I do not have much to say about this race except I feel like an idiot who gambled and had the odds in her favor to win big and instead lost all her money.
The crazy fast Hamilton Marathon? I “ran” it. Clearly, I did not learn my lesson last year after the downhill Steamtown Marathon.
I did everything right and the odds were in my favor. I was actually running well. I was on a course way easier than the San Francisco Marathon where I had PRed on no taper and a bunch of pretty mediocre running. It was perfect cold weather just how I like it. I tapered properly for the first time…ever? I was not an idiot at the start. I was conservative. I tried to not pound the downhills. Yet I somehow destroyed my right quad and found myself limp running for almost half of the race.
*!!&*!#$&**.
I still cannot walk on it. My left quad is fine and not even really sore.
My only real conclusion is I am not a downhill runner (and seemingly everyone else is). I am officially scared for the Boston Marathon. Please help.
official time: If you care enough about my craptastic time you can stalk it online at the race webpage.
I AM NOT EITHER!!!!! I had the SAME experience but at Ogden this year. Awesome training cycle, perfect & strong long runs, tapered properly, and GD blew it on a downhill race that I was ready & raring to smash. My legs were TRASHED early early early on. Total confidence shaker, and I still don’t feel like I’ve recovered mentally. I knew I was ready for a massive PR — and I haven’t gained that back because I didn’t play to my strengths. Now I wonder if I ever want to even work that hard again (seriously). But the one thing I do know: Give me SF uphills over some shitty downhills any day.
You totally understand me!
I’m sorry about your race. Although I have no formal running training (what-so-ever) – I think that maybe you should take off the next month (cross train?) and maybe do some yoga (mediation?). Get a journal?
I don’t know….I’m just trying to throw out ideas to help!
That’s really hard to have a race turn out so different from what you expected but I wouldn’t worry about Boston. It’s certainly a tough race but if you incorporate enough downhill running into your training I’m sure you’ll be able to get yourself a shiny new PR.
Concur with the journal above! Writing down a lot of my thoughts about running really helps.
Maybe you do better with a course that has a bit of a challenge to it (eg: SF)? Just a thought. Boston and Big Sur won’t be easy courses so that plays in your favor, for sure!
i don’t think boston was that bad (although i didn’t race it). but, then again, i enjoyed steamtown. i would include downhills in every single run when you train for boston. practice makes perfect, right?
Do not stress! I suck at downhill running – all my PRs until Wineglass were on hilly courses – and I got one of my top 5 times at Boston. There are a lot of uphills to counteract the downhills, and you will do great!
I keep asking myself why I couldn’t have just picked an average race. Mostly flat…with some rolling hills…sigh. The first mile or so of Boston looks frightening:/
It is not nearly as downhill as it looks on the map. For example, it’s NOTHING like coming down one of the major hills in Central Park. It’s more of the gradual downhill from Tavern on the Green to Columbus Circle – pleasant, but not quad-destroying.
Here is what you have to think about with Boston:
-The initial descent out of Newton is steep. However, you can’t go that fast because its crowded so no worries there.
-The first half is often described as “downhill.” It’s not. It rolls. A lot. No real notable downhills until around Wellsley.
-14-15 miles – the beginning of the Newton hills? A steep drop. This is where you have to be careful. Fortunately, you get to rebound with some ups.
-Heartbreak to the end: as soon as you crest Heartbreak, you get a steep downhill, followed by…lots…more…downhill. (Save the uphill at about 40k, and slightly before the finish.) This is make it or break it. If you blew your legs out early…it’ll hurt like hell.
However, the difference between Boston and Hamilton? You’ve got a fair amount of uphill that makes up for the POUNDING you take with the downs. There is nothing as steep as Red Hill Parkway without a matching up, so you’re less likely to blow something out. Similarly, Steamtown has SO much early drop its easy to beat yourself up too early on. My advice would be to specifically work on your downhill running – try and model it after what you’ll face in Boston which I like to think of as 14 mile rolling warm up/7 miles of steep up and down followed by a descent to the finish.
This is awesome thanks!! I refuse to let Boston be another trainwreck. Something tells me I really should have asked for your advice before Hamilton…
I am so sorry to hear about your right quad! I hope it’s feeling fully healed ASAP!!
I had no idea Boston had so much downhill! I prefer a rolling course. I’m not sure what type of runner I am, but I do well against competition on a hilly course.
You should come race CIM!! although it has a net-downhill, I never felt like I was running downhill while racing last year.
Heal quick!!
xoxo!
I’m sorry that the race didn’t go as planned! And I can relate to how you’re feeling physically right now…only thing worse that pain while running is the pain that sticks around when you’re not running
Maybe take a little break from racing marathons until Boston? I have no doubt you will PR there.
I hope you’ll come run Houston one year. The marathon is mostly flat with a couple of uphills at miles 15 and 23. The second one only sucks because it’s so close to the end. There are a couple of very small downhills in the beginning but it’s impossible to pound them out because it’s so crowded.
I’m sorry about the race, friend. Re: Boston – I’ve run it twice and although I’m far from an expert, I don’t remember it being TOO tough on the quads (although to be honest…last year I was pretty distracted by those crazy temperatures). Looks like AR has some good advice on the course though – I’d trust her input.
I’m sorry about the race, friend. Re: Boston – I’ve only run it twice, but I don’t remember the downhills being TOO tough on the quads (although honestly last year I was pretty distracted by the crazy temperatures). Looks like AR has some solid advice about the course – I’d trust her info!