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!

Bandit - the dirty word of running!

I have seen people get so riled up when talking about bandit running that you would think they were in a Presidential debate!  You say “bandit” around a group of runners and it’s like you said a dirty word. 

Race directors and racers cry thievery.  Loudly.

Some argue that it’s okay if you don’t partake in the amenities, i.e. water stops.  Others argue that the bandits make the route more crowded and possibly unsafe.  Bandits can also cause insurance and safety issues.  What if the bandit gets hit by a car?  You bet the race director is going to come under scrutiny.  Some runners become bandits to avoid paying the race fee, while enjoying a closed course with cops directing traffic that non-bandit runners helped pay for.  Race fees also go to the charity the race supports, if it supports one, so bandit runners are also gypping the sponsored charity.  Pretty much, bandits are reaping the benefits of what others bad for. 

What about (bandit) pacers?  Or non-legal bib transfers?

What about that awesome friend who is going to pace you?  They shouldn’t have to pay... or should they?  Some runners say that the friend gives you an advantage and it’s not fair.  Others say if they’re runing, even with no goal other than helping, they should pay. 

If you wear someone else bibs, then you are possibly messing up results.   For example, a guy’s lady can’t run, so he wears her bib so the bib doesn’t go to waste.  The problem is he’s fast and wins her age group.  So the bib didn’t go to waste, BUT he stole someone’s chance at glory and messes up the scoring for the local running club! 

So, come on race directors, look into bib transfers!  Most runners understand that their entry fees have been spent way before race day, but life happens, so why not make it where at least someone can (fairly) run the race?  PLUS, it means an additional source of revenue for your race!

So, what’s my stance?  Just say no to bandits, of any type!  If you don’t feel like shelling out money for a race, then don’t run it.  If everyone ran races without paying, races would cease to exist.  No more running the streets of a city without having to worry about traffic.  No more cool tech tees to sport around town.   Organizations wouldn’t raise any money for their causes, but most importantly, there would be no more race bling and the world would be a sadder place because of that.