How I am preparing for the Boston Marathon

Friends and Family,

The Boston Marathon is 5 days and 2 runs away!! I can’t believe it. This year it seemed to come faster, and I feel like I am frantically trying to get everything ready. I think being newly engaged has added some stress to the mix 🙂

I did receive our save the dates today, and got a little sidetracked filling them out. I may already have 80 done and ready to go…..I couldn’t help myself. I know what Marc and I will be doing on the plane ride over to Boston. 🙂

Boston was a dream of mine. When I qualified a couple years ago and ran my first Boston last year, I was on cloud nine. It was so amazing. To date, there isn’t another race like it. Having 80% of the Boston population out cheering for you brings such encouragement and makes for a great racing environment. The course is amazing, besides Heartbreak hill and the rolling hills before it. The city is amazing, with all it’s history.

Boston was on my bucket list and I couldn’t believe I checked it off just like that. I said I would qualify for Boston and be done marathon racing. But little did I know that I would love marathons so much. Now I can’t get enough of them. Last year’s temps in Boston were record high for race day, reaching 90 degrees. I ran it not trying to PR, because I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I was already so nervous, add the high temps, and I was sweating before I even started the race. Now I am ready to go back, with cooler temps and redeem myself!! This Boston experience is going to be different.

I have trained hard this year and have overcome so much in my life. In the past year since Boston, many things have happened in my life that have been challenging, and those challenges have helped with my training.

I have had to run through snow storms, pouring rain, wind, ice and sleet, and subzero temperatures. I don’t regret these runs. They made me stronger.

I have gotten up at 4:30 in the morning to make time for my runs, gone to bed early, missing out on fun, and lost sleep, to train for Boston. I am sure there has been time when my friends and family wished I wasn’t so dedicated.

I have overcome mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical stress while training for Boston, and I am stronger because of it.

I have made a friend with my foam roller and golf balls, as well as my ice cup, all in the name of Boston.

So how I am prepping this week for Boston, now that I have so much more time on my hands (since I am tapering)? Well here’s a short list: 

• I am eating taco salad likes it’s going out of style
• I am loading up on oranges so my immune system stays strong
• I am hydrating
• I am drinking tart cherry juice for some added potassium
• I am adding chia seeds to my yogurt for added potassium, sodium, iron, and healthy fats
• I am eating mixed greens for some energy with some fruits
• I am running less, not because I want to, but because I have to
• I have been packing and unpacking my suitcase
• I am getting ahead on homework so I have more time to have fun in Boston
• I am repeating scriptures to give me motivation and encouragement
• I am speaking affirmations, so I have no negative thoughts but only positive thoughts for Boston

I have some key scriptures I say when the going get’s tough in my races and I have been repeating an affirmation a couple times of day, because I believe our words are powerful. And as we all know, running is just as much a mental game as it is a physical game. I want to train my mind to be strong and positive, so when my body is telling me Heartbreak Hill is the death of me, my mind is saying “You can do it, because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” I also love to say “I love hills. I love hills.”

Here’s my scriptures I use in my races when I am feeling like quitting or it’s getting hard: 

Here’s my affirmation I say daily to myself and will be taking to Boston with me:

I will run a great race and set a new PR. I will be well rested and injury free. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I will have energy and strength. My legs are strong and I have no doubt. I can do all things with His strength. I will run a great race. My feet will be swift. I will conquer Heartbreak Hill. I will conquer Boston, 2013. I will give it my all!! 

My family and friend’s great encouragement will also help inspire me on race day. I know I will have many friends and family following me, praying for me, and thinking of me on Monday April 15, 2013!! This gives me motivation and strength!! Also, there will be 27000 other runners running the same race as I will be running, so I am not alone!!

Anyone else racing in Boston? What quotes do you use for motivation and encouragement?