on the day’s schedule (or my mood!).
State House all lit up- running through Boston after dark isn’t the worst thing!
Still, I prioritize getting my runs in each day, so my post-work plans determine the timing of my workout. Last night I fit my coaches’ prescribed 7 miles/stride-outs in after work, whereas this morning, I woke up early and ran my 6 miles with speed work and strength routine before work. These were both great ways to end/start my days.
I mentioned in a previous post that I worked with a coach for the first time while training for Big Cottonwood marathon. My coach at the time helped me build up my speed and endurance to a place where I could run my fastest marathon- my ultimate goal. Since this experience, I have been hooked on the idea of having a coach, but decided to switch to another coaching program, Run Farther and Faster. My new coaches Julie and Lisa have been fantastic, and I am really looking forward to working with them as I train for my next couple of marathons, including my goal race: Phoenix.
Another night shot of this beautiful city where old & new seem to blend well together
A few reasons why I enjoy working with a coach:
These are just some of the reasons why I have chosen to work with a coach in my next training cycle. Have you worked with a coach?
What does your week look like in terms of workouts?
Warning: this is a long post! I have been meaning to write about my BQ at Big Cottonwood Canyon UT for a while and wanted to include info on the training leading up to the race as well as an overview of the race itself. If you don’t want to read about the blood, sweat, and tears I faced in this race, I won’t be offended if you click away :)
After my annual viewing of the Boston Marathon this past April, I found myself more determined than ever to attempt to re-qualify for the marathon (even despite the horrifically rainy and cold conditions of the 2015 race!). I decided that day in April to find a race in a unique location, which had a favorable course for a PR. I perused through my marathon go-to source (www.marathonguide.com), and quickly found my race of choice: Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City, Utah. The race is put on by REVEL, and had great ratings. I watched some footage on a previous year’s race and promptly signed up.
Marathon training in Boston is fun!
My training:
My Big Cottonwood marathon training cycle started in mid-May. I had already built up a solid base after running Philly marathon the previous November, and had also run a couple of half marathons in the spring. But in general, I was starting this training cycle with fresh legs, and was determined to train hard and with consistency.
As a part of this plan, I hired my first running coach because I needed to make some changes to my training, and needed someone to push me. I also work best (like many others) when I am held accountable to someone other than myself- and this ended up being the missing link for me.
My coach set up my training schedule on google calendar a month ahead of time. I would log each run, and she would comment on occasion. Throughout summer 2015, I built my long runs up to 22 miles, and also added in speed work and tempo runs (400 meter, 800 meter, or mile repeats, with cool downs in between). I incorporated 4 half marathon races into my training, and at times added on more miles post-race if the day called for more miles.
Providence half & Gloucester half this summer. Love incorporating half marathons with marathon training!
Some of my long runs were “fast finishes”, ie- the last several miles were at marathon pace. One long run included a couple mile warm-up, 10 miles at marathon pace, and a couple mile cool down.
4th of July road race!
In general, I think I was prepared for Big Cottonwood Canyon on marathon day (September 12th, 2015). Some of my long runs during the training cycle did not go as well as I had wanted, particularly because of the time of year (summer), but I usually hit my speed work splits, so hoped that those runs would help me run strong in those last few precious miles.
Another training run along the Charles River
The race:
Big Cottonwood is known as a fast race, amenable to PRs. The first 19 miles of the course are mostly downhill, but miles 19-23 have some rolling hills. The last 2 miles are mostly back to being downhill, a change which is subsequently very tough on the legs (well, more tough than usual for the last two miles of a marathon). My sig Mark (who was running the half) and I decided to drive the course the day before the race, which helped me mentally prepare for the downhill and course logistics. I highly recommend driving a race course to prepare if you can, especially if the course is completely unfamiliar!
View in Moab during my last training run before the marathon!
Race expo was easy, on the small side. Plenty of parking, but you’ll need a car. Note that Utah is a very car-friendly, car-necessary state.
Our hotel was not one of the official hotels for the race, as those had sold out, but we were fine with the Courtyard Marriott in Sandy, UT. On race morning, we had to drive a few miles to the shuttle pickup. The lines for the shuttles were VERY long, but moved surprisingly quickly. They took us to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, roughly 9700 feet high in the sky, to where the marathon starts. Half marathon started a couple of hundred feet south of us at 7300 feet. Coming from Boston, I felt a little hard core being so high in the mountains.
