33,267

Ugh!

What do I have against that seemingly random number? Well, earlier today, BAA announced that is the number of people who have submitted applications to run in the Boston Marathon next year.

"OK, so what?"

Well, the total field size is approximately 30,000 -- but about 20% of the bibs are reserved for charities and sponsors. So, only about 24,000 time-qualifiers actually make it in. About 28% of the time-qualified applicants will be cut.

Even with the tightening of time standards after last year's registration, the prediction is now about 5 minutes or so.

My BQ-2:36 won't cut it if all of the analysis that others are doing is accurate. (We'll know for certain in the next 1-2 weeks.) I'm already starting to do some research to figure out which of the MANY charities that offer bibs are ones that I have the best chance of connecting well enough with to get onto their team, spread their message and, yes, secure a bib. 

Challenge Accepted

I will be pacing the 4:20 group (9:54/mile) at the Air Force Marathon next weekend. Partly because I was concerned when originally signing up to pace that running the Erie Marathon for a BQ time two weeks prior would take too much out of me, and partly because my pacing the 3:50 group last year did not go well, given the heat of the day.

Thankfully, my recovery from Erie is going quite well. But it looks like the weather will be very warm on Saturday, starting at 62F (the race starts 7 minutes after sunrise) and certainly getting into at least the mid-70s by the time the group is set to finish at about 11:50am.

I did both my long-ish runs (10 miles and 13 miles) this weekend outside to practice the pace some, without having it forced on me by the treadmill -- especially since the conditions are very similar right now. Most people would think that hitting this pace, more than an hour slower than what I just ran, would be a breeze. Not true. There are definitely some speeds that much slower than one's recent fastest that are very easy to hit, but when you go sufficiently slower than that, it's actually very tricky.

These practice runs have helped solidify my likely plan for next weekend. While I'll generally do my usual even effort (so, a bit slower uphill, a bit faster downhill, and average on flats), I suspect that my paces will wind up being a bit too fast compared to desired. Not much where it would be difficult on the group, but enough where I will likely be able to afford to walk through many/most of the water stations. Not only does the brief walk break help one's legs during the run, but it will also make it that much easier for people to take both water/Gatorade that they need to drink, but also at least one cup of water to throw over their heads to try to regulate their core temperature. As is my wont on hot race days, I will be continually exhorting my group to "drink and douse" throughout the race. And during the expo on Friday, I will definitely raise the thought with many runners that they should consider moving back at least 1 or 2 groups compared to what they would otherwise run if conditions were cooler.

While I was starting to feel the temperature a little bit towards the end of my runs this weekend, I didn't have the opportunity to douse. So, hopefully I chose my pace wisely enough so that I hit the target and redeem myself from last year's fail (more than 5 minutes over time). Sure, it was crazy-hot last year, but that expectation should have been factored into my requested group. Live and learn - certainly. Everything should line up well enough that I can come pretty close to "the pin" which, for me, is 4:19:30.

Erie Epilogue

Well, I submitted my BQ-2:36 time. I'll find out by the end of the month if I managed to squeak in to Boston 2026.

Separately, in the post-race e-mail sent out by the Race Director for the Erie Marathon thanking the various volunteers, racers, and others for this past weekend, she indicated that she was retiring as the Race Director. She noted that there wasn't currently anyone set to succeed her in the role, and that if they can't find someone to do the needful, that this will have been the last running of the Erie Marathon. Time will tell whether this destination race continues. (It's definitely popular given that about 1/3 of the field gets a BQ, so this would be a bit of a blow.)

Erie Marathon - Last Chance?

Last year I ran Erie in a time of 3:17:24 which, given the Boston Qualifying (BQ) standards for 2025, was a BQ-7:36 for me. It was enough to get me in this year, given the cut-off wound up being 6:51 under your respective age group's BQ time. But they also wound up tightening standards by 5 minutes for all of the age groups under 60 years old for the 2026 marathon. So, this turned my time, useable for 2026, into a BQ-2:36. Ever since they started having an unpredictable buffer below your BQ necessary, common wisdom has been that you should not feel "safe" with anything less than 5 minutes under your BQ. (Granted, I think the only two times that it has been more than 5 minutes have been the last two years.)

