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I did my best

Posted on April 22, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | 7 Comments

What can you do when you didn’t accomplish your goal? I look forward to trying again and know that I did my best under the circumstances. Yes, I was very disappointed that I did not finish in 3 hours and 20 minutes like I had hoped but I felt much better with the support of my wife. I had some pretty significant challenges. My plan was to make my way up as close to the start as I could but we had to start in our own corals. It takes a lot of energy passing other runners to get up to pace. I had made up the time by the half marathon and was feeling pretty good but the heat was taking its toll and I was extra cautious because of my last marathon and dehydration. I was due to finish under 3:20 until mile 23 and I had to stop for a porta-potty break (I had been holding it since mile 8!). I never really got going after that. I ran a little, jogged, walked and did anything I could to get across the finish line. I finished in a proud 3:36:20. I still had fun so stay tuned for the next chapter…

He finished!

Posted on April 21, 2008 by nsimmon
Filed Under Marathon | 5 Comments

Bobby finished the Marathon at 3:36:20…..16:20 minutes shy of the time he needed to finish in order to get an official Boston Marathon bib next year. Bobby will weigh in himself in a bit.

On the run

Posted on April 21, 2008 by nsimmon
Filed Under Boston Marathon | Leave a Comment

Marathon blogger Bobby Skerry can’t blog right now….he’s running! Stay tuned to hear his post-Marathon thoughts. Check out his progress by tracking bib #23072 at the Boston Athletic Association Web site.

Sacrifice

Posted on April 17, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | 2 Comments

Don’t we all make sacrifices in some way? A friend asked me if I was ready for the marathon. My answer was an immediate yes but my wife also answered that she was ready… to get her husband back. I have done a great deal of training nights and weekends to prepare myself. That is part of the sacrifice but my family made that sacrifice too. My family has been so supportive and I appreciate them for being part of my dream.

Ready to go

Posted on April 14, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | 1 Comment

Don’t things seem easier when there’s light at the end of the tunnel? With one week to go before the marathon everything is looking good. I had a great run yesterday - perfect running conditions and felt ready to run 26.2. What are your plans for the Boston Marathon?

Strategy

Posted on April 10, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | 2 Comments

Do you expect results for your hardwork? I do. But as hard as you work at something it can be difficult to enjoy the benefits without a good stradegy. After training hard for 16 weeks you want to make the most of your efforts. I’m trying to learn from my mistakes from the Baystate Marathon last October. Dehydration at mile 21 was frustrating but it was my own fault. I plan to have a nice spaghetti dinner on race night, plenty of rest and hydrate before and during the race. Any other tips?

Share your stories

Posted on April 9, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | 1 Comment

What about you? Are you a runner? There was a suggestion for me to write about local runners and their inspirational stories. I don’t know anyone running this year but I invite you to share your stories on the comment board. Last year I went to the expo event that was happening during number pickup. There was a wall that runners could write on a bib to tell why they were running. There are thousands of stories behind thousands of runners. What is your story?

Making adjustments

Posted on April 8, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | 2 Comments

Should you go by the book or change your schedule as needed? Last year I was determined to follow my training program no matter what. If it said run 7 miles on a thursday night I did it. This year I’ve adjusted my training and it’s worked out well. Hey, that’s what makes Bill Belichick a great coach. Changing your game plan to position yourself for a win!

Do the math

Posted on April 7, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | Leave a Comment

Do you like math? It comes in handy in everday situations. It also plays a part in training. At each mile I look at my watch. At mile two I compare the first miles pace to the second. As I get deeper in the run I start to calculate my average pace up to that point. I try use that knowledge to help but it can easily get frustrating on a low energy day. Also, you may have noticed that I do not post my training times. When you do the math of a 15 mile run some may think you can reach your goal no problem but it really doesn’t work like that. Atleast not for me.

Do what’s best for you

Posted on April 4, 2008 by bskerry
Filed Under Marathon | 3 Comments

Are there any benefits to running everyday? I’m not an expert. Maybe for some that is what works best but I have figured out that when your training it is good to do what’s best for you. Friday’s are my day off. I used to be very nervous taking a day of thinking that I might loose speed or rhythm. I have learned that a day off allows my body to heal and I actually run better after a day of rest. What works best for you?

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