the week’s end: 20 weeks to go
I dub this week a success. I got in the miles and didn’t skip any Insanity! Hurray. The 5k (that wasn’t really a 5k) went off without too much pain and a happy Thanksgiving was had by all.
This week’s workouts:
Sunday: Insanity
Monday: 10 miles & Insanity
Tuesday: 6 miles, Insanity & Jazzercise
Wednesday: 5 miles & Insanity
Thursday 5.5 miles & Insanity
Friday: 5 miles & Insanity
Total Mileage: 31.5
Ok, so about those hills that I mentioned yesterday. I was going to put all of my thoughts about hills as of late into the race report, but that made it way WAY too long. So I decided to devote today’s end-of-the-week thoughts to hills.
Ever since I qualified for Boston, I’ve been thinking about hills. Hills, hills, hills. I know that Boston is a challenging course for the brutal hills especially (but not limited to) miles 17-21. Particularly Heartbreak Hill. I want to know as much about these obstacles as I can so that when the day comes and I get to face them I will be up for the challenge and will not be defeated. To that end, I checked out the book 26 Miles to Boston, a mile-by-mile account of the most famous marathon in the world. It’s written from the perspective of a first time marathoner but includes a lot of historical information about important landmarks along the way and the course subtleties that we will face along the way. There are quotes from former champions and stories throughout the generations that really bring the race to life, both past and present.
It just so happens that on Wednesday while we were driving to my in-law’s house I was reading (well, at least when I was not napping) the chapters that cover the most brutal part of the race: the Newton Hills. I devoured these chapters, re-reading the sections about the hills over and over to try to squeeze as much information from them as I could. Here are some of the best quotes I found,
The first of the three Commonweath Avenue hills is like the first punch to the face of the runner: If you’re still standing, you may proceed to the next hill.
It is impossible to do justice to the stature of the three Commonwealth Avenue hills with verbose prose. The truth of the hills is better described by the beholders: Four-time winner Bill Rogers: “This is the most significant stretch of course in the road-racing world…there is no other section that identifies the challenge and beauty of marathoning more than this section of the Boston Marathon.” Jean Driscoll: “The marathon is won and lost on the hills. Those who fear the hills will falter, while those who attack the hills can win”
For me, the second hill exceeds the others in difficulty. The first hill is attacked with great zest after the turn at the fire station. Running up heartbreak hill is a battle within the war. The second one just hurts.
With the fans at the top pulling and the fans behind them pushing, the runners scale to the peak of Heartbreak Hill. For four tenths of a mile, teeth are gritted and fists are clenched until somehow the runners arrive in the Promised Land.
And it was with all of these words ringing in my head that I faced the hills of my little trail race yesterday. Granted, none of them where of the same caliber that I will experience at Boston, but something about the description of those famous hills and the tales of people overcoming them year after year inspired me to “attack” the hills of my little Turkey Trot rather than “fear” them. Up the first (and longest) of the hills I just kept visualizing what it was going to be like facing that first incline after running 16+ miles. I tried to mentally capture my attitude and “learn” the feeling of attack so that when I need to tap into that in the future I will know where to look. The second and third hills where similar. I kept thinking, “how am I going to feel at Heartbreak Hill? How do I want to run it? What mental strength do I want to have? What will be the best way to attack it?” And then I just gutted it out. I was SO inspired…I can’t really describe it any other way.
Now if I could just find a way to bottle my new found attraction to hills so I’ll have it in 20 weeks or so…
Thanks for stopping by my blog – looking forward to reading yours. Have fun on those hills!
ahhhhhh! I dont even care about the hills! I want boston….. sighhssss
Great race report yesterday! Too funny! Ahh on the white racing flats! Congrats!
Love the quotes. Brings back so many memories. The second Newton hill was the worst in my opinion. Heartbreak was a little easier for me mentally because I knew it signified the end of that stretch. This section of the course isn’t easy but it’s less than 5 miles of a 26 mile race!! Furthermore, after each of these hills, you are given a short reprieve on a downhill that if you relax and regroup will get you through! I need to look back but before Newton, either mile 15 or 16 is almost ENTIRELY downhill. This was a super treat for me but I noticed so many people struggling and walking at this point, people who likely “trashed” themselves in the first 10K. It is really hard to refrain from going out hard at the beginning! So much adrenaline and downhill. Mile 1 was my slowest and it felt like I was practically walking and I was still under the pace I had planned for that mile-so much excitement! I wanted to speed up SO badly but advice kept ringing in my head. “If you think you are going too slow in mile one, go slower….” This race is incredible! “Those who fear the hills will falter” Confidence!!! 20 weeks! So exciting!!
This is starting to scare me, we are too alike. I have been thinking about the hills in Boston like crazy ha! I am going to have to read that book, it sounds so good. Great week of workouts, I am jealous of your mileage!! Maybe I will do a summary of the book I read today ha:)
Ahhh!!! I really need to learn to embrace the hills! It sounds like you have the right frame of mind to tackle those hills in Boston..I am so excited for you!!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love new visitors!! Congrats on qualifying for Boston, that’s so awesome! I will be there cheering my fellow runners on. I went last year and it was an amazing experience. Maybe someday I’ll be running it! Great job!
P.S. I hate hills. I try to love them but I just can’t.
That sounds like such an intense week! Insanity AND hilly runs? Sounds like you’ll be more than ready for Boston!
you can do it! come back to this post before your big day so you can remember what you were feeling like.
How much does Billy pay you to be so nice to me. I seriously can’t wait to meet you in Boston!
I’ve got you covered. Just come out here to train! Heartbreak hill is 4% grade. I have a 4% grade hill that is about half a mile long, and we can make be at 4 miles from our finish on an out and back 20 miler. Wanna come? There is another hill about 4% that is almost a mile long at about mile 11, though. I promise you’ll be ready if you come
)
Seriously- I think you are going to be VERY ready anyway. Just get in the work and be wise- don’t get hurt! You are gonna rock Boston this year!!
Um, thanks for this information
Seriously, I appreciate that you shared this; information is good, we need to know the enemy 
I love your plan of attack for the holiday’s! That is so awesome, especially since your husband is doing it with you. Sushi and veggies for a snack….I am jealous! Have a great Monday!
I love hill training, it definitely gives me the biggest mental boost. Not that it keeps me from complaining about it, but seriously, I really do love it.
Dang, 30+ miles per week and insanity. You go! thats awesome. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on insanity for a while now. Maybe for christmas? hehe.
Cheers,
LC