Running a marathon is simple at its core: lace up your shoes, train for 16 to 20 weeks, then conquer 26.2 miles, hopefully while creating unforgettable memories all along the way. Obviously there’s a whole lot more that goes into it though: the details–and the details are what can make or break your level of enjoyment during the race, and training in general. This week has been about noodling out some of the details of the race, from fuel and hydration to shoes and clothing choices to timing and logistics, while at the same time consistently plugging away at training, one day, one work-out at a time.

Even though this will be my 10th marathon (including two I ran during IM races), I still get nervous/excited like it’s my first marathon all over again. The one thing that wraps me a warm blanket of calm on race day is hammering out all the logistics well in advance. Having an awesome training partner like Janet helps in that department, even though we live 900 miles apart (she’s in OR and I’m in CA). Texts and DMs have been flying back and forth during the week with thoughts and questions, all of which are coming together in my mind and then landing squarely on my hand-written “Race List,” something I always lean on for races and big events. Without my list, my mind spins in overdrive.

As John Wooden once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” Taking the time to think them through and test them usually pays off tenfold.

Here’s a peek at my Week #14 training schedule (Sept 18-24):

• Mon 9/18: Run 5 miles, strength 45 min. (Kim Miller Fitness legs/glutes)
• Tues 9/19: Spin class 60 min (23 miles), strength 20 min arms
• Wed 9/20: Run 7 miles (track) 1.5 mile warm-up, 5x800s w/ 400 RI, 2 mile cool down, core 15 min.
• Thur 9/21: Yoga 30 min, rest day
• Fri 9/22: Run 5 miles, core and mobility work 25 min.
• Sat 9/23: Run 12 miles, walk 1 mile with my hubby afterward
• Sun 9/24: Rest & recovery day, yoga, walks

Monday: Nothing feels quite as good as starting the week strong, and being able to enjoy another fab fall-like run. I chose a new route to keep it fresh, which included a few little hills, knowing NYC includes five bridges with sneaky inclines and descents, along with several deceptive hills in the last few miles near Central Park. Practice. Practice. Practice.

Tuesday was another heart-pumping outdoor spin class with my favorite instructor, Kristine. Good tunes, great vibes, and a killer workout with hills and sprint intervals, always leaving my spirits high and my body drenched in sweat. Afterward I did a short dumb bell arm workout session at the gym.

Wednesday was a “hurt so good” kind of training day with a 7-mile track workout, starting with a 1.5 mile warm-up followed by 5 x 800m intervals with 400m recovery intervals, finishing with a 2-mile cool down. Good stuff. Felt great to finally move my feet a little faster.

Thursday I opted for yoga and foot exercises, and then went on a 1.5 mile walk at Lake Los Carneros with my hubby. All in all, a nice recovery and reset day.

Friday was a 5-mile maintenance run, which I chose to knock out on Mountain Drive, a scenic, windy road in the foothills of Santa Barbara. It never disappoints with its views and gently rolling hills.

Saturday’s long run was shorter this week (12 miles) to get the body rested up for next week’s 18-miler. I had the pleasure of running the first 8 miles with my friend Becca (the other B in Team B & B), who is currently training for a half marathon. Yay Becca! We ran from Leadbetter Beach to Montecito and back on another spectacular SB morning. The miles flew by so quickly, we almost blew past our turnaround point. That’s the power running partners. Afterward, I finished up with 4 more miles–up Shoreline Drive on the Nite Moves course and back. It was noticeable how much longer those 4 miles felt solo.

Here are a few of the details that are getting sculpted into shape…

• Race day breakfast: coffee, banana, small cup of a applesauce, pack of instant oatmeal. I’ll also take a few snacks and electrolytes to Staten Island for the long wait before the race starts.

• Round up a few warm and comfortable throw away clothes for our ferry ride and pre-race waiting time at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island.

• Carry a fuel/hydration waist belt during the race and avoid aid stations until we need to refill our bottles, likely around mile 10.

• Hydration and fuel: sip electrolytes or water every 15-20 minutes, consume an energy gel every 6’ish miles, chew on a salt tablet every 30-45 min depending on the temperature, chomp on a salted watermelon chew whenever I need an extra lift.

•Test out SIS (Science in Sports) isotonic energy gels–the course fuel. They say you don’t need to drink water with them. I’ll be curious to see how they sit in my stomach. Also do a long’ish run using Gatorade lemon-lime flavor (my least favorite sports drink and my least favorite flavor) because that’s what will be available on the course and I’ll need to drink it after mile 10 or so.

•Figure out clothing options for New York’s unpredictable November weather. For the last 20 years the average temperature on race day has been 52 degrees at the start, rising to 58 degrees, with 59% humidity. Last year they had an unprecedented heatwave–75 degrees–the warmest on record. I’ve run this race three times and each year it has been different. One year I ran in shorts and a tank top, another it was short sleeves and tights, and the other was long sleeves, long tights, and gloves. I don’t want to spend too much time being neurotic about the weather because we’ll get what we get, but I will come prepared with three different options.

• Warm weather: TFK tank, arm sleeves to peel off when it gets warm, shorts, visor, and a buff on my wrist to dip in water or fill with ice if it gets kooky hot.
• Typical fall weather: TFK tank, short-sleeve tech shirt underneath, arm sleeves, shorts, visor, possibly calf sleeves
• Cool weather: TFK tank, long-sleeve shirt underneath (or worst case scenario, miserable weather– a super thin wind jacket), long tights, visor, gloves.

My List will continue to expand, and then shrink as it gets distilled down to the essentials. That’s where the sweet spot lives, and where I feel happiest and calmest, knowing I’ve done everything I can to set myself up for success. Then on race day, it’s about executing the plan to the best of our abilities, trusting our training, and being simultaneously flexible and dogged if/when something comes up. And then of course soaking it all up and enjoying the day and everything that comes our way.

Doggedly going to bat for Team for Kids

As we head into the last 41 days of training, I’m doing one final fundraising push for Team for Kids. Although I’ve reached my original $2,620 goal (with the help of my incredible supporters–THANK YOU!!), I’m now so close to $3,000 I want to reach that milestone for TFK. Why? It’s simple–because I believe in this fantastic nonprofit, which gets kids running and living an active and healthy lifestyle; and also because running has given me immeasurable joy in my life, and I’m thrilled to be able to pay it forward to the next generation of runners.

As of now, I’m just $150 away from that goal, and am raffling off a $30 gift card to Blue Owl restaurant in Santa Barbara to help reach it. A $10 donation will earn you one entry into my giveaway, which will take place on October 1st. Here’s the link to donate if you’d like to support this worthy cause. DONATE HERE TO BECKY’S TEAM FOR KIDS FUNDRAISING PAGE

Onward we go into the beginning of peak weeks of training before we start tapering for the race. I’m buckling up both mentally and physically for all the good stuff that’s heading our way, and looking forward to honing the details of training and race prep so Nov. 5th is nothing but joy and a big celebration of all our hard work.

As always, thanks for following along on this journey back to New York. Knowing you’re along for the ride makes it all the more fun.

xo
Becky

PS: If you’ve missed any of my previous NYC Marathon training posts, you can click here to check them out:

Kicking off 20 Weeks until the NYC Marathon

Week #2 NYC Marathon Training: Patience & Grace

Week #3 NYC Marathon Training: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Week #4-11 NYC Marathon Training: The Good, the Bad & the Evolving

Week #12 NYC Marathon Training: Showing Up

Week #13 NY Marathon Training: Staying the Course