Enjoying the process

Two weeks ago tomorrow was the scorcher known as the 2012 Boston Marathon. With the temps creeping close to 80 before the start of the race, I suspect most racers knew it was not a day to go for a personal best. The BAA certainly did their part to give participants adequate warning about the risks of exertion in higher temperatures. They even allowed people to defer their entry to 2013 with presumably cooler temps. The situation raised one of the many truths about marathoning: enjoy the process. After months of training, there are many things completely out of a racer's control. One of the biggest factors is weather. The way of the champion is to train for all the things that can be controlled: mileage, intensity, recovery, rest, diet etc. The way of the champion is also to expect those things that can't be control:weather, illness, etc. If you can plan for these things, then you are not as off your game when they become reality. Boston this year was the perfect example of that. I trained hard with an emphasis on distance. My last race in Philly was good, but I felt the lack of adequate endurance took its toll at the end. I mixed up my training to accommodate for the deficit. I had a great simulator a month prior where I ran part of the National marathon with Chris Farley from Pacers running stores. I hung onto his wheel for 15 miles at 630 pace. Not that is was easy, but I got it done and that is what counts. So, you hate to go into a race like Boston ready to roll only to have some steamy temps push you way back off your pace. That is the cruelty of the marathon. It is what makes me want to retire from distance running. It is also what makes me want to come back. So while you prep for your next race, make sure you are having fun. Makes sure that you have a schedule that enables you to have life balance so you can gain fitness, but also smell the roses along the way.
My race ended up 20 minutes slower than last year. But in a way, this year was more fun than the past 4 Bostons. I soaked up the crowd and ran the race more like I was doing an ultra than a road marathon. It was the first year I had the smarts to stop in Wellsley for some pucker time. That was fun, and at the end of the day, that is what it should be all about.