REVEL runs an organized race- the top/start had plenty of porta potties, and our bags at bib pickup included mylar blankets and gloves, which were perfect for early mornings on the top of a mountain. Coming from sea-level, I could feel the effects of being almost 10k feet high, but the downhill nature of the course outweighed some of the effects.
True to the course description, the first 19 miles of the race were basically a steady downhill (with an exception of a steep hill at mile 4, which was at an elevation of roughly 8500 feet high- this was tough on the lungs to say the least). I maintained a 3:25-3:30 pace for this portion, and was determined to stay well ahead of the 3:35 pacer. A 3 hour 35 minute (or less) marathon finish was the time I needed to qualify for Boston.
After the half-way point, I desperately wished that I had trained on downhill courses more frequently to prepare for this terrain. But despite the deep fatigue my legs were feeling from all of the pounding, I felt great and ran consistent 7:30-7:45 minute miles. At mile 19, my pace slowed up as the course became hilly. Hills at 5500 feet elevation were no joke. At one point I had to stop and stretch, and also just catch my breath. It was a very interesting feeling, being out of breath at this point even in the flat sections. I knew that I was far from home.
At mile 23, I noticed the 3:35 pacer slowly creeping up to me and at that moment felt very emotional and overwhelmed. The pacer caught up to me at 24, and asked me how I was doing. I was honest and told her that I was very disappointed to see her. She said that she was running a minute or so ahead of a 3:35, that the rest of the race was downhill, and that she knew I had it in me to push myself. I know she had no idea, but her motivational lines helped me push through.
At that point, I was determined to reach my goal and pushed as.hard.as.I.possibly.could. I crossed the line @3:33.06 and saw Mark, who promptly yelled “you friggin qualified!!!”.
The rest of the day was a blur, but I remember bits of the following: devouring pizza and Gatorade at the finish, crawling to the car, showering off the massive amounts of salt that caked my body (maybe the dry air evaporated the sweat?), passing out for a long time, then crawling to the movie theatre and lastly eating amazing Mexican food at a restaurant in SLC where I devoured so many chips and guacamole, that I got my fill for the year…almost :)
End of story: run this race if you can. Loved everything about it, and it’s a great one if you’re serious about qualifying for Boston (aren’t we all?).
About to cross the finish line- won’t ever forget that day!
What is your favorite running memory?
Anyone else on the road to a BQ?
Good morning and Happy Monday! Hope your week gets off to a great start.
Two weeks from now, I will be heading down to Philadelphia with some family and friends. My sister and cousin are running the Philly marathon, and I am going to cheer them on!
City Hall along race course
I’ve run the Philly marathon three times- in 2011, 2012, and 2014– and just thinking about the race brings back many happy memories. Philly marathon was my second fastest marathon finish (2011 race), as well as one of my slowest finishes (2014 race). Yet in the three times I have run the race, I learned so much and enjoyed it every time.
2014 race with my sibs and Mark
Some thoughts:
2012 race finish
I am disappointed to not be running Philly this year, but am really looking forward to being a spectator this time around! I might jump in towards the end of the race to help pace her, but TBD. She is going for a BQ and I think she will meet that goal in this race!
2014 race finish
Stay tuned for a recap in a couple of weeks!
Has anyone run Philly marathon? Any tips or tricks that you’ve learned from the race?
I ran a 5k this morning (Boston River Run). It was a great race, a benefit for the Andrew Graham Semper Fi Fund, a scholarship at Bunker Hill CC.
More beautiful Boston foliage!
The race was held along the Charles River in Boston- couldn’t have been more convenient to get to!
Getting ready to run!
Some thoughts about running a 3.1 mile race:
Pre-race shot
The race left me excited to run another, perhaps my town’s turkey trot in a few weeks?!
After a large post-race brunch with friends (fellow runners, including a friend who ran her first race today!!), I am vegging/watching the Patriots/enjoying the rest of the day off before a busy week ahead. Hope you all have a great Sunday!
Hello Saturday! Hope your weekend is off to a great start.
Last night I saw “The Martian” with friends and I highly recommend it. It would be amazing to experience being in outer space- but it could be very lonely out there! I won’t say anything more to spoil the movie- but just see it if you haven’t!