So, given my lack of confidence that BQ-2:36 would suffice, I decided I would run Erie again for time this year. Not only was the goal finish time the same as last year (3:15 or better), but this time there was actually a pacer for that time (since 3:15 is now a BQ time again, whereas it wasn't last year). And the weather was IDEAL for the race: crisp in the low 50s to start, possibly hitting 60 by the finish time; mostly cloudy, no rain (but a wet/slightly puddly course from rain in the wee hours), and a light breeze (though there were some bouts of pretty stiff, sustained gusts). Could it come together any better than this?

I arrived at the parking lot about 6am (I guess it was about 15 minutes later than I did last year), and it was a VERY slow slog to get in to the lot. But once I was, finding a spot was pretty painless, and relatively close in, surprisingly enough.

The last time I ran the Chicago Marathon, I wound up picking up a couple of extra pace band tattoos, to include a 3:15 one. They've been sitting around for a couple of years just waiting to be used. Well, now was the chance to put 3:15 to good use. Sure, I was running with the pacer, but I still wanted to be able to see for myself if *my* splits were on (since we weren't crossing the start line at the same time, and most pacers won't say something alerting to indicate being off pace).

My most notable observations for my running of the race surround how they handle the water stops. While it's fantastic that they have one every mile on this two-loop course (so, in effect, having 26 water stops), and I generally don't use them unless it's very hot (since I carry my own water to drink), I did take notice of three really problematic things:

1) They don't have two different styles/colors of cups for the water and the Gatorade. Having a visual indicator (e.g., white for water and green for Gatorade) is the easiest and best way for people to instantly know who is holding what, and what they want to grab.

2) They didn't have a uniform order for the fluids. While some of them had Gatorade first followed by water (which is pretty standard), there were several that alternated water, Gatorade, water. This is HIGHLY confusing.

3) The lengths of tables from which the fluids are handed out are very short. (Was it two 6-foot tables only?) This makes it very difficult to grab on the run if you're trying to avoid other runners doing the same, and very difficult to know which fluid you're getting, given the preceding two issues.

My biggest lesson of the day (I suppose foreshadowing the ending) is to fully discuss the pacer's strategy (preferably in advance, but doable during the run). While even effort and even pace are the same thing on as flat a course as Erie is, there are other factors at play. This pace group company (like many others) aims for the "pin", set at 30 seconds under the goal time, and gives 30 seconds leeway on either side. So, true goal should have been 3:14:30, allowing for 3:14:00 - 3:15:00. I didn't verify in advance whether he would be shooting for the pin from the get-go (so, ~1 second faster per mile than his pace band would indicate), if he was planning to gain those extra seconds during the second half, or if he was "merely" shooting for as close to 3:15 as possible. That lack of a conversation was a bad move on my part.

Ever so gradually, it appeared to my eye like each time he called out our average pace, it was ever so slightly sooner than the actual mile marker -- seemingly indicating to me that we were off pace. When we crossed at the half, I was at exactly 1:37:30, as indicated on my pace band. But I was shooting for better than 3:15, and wasn't sure when the extra time was going to be made up. I didn't ask the pacer -- again, bad on my part. I simply panicked a bit and decided to pull out in front of him at the half (where my original plan called for doing so at Mile 22 or 24). I figured if I simply run 2-5 seconds faster than the pacer (not so bad), I'd be able to keep him in earshot but also get closer to my true goal of 3:14 or better. with little additional effort.

It was working for about 5-6 miles, based on my hearing him further back and the amount of time after I passed volunteers before they cheered for the 3:15 pace group. Great! The fact that Garmin's indication of pace was ridiculously off on my watch was rather confusing, but I didn't push overly hard to try to "correct" Garmin -- the pacer being reasonably close behind me was a good enough indicator.

