Boston Marathons

14 weeks ago, on April 28, 2018, I ran my best marathon to date. Crossing the finish line, of my 14th marathon, I was exhausted and elated at the same time. I couldnt believe that after several attempts, I had finally succeeded in holding the pace I had trained for, a seven-minute-mile average. Ill be honest, the 2018 REVEL Mt Charleston Marathon a... lmost didnt happen for me. I trained for it, but the Boston Marathon , just 12 days prior to Mt Charleston, with its record rain and cold temps, was such a mental battle that I didnt have anything left between my ears to get me to the start line of Mt Charlestonwell, almost nothing. I cant put my finger on what made me get on that plane to Vegas the Friday before my Saturday race, but something did. Something I am glad I didnt brush aside, but fed enough to get me there. The year prior, I had pulled out of Mt Charleston after Boston. Boston 2017 was brutal in a different way than this year. And with Mt Charlestons refund policy, I could pull out without losing any money so it was almost too simple to just stay home and not put myself under the kind of internal pressure racing requires. But, I went. I arrived in Vegas, to heat, heat and more heat. After a FREEZING Boston experience, it was a welcome change, but it did have me worried about my aggressive marathon pace goal. I was met at the airport by my cousins husband, Adam, and some second-cousins who were planning on running the Mt. Charleston Half Marathon. We went immediately to the marathon expo, a mere five minutes away. We picked up our race bibs and equipment and posed for pictures. They had this goal-time clock you could pose with. They asked me what my goal was for Mt Charleston. I felt sheepish admitting I wanted to get a 3:05 or better. And although I knew I wasnt ready to break the coveted 3-hour marathon barrier at this race, it is always out there, like a dangling carrot. It was my out-there goal. And then I had my goal of just getting a PR which would be running faster than 3:13. They convinced me to ...Read More