I had 12 miles on the schedule to run today but was only able to get in a few miles in this morning as I had to get to a brunch to celebrate a close friend. Splitting up runs is not something I normally do- but it is better than nothing. I had another time constraint in the evening, so knew I’d only have a short window of time in the afternoon to run the second set of miles.
Boston has some beautiful running paths!
It was another beautiful fall day in Boston- would love the temperatures to just stay put for while!
Heading towards the Charles for a run- suddenly the scene seems more winter-like!
I’m taking it easy tonight because I’m running a 5k tomorrow morning. I haven’t run a race at that distance in awhile and I’m looking forward to it!
Anyone else racing tomorrow? Good luck!
Happy Friday! Last night was a gorgeous evening in Boston- can’t believe how warm the weather has been!
Drone over my favorite city. Thanks @imnotquitejack!
I decided to take a “rest day” from running and instead did some stretching (mainly using the foam roller) on top of a 7 minute workout. I love this short workout because it targets all areas of the body and enables you to get a little sweat in only a few minutes. Check it out if you haven’t already (link here)!
With my alarm set for 6am this morning, I headed out for a quick morning run before work. It was another unseasonably warm day and I was able to head out in a tank and shorts, with compression socks.
Foam rolling is my heaven and hell!
Saturday marks my first day of training for Phoenix marathon at the end of February. I recently chose this marathon as my next target for a Boston qualifier, given the fast and flat course (with the exception of a large hill at miles 4.5-6!), the positive reviews from other runners about the course and race logistics, and because I wanted to run a race in a new state! Phoenix marathon will be my 10th state– I am super excited to explore that area of the country through running. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to head to AZ in the middle of a Boston winter :)
That time I went to AZ for work and it was 100 degrees– hopefully it will be a bit milder in February!
My training cycle will start with a 12 mile run on Saturday, followed by a 5k fun race on Sunday. I will be taking it relatively easy for the rest of November as I continue to recover from Marine Corps Marathon. Longer runs and more intense speed work will start in December. Have a great Friday and start to your weekend! Happy running!
I ran the Chicago marathon in October 2013. It was a race to remember for many reasons, but most memorable was the fact that I ran with my sister and brother (my cousin came too but sadly couldn’t run due to an injury). My parents also came to watch the race, and we had a fantastic time together in the Windy City. There are so many things to say about the race, one of the largest races in the country, but I will narrow it down to two quick lists of what did and didn’t work. Chicago was my 7th marathon, but I still learned a lot from the race.
What didn’t work:
The Chicago bean (cloud gate)! Can you spot me?
What worked:
I really want to run this race again one day, after training sufficiently. It is certainly a race to run a PR- and if not, you’ll still have a wonderful time in the city!
Happy Thursday guys! Thank you so much for checking in to my new blog. I am very excited about it and appreciate any feedback you have.
Boston has had some great weather recently, so I have kept my runs and workouts outside- even in the dark after work-hours. But as I start to train for my next marathon (Phoenix Marathon in February- post coming on that soon!), I am anticipating some treadmill runs in the future as we head into winter. I like to run outside as much as possible, but there are some winter weather days that are simply safer to be inside.
Let’s face it- not all of our outdoor workouts can be met with a gorgeous hot sunset over the Charles River.
Here are a few treadmill tips that I have learned through trial and error over the years:
Boston sans snow
What are your favorite treadmill tips?
Running outside with friends always beats inside- but I’ll take the treadmill over ice!
Good morning! Although we’ve had sunny skies in Boston lately, this post is about running a race in the rain. Don’t let wet weather discourage you from getting out there!
A couple of years ago, some girl friends and I decided to meet up for a destination race. We chose Nashville, and weren’t disappointed with this choice. The Rock and Roll marathon was held at the end of April, and we signed up for the half marathon.
The race started downtown Nashville on Broadway, and curved around the city past all of the main sites, including the Country Hall of Fame, Music City Center, and down Music Row. The forecast called for rain so we came prepared with plastic bags and extra layers. Unfortunately, cold rain did not let up throughout the entire race, which was particularly challenging since the course was full of irregular rolling hills. Through trial and error, I have come up with a list of tips for running in the rain.