Well, I was slowly swallowed up by the group around Mile 18 or so. OK, fine. Stay with the group, now. Get back to the original plan. Given I wasn't SO far out, hopefully I didn't expend an excessive amount of energy. (No good way of really knowing.)

Around Mile 20, something happened with one of the other runners in the group -- it sounded like someone inadvertently cut him off and I think he went flying. I'm not entirely sure. I hope he was only slightly scraped up and not seriously injured. On we went, though.

Within the next couple of miles, however, the pacer ever so gradually pulled away from me. Ugh! My desired 3:15 or better was slipping through my fingers. My glutes were tightening up -- it was definitely more of a struggle to keep moving. By Mile 22, I was trying to give myself "acceptable" intermediate goals: sub-3:16, then simply improving my BQ time by any amount (and I didn't even know the exact time, just that it was about 2:30 under), and then once that was clearly out of reach, even though no other goal was going to be useful for Boston registration, at least getting a BQ. Well, 1 out of 3.

Slowly and stiffly, I made my way back to the parking lot (chatting with another runner and his parents about the Boston Marathon), and back to the hotel room to shower and change before heading back towards the course to grab lunch at the iconic Sara's eatery. (My first time doing so.)

It's a very cute place, and apparently well-known specifically for its ice cream. Well, as is my wont, I decided to get a bacon cheeseburger, onion rings, and a milkshake (rather than just straight-up ice cream).

While it satisfied the immediate need, and I might even be inclined to return for just an ice cream cone, the burger and onion rings were just average. Still, it was a fun experience.

Hmm... what does it say that I have more photos of the restaurant decor than I do of anything around the race? Ha!

By the time I finished lunch, it was just after 12:30pm, and the race was scheduled to go to 1pm. And Sara's is literally at the turn-around spot on the course that marks the furthest point before heading back to the finish line, just 1/4 mile away. I decided to head to the turn-around spot to cheer on the back-of-the-packers (as did one other finisher).

To say that I was appalled at how the race handled the situation would be an understatement. They had NO race official or volunteer there, and the park was already opened back up to vehicular traffic. Runners this late in the race were on the shoulder for their safety (given the lane of traffic they were otherwise in was opened up), but then they needed to cross two lanes to get to the turn-around point, which they couldn't necessarily even see.

The other runner and I were standing in the middle of the street (right next to a few remaining cones), cheering runners as they approached us, holding up traffic (which obliged), pointing the runners to the correct side of the turnaround cone, and then onto the other shoulder to continue the last 1/4 mile of the course.

With about 10 minutes remaining (still viable for runners who were just walking at that point), the truck that was picking up cones on the course arrived and picked up all of the other cones (save for the one that marked the turn-around point). The race wasn't technically over, and those last two ladies certainly had enough time to make it over the finish line. They should have had support and protection from the traffic for the entire time by the race organizers until the official finish - at which time runners are on notice that it's "on them."

It's not so dissimilar to what happens with the New York City Marathon on Central Park South. After a certain time, the runners are put onto the sidewalk and all of the barricades are removed, but there is no signage around pointing the way, despite the multiple possible entrances into the park. So, while there is a huge cheer section that remains at the finish line, there's no one (save for potential spectators who decide to help, like I did in 2022 and 2023) to help get them there.

Well... wish me luck that I can get in on last year's time. It's the last time that a "double-dip weekend" time can be used, given the restructuring of their qualifying window to be exactly one year starting with the registration window for 2027. While we get to register this week (before 5pm Friday), we don't officially find out if we're in, let alone what the cut-off time is, until late September. Talk about tense!

Some flagging confidence but reason for optimism

Having gone out of town unexpectedly late last week, my confidence was starting to flag for the upcoming marathon given that I wasn't hitting my needed paces on my various runs -- all outdoors, all on as flat an area as Erie is.

