Cheers C., the “Race week has arrived” e-mails are landing in from Boston and the flight check-in is open – this is it now I suppose. On two runs per week and the lowest possible mileage I could get away with – almost all of it at 8+ minutes per mile, I have passed myself ready to travel and go to the start line. No point in complaining about pain or injury – participation is not obligatory. As Carmona says, at least I got a good few long ones done.
Chasing a time is fairly meaningless – it all depends on the day. Best you could aim for is 3:25 and you’d hope not to exceed 3:45. Last year, on higher mileage and more “speed” work, I spent everything I had making 3:28. Normally, you use first half to bank some time and the second half to suffer suffer suffer the hills, then gimp on in to Boston.
Boston is an incredible race – definitely run it if you can. The city goes marathon crazy for the weekend and the support is off the charts - the raw emotion as you climb the big hills between 17 and 21 miles is unique. For me, everything about marathon running is encapsulated the insane buzz and noise as you climb Heartbreak Hill to mile 21. Every marathon completed is another notch on the record and for me “Five Bostons” has a very nice ring to it. The usual routine of pulling out the previous medals was repeated this week.
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I’ll carry 6 gels this time – in case things get bad out on the course and I’m out for a very long time. Two caffeine toots in the arsenal an' all.
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Forecast is -1 to +7 degrees with a northerly crosswind – it could be worse, but it also means hat, gloves, long sleeve shirt etc. will be retained for most if not all of the race.
As the fella says, watch this space for details.
Morning is due to be as cold but dry 