Despite the difficulty of the race, I was happy to end up with a half marathon PR, crossing the finish line at 1:43. Post-race we rested and then re-grouped for a night in Downtown Nashville- which was an absolute blast! The rain had also run its course, and the sun came out as we headed out. We headed to Broadway to purchase cowboy boots, and then proceeded to bar hop the city’s variety of country western and modern bars.
I hope to run Nashville again, but will aim for the marathon distance next time!
Good morning, hope your week is off to a great start! Running outside after work in the dark yesterday reminded me that daylight savings won’t happen again until March! Only about 4 months to go until longer days! :)
Last March my sister and I decided to escape the Boston winter and run the Los Angeles marathon. While running a PR was not the goal of this race, I did fit in some long training runs prior to the race. However these runs were mostly inside on the treadmill because of the weather. The race was just over three months after my previous marathon, Plymouth Plantation in MA.
Santa Monica Pier
We flew to LA the Thursday night before the race. We stayed in Santa Monica, near where the “stadium to sea” race ended at the Santa Monica Pier. We loved this area of LA (like most people!), and found some great food options. Sugar Fish, Stella Barra– pizza and other carb-rich items were perfect pre-and post-race! We also enjoyed exploring the Santa Monica Pier, Muscle Beach, and Rodeo Drive and shopping at Third Street Promenade.
Bib and t-shirt pickup were at the LA Convention Center- plenty of parking and we thought it was conveniently located in the city. After eating our pre-race meals of peanut butter and banana on bagels, we shuttled over to Dodger Stadium a couple of hours prior to the 7:30 am race start. We felt that the shuttle system was convenient, and enjoyed hanging out in the stadium until the race started. Always a luxury to use real bathrooms instead of porta potties!
Dodger Stadium prior to the start
The race started with a steep downhill, and a few more rolling hills followed. The rolling hills continued throughout the race until mile 24, when the course veered steadily downhill until the last 0.2. Course was overall scenic, passing all of the notable LA sites including Hollywood Hall of Fame, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Palisades Park, and Santa Monica Pier.
Santa Monica Beach
There was also a decent amount of entertainment along the course, and adequate water stations. The issue that my sister and I had with the race was the heat—the race started with a 70 degree temperature and climbed up into the mid-80s by the time we finished. I decided early on that given the heat, I would take this race easy and enjoy the sites. The race directors pushed up the date of the race by several weeks, which I think is a great idea. Hopefully future LA marathons are met with cooler temperatures!
Santa Monica finish line shot
My sister and I were happy to relax in the California sun on Santa Monica Beach for the rest of the trip!
A couple of years ago I ran the Miami Marathon (I also ran the half marathon in January, 2016- check out the recap here!). I signed up to run this race in January with some friends, knowing that it wouldn’t be a goal race but a recovery/fun race (being in Miami and all!). I had run Philadelphia Marathon two months prior and was a bit disappointed with my finish. I crossed the line in my goal time, however did not feel physically well during the race and post-race, so wanted to move on from that as soon as possible. I have more thoughts on the idea of jumping into running another race too quickly following a disappointing performance- stay tuned for a future post on this!
Needless to say, Miami Marathon would not ultimately be my “comeback” race (that wouldn’t happen for a couple of years), but I did enjoy my time out there.
Boston runner feeling the Miami heat!
Positive memories about running Miami marathon include:
View of the city from Brickell
Some things to keep in mind if you are running Miami Marathon (or the Half Marathon):
So much relaxation and recreation in Miami!
Mark and I decided to head back to Miami this January and run the half marathon. It will be a great training race for Paris, and well, an ideal time of year to get out of Boston. Can’t wait to explore Miami more!
Miami Beach
My first MCM and marathon #13 was a great experience overall!
Registration for the race was in March. My sig/running partner Mark and I were lucky enough to secure bibs this year through a lottery system where we think only half the registrants got in.
The MCM was held on the last full weekend in October (the 25th). Mark and I flew down to DC on Friday night, and headed to the expo on Saturday morning for bib and t-shirt pickup. The expo was huge, one of the largest I have been to! We were able to pick up the goods and grab lunch before heading back to the hotel for a relaxing rest of the day. Dinner was at Ella’s Pizza with my cousin and his girlfriend who was also running. It was a great pre-race meal and I recommend the pizza for all DC friends!
Walking by Washington Monument the evening before the race.
