Another change of plans!

I swear this path to Boston is playing with my emotions!  A few weeks ago I didn't think I'd be able to do anything close to the training I had planned on, but after 100 miles (long runs, speedwork) of no hip pain, I was getting very optimistic that running hard at Boston was back in the picture.  Alas, it's always two steps forward, one step back.  My hip started acting up again after a long run that was into the wind and close to race pace.   It wore me out and now I'm back to running with pain.  I'm still able to run on it at a decent pace, but not an ideal pace.  I'm a lot more optimistic though because I know I can get it worked out with the help of Jason Rose at OmniHealth and Sarah Allers at Massage-Works.  So, my new plan is to leave the camera behind and run my heart out ... and heal up over the two to three week rest after Boston!

Change of Plans!

So, as soon as I qualified for Boston, I knew that my goal was to run a sub 3:30 there.  I know I have a sub 3:30 in me, so I figured Boston would be a great place to do it.  After the Savannah marathon, I was slightly beat up from the concrete, so I decreased my mileage and even took two weeks off of running to knock out the aches and pain I was having.  Didn't work.  So, I ended up at the doctor who told me that I needed to do two weeks of aggressive hip stretching and no speedwork.  I could handle that; it would still give me almost 3 months to get ready for Boston.

Almost a month later, the hip pain is still there.  I'm able to run, which I'm thankful for, but have to stick around a 9 minute pace; if I go much faster, my hip hurts, but if I stay around 9, minimal pain.  Here's where the change of plans comes in.  As much as I would love to shoot for 3:30,  my body won't allow the training for it right now.  I am able to run slow and steady though, so I'm going to do high mileage (for me), get a lot of time on my feet, build up the endurance, and say to hell with speedwork!  I'm already hitting 40 miles a week and hope to start holding steady between 50 and 60 miles, with 4 to 5 runs per week.

My goal is no longer to run fast, but to make it to the start line.  If I feel great closer to race time, then I might go for it, but if not, I have a backup plan.  I'm going to take my camera, take tons of pics along the course, live it up, and see how long it can take me to do a marathon :-)  I also plan on taking a freezer pop from the kids and a beer from the college kids.  I mean it when I say I'll live it up!


That's the plan for now - high mileage, slow pace, and pray for health - I just think it'd be more fun to live it up while running a 3:30!