Notes
This was the last long run before Boston with the Hopkinton Running Club. This is such a great opportunity for runners to start from Hopkinton and run to Boston College, (21 mile mark) and then get bussed back. They had 4 aid stations with food/drinks along with one at the end.
A difficult day to run with 15-20 mph headwinds and constant rain. At times the rain was a heavy downpour. My plan was to run at a relaxed pace and push the Newton hills hard from 17-21. I was tired all week but today I did feel better and maintained my pace. I was having a problem with a sore right soleus, so I scratched the plan of hard miles at the end. It was bothering me from mile 10 on-wards. Instead I picked up the effort somewhat to maintain the same pace on the hills. Overall I was only 5 seconds per mile slower than last year (in better running conditions) where I did the last 6 miles at 7:04 pace. I didn't take any drinks/food until mile 14 when I sucked down a bottle of Cytomax faster than a Hoover on steroids! Literally I drank 20 ounces in about 5 seconds and I was off and running. I didn't take any Gu's.