Race day: We woke up around 5am, and did the usual pre-race routine:
After this, we were off on the metro! It was crowded but easy to get to the Pentagon stop where the race started. What we hadn’t planned for was the hour-long security line to the runners’ village at the start. MCM decided to increase security this year, and therefore 30,000 people had to go through metal detectors to gain admission to the start. Fortunately we got to this point ahead of time, but we only had 20ish minutes to use the porta pots and scurry over to the start before the guns went off.
MCM put on quite a show at the starting line with a flyover and five parachuters from the sky displaying massive American Flags. It was incredible! Soon after this moment, we were off! My goal was to just enjoy this race and take it easy, given that my previous marathon (Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT) was just six weeks prior. I hoped to finish in just under 4 hours.
Walk around the National Mall on the Monday after the race
Instead of writing a recap of the entire race, I’m going to write what worked what didn’t work for the race. If you are considering running MCM, take note!
What worked:
What didn’t work:
Overall, Mark and I each had a great race and would highly recommend this marathon to anyone. I met my goal of running sub-4 hours (3:58), and felt strong in the hours and days following the race. Looking forward to some rest before I start training for my next!
Happy Sunday! It was so nice to gain an extra hour this morning, despite the fact that it will start to get dark at 4:30PM where I live! Hope you all had a fun Halloween yesterday- we sure did! We ended up dressing as a tree and a treehugger. As the treehugger, I sported a comfy flannel, whereas Mark was covered with leaves. I think I got the better deal :)
My Halloween started off by sleeping in (it’s been awhile!), and then my sister came over to visit before heading out on a long run. She is training for the Philadelphia Marathon, and yesterday’s 20 miler was her last before taper. My sister often comes in to the city from the suburbs so she can join other runners or enjoy her favorite running paths in Boston!
I also went out for an nice 7.5 mile run, first run since last weekend’s marathon! It was a perfect fall day outside. I wore my new favorite running shorts, favorite long sleeve, and compression socks. It was the best weather for running!
I wanted to completely recover before I jumped back into my running routine. As I was getting ready to head out the door, I thought about my typical pre-race routine.
My typical routine on the morning of race:
Good morning and happy weekend! Given that I recently ran a race away from home (Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC), the logistics of running a destination race are fresh in my mind. Destination races/”runcations” are one of my favorite parts of running! You don’t want to be without the essentials for race day, so I have developed a list of things you should bring with you.
Continue reading “Packing List When Travelling to a Race”
A few months ago, my sig Mark and I jetted off to Seattle for a long weekend. We loved our time in this beautiful northwestern city- including the food and coffee, and access to amazing national parks!
Trail runners/hikers/outdoors enthusiasts: I’m sure you’re aware of Mount Rainier National Park. A roughly two hour-three drive from Seattle, the park offers many hikes of different durations and difficulties. Mark and I drove out to the northwestern section of the park for a two hour hike which started at Mowich Lake– an unbelievably crystal clear and majestic sight!
Continue reading “Seattle Review”
Hi, I’m Jane!
I am a 30-something from Boston, MA and I love to run, travel, and be out in the wild! Follow my blog for a glimpse into all of those things.
The History:
I started running with my high school track team and continued with shorter distances into college. I built up the courage to try longer distances post-college and I signed up for my first half marathon on May 2010. My first 13.1 miler was full of highs and lows, but as soon as I crossed the finish line I wanted to tackle my next big goal: the full marathon.
In 2011, my sister and I agreed to run our first marathon together. We trained by following Hal Higdon’s Marathon: Novice 1 . On race day, I had no idea what to expect, but once I crossed the finish line I knew that this would not be my last marathon. Since then I’ve run 12 more marathons, and each one was its own unique experience! One of my big goals was to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I have twice met the official qualifying time, but both times ended up missing the final cut because of the number of registrants!
The Blog:
With encouragement from friends, family, and fellow runners, including an elite runner that I highly respect, I decided to move away from a strict time goal and instead focus on my love for:
Most recently I ran the 2015 Marine Corps Marathon. Next up (so far) in 2016: Paris Marathon, Missoula MT Marathon, Wineglass Marathon, and Miami Half Marathon.
Stay tuned to Jane Runs Wild for travel tips, runcations, marathon training, and other adventures! Hope you enjoy!
xoxo Jane
Jane Runs Wild 