Back on the treadmill today, the pace was feeling nice and comfortable. So, maybe it was the change of routine or time of day? Other pressures that I wasn't consciously feeling? Who knows? Things went well today, so hopefully the remainder of the week will continue apace.

And I just looked at the forecast.

Temperatures look fantastic, with the entire race being in the 50s. (Sure, it'll be a bit chilly standing around  beforehand.) The trickiest part is the winds. So long as I can draft off of the pacer (yay, there should be a 3:15 pacer!), I should be all set. The main thing I'll need to figure out in advance is when I want to break away to pad some more time. That will depend, in part, on just how far under the goal time the pacer is in the late stages of the race.

Congratulations!

Yes! Yet another person I've been able to mentor through the process with Guinness that was able to do the work to get a world record.

In the wake of Missy successfully pacing me and taking the needed documentary photos for my record attempt in Boston (for which I'm still awaiting communication from Guinness), she decided to take the leap and make an attempt of her own: fastest marathon run dressed in a qipao (female). A qipao is a traditional Chinese dress. And, as you can see, they are rather restrictive. So, attempting to run, let alone a marathon dressed in one, is no small feat.

Turns out she wasn't the only one in Sydney who was attempting this record. In fact, there were THREE women who were trying for the record. Her she is with one of the other two women vying for it. Two things that she was definitely pleased with (and rightfully so): 1) when comparing their respective race paces, hers was the fastest of all three, and 2) her additional tweaks to the costume made the full ensemble even more appropriate, as opposed to having some of the extra runner-specific add-ons (e.g., gloves, sleeves, non-covered sneakers -- zoom in on what she did to the sneakers).

Sydney had fabulous weather (about 50F at the start). And, despite the very hilly course (the most difficult of all of the majors, IMO), she crushed it! She finished in a time of 3:51:27 -- her seventh star. As she crossed the line, she would have gotten the most welcome signal she's likely ever gotten on a marathon course: a thumb's up, indicating that she was officially a Guinness World Record holder.

Congratulations on a very well- and hard-earned feat! Keep your eye out for the 2026 (possibly 2027) book to see if you're actually published there. (They don't make any guarantees, and there are far too many set every year to publish EVERYONE's record each year.)

Self-Care is not Selfish

A couple of days ago, I got a phone call that a close family member was in the hospital (in the wake of a freak accident) awaiting surgery the next day. It took a little while to figure out the arrangements, but I came up to keep her company in the hospital, be a conduit for information for some friends and family, etc. (NOTE: All is well. Surgery went well, and recovery looks like it will go swimmingly.)

Going out of town, for me, generally means eating somewhat poorly. Yesterday I was supposed to run 7 miles, but in order to get to my destination in a reasonable amount of time, I had to leave at the leading edge of rush hour. While it sounded like surgery would be mid-afternoon, I didn't bother doing my run when I arrived, instead, relatively soon thereafter, going to the hospital. Surgery kept being bumped further back in the day -- ultimately not starting until 10pm. So much for the run. OK, no worries, swap my rest day and do the 7 miles Friday.

After I finished the run Friday morning and showered and changed, I was getting rather bombarded by texts and phone calls looking to get updates (that I didn't yet have). It was important for my own sanity and stress level to take all of those slowly.

And since I had taken her cell phone back with me overnight (so she wouldn't have her post-op sleep disturbed prematurely), I was getting all of the traffic she would have otherwise been seeing, in addition to what was coming directly to me on my phone. And without that phone, she wound up using the hospital phone to talk with friends; once that number got out, it was virtually impossible to break through the noise. In fact, I had to send a text to her friends asking that they hang up so I could call and get through before I headed over to the hospital.

Making sure to take care of myself and not rush through things on others' timetable not only helps me maintain some semblance of routine -- to help in the lead-up to Erie Marathon next weekend -- but also helps me do everything needed to help out for the current situation.

In short: self-care is not selfish. Be good to yourself, so that you can be good to others.