Looking for some easy breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas for your meal prepping needs? You’re in luck. I just updated my app with a brand new weekly meal plan featuring some of my favorite meals. This week features a menu that is naturally gluten and dairy free and primarily vegetarian and pescatarian. Don’t forget, each week follows a different type of diet so if you are a vegan or just like to eat clean, check out the other published meal plans. Don’t have an iPhone – alternate version coming soon.
“Your body can stand almost anything, it’s your mind you have to convince.”
On Saturday morning, the last thing I wanted to do when I saw it was 27 degrees out was run for 3 hours but ya know what? That’s exactly what I did because that is what you do when you are crazy and you sign up to run the Boston Marathon. I’m convinced that whoever decided to hold the historic race in April is a masochist.
I waited to start running until about 11:30am because I was hoping it would get a little bit warmer. Breakfast was an English muffin with peanut butter and a banana.
During my Chicago training, I ran along the Charles River because the course was flat and so is that route in Boston. I stopped at water fountains along the way and would fill up my water belt. Running when it is below freezing, causes my water bottle to turn into a huge ice-cube. The fountains also are not turned on in the winter. Thankfully, so many locals run the Boston Marathon that people who live along the route and various charities, serve water, Gatorade and snacks on Saturday mornings when most people do their long runs. I brought with me Clif energy gel and Snap Infusion Supercandy which has electrolytes and energizing b vitamins without HFCS for miles 7, 11 and 15. I also snagged some jelly beans and a little of Gatorade from a table.
This allows me to stay hydrated and energized without bringing a water belt. I live near the finish line so I just ran 9 miles out along the course and then came right back for a total of 18 miles.
The weather actually turned out to be pretty nice. I didn’t need my headband or gloves after about 6 miles but there were still plenty of icy patches. My phone also lasted 17 miles! It has been dying in the colder temperatures lately around mile 7 making my long runs boring as hell and the reason I don’t take blog pics mid run.
I’m lucky to be able to train on the course. My goal is to finish in under 4 hours. It is going to be hard but I’m optimistic. My pace now is around 9:40 min/mile. I am trying to get it down to around 9 for race day.
People always say, “I could never run a marathon,” when I tell them I’m training for Boston. I don’t think running a marathon is for everyone. This may be my last one. The hardest part when it comes to running a marathon is not the 26.2 miles on race day. It’s the training.
If you do not have the self-discipline or motivation to follow a training plan, then no, you cannot run a marathon. But if you have determination and are hell-bent on running a marathon, I really don’t think it matters what your body thinks it is capable of – you can do it if you follow a plan and stick to it!
Not everyone wants to spend 3 hours on a Saturday running. That’s fine. You don’t have to run a marathon, but don’t say you could never. You’re selling yourself short. Say, I don’t have any desire to train for a marathon. Roomie is not a runner because it hurts his back and he finds it boring. He’ll probably never run a marathon and could care less. I don’t blame him as it probably would be terrible on his body. I don’t deliver a great sales pitch on Saturday mornings, either.
It’s fine if you don’t want to run one. I don’t think it’s for everyone and I can’t wait until training is over. I said I wanted to run Boston once, and I’m going to do it. If you like having structured workouts, you may enjoy the training process. I have only 6 more weeks to go!
Maybe one day! You’re so right, that you can do it if you really put your mind to it. I ran a half marathon and followed a plan closely, so I think I would be able to do a marathon. But those frigid temps you have to deal with? Oh that’s tough. I’ve only ever lived in Florida or California, so am not well adjusted to the cold. Keep it up, Sarah! 🙂
I definitely want to do at least another half marathon-- i’m not sure how my body would handle marathon training!
I totally agree that the mind is dominant of the body. If you tell yourself you can, you will!
Oh man how true! You will never do something if you believe you can’t! Getting your head on board is sometimes so difficult! Those are the days I just suck it up and start. Usually I realize that’s all I really needed for motivation! Great post!
I have a goal to do *some* kind of race before I turn 35.. so I have a few years. My entire extended family runs Falmouth every year, and I would love to join them. However thought have the strength and mental fortitude, bursitis and a deviated septum are some big major roadblocks. Where there’s a will (and Glucosamine Chondroitin and septum surgery) there’s a way! 🙂
There is a smaller falmouth race in the fall that my mom did one year. She said it was lovely. Same course but mostly locals and not as intimidating. It is a tough course -- the hill at the end nearly killed me hah but it’s so much fun!
I will be running the Capital City River Run Marathon in September. Training starts soon!! Good luck running Boston!!
A marathon is not on my bucket list, but I do have a lot of other fitness goals I would like to accomplish. Sometimes the struggle is completely mental. You are right on that one! Good post. 🙂
Yes actually! I use to run a lot in high school, and now 4 years later i have completely fell out of it. I think once I graduate college and get “settled” into a house & job, I may start to pick up running again. Running a marathon has always been a dream in the back of my mind, and reading this gave me so much reassurance. Thanks 🙂
I ran track in HS and was scarred. I couldn’t do a 5K until I had about a 5-6 year vacation from races. I still do not do a ton of races but I usually do 3 or 4 a year. I hate the shorter race distances now because they do still give me anxiety!
I had the same issue with my phone dying in colder temps. It actually helps the battery life if you put it in a warm place so if it’s possible to put it under additional layers of clothing and closer to your body, do that and it may last through the entire run!
As for marathon training, I did NYC in 2013 and I agree, the training is def the hardest part! Every time I did a long run I would think, I wish I could just run a littler further and have this be my 26.2 and be done with it! As hard as it was, the race was amazing (and super hard) and now I’m looking to do another. Thought I might be a one and done sort of marathoner but I also wanted to get under 4 hours and didn’t do it (4:07!). I’m going to enter the Chicago lottery this afternoon!
That nutbutter looks like squirtable turd. Kind of gross. 😛
haha it tastes delicious -- sweetened with goji berries. I couldn’t have spread it though and made it more appetizing. You’re right.
I’ve done a few marathons actually but I did them back in the day with minimal training or the right mind set. I would like to do another one in the next few years though. I would hope to do a lot better than my previous times.