This is definitely one of my favorite routes. It includes 4 towns and 6 border crossing’s. Please don’t forget your passport!
The full route runs through Melrose, Malden, Melrose, Saugus, Wakefield, Saugus and back to Melrose.
Also, this is the longest week for people training for a half marathon! 11.1 miles!
(And lucky you doesn’t have to run Breakheart this week!)
I can easily handle water stop 1 by Citizens Bank/Oak Grove and stop 3 by Breakheart.
If someone could stash their car at WS 2 between the high school and Ell pond, that would be perfect!
I can pick you up before the run, or if you’re looking for a great .75 mile warm-up, you could just park there and run over to Brueggers…
See you Sunday!!
P.S. – If your available on Sunday the 26th, it’s a loooong route, and I will not be around for water stops! Sorry! We will need 3-4 people to help.
Thanks!!
-Barry
I’m doing 22 because I won’t be here next week. I haven’t figured out which 4 extra miles I’ll be doing yet. I’m open to suggestions.
I will be doing 22 as well! Mary you are too fast for us:-) But Audrey and I may be adding 4-5 on before at 7 (one of the Tues night routes)
Due to the conflict with Lake Winnipesaukee next week, for a few who are running Baystate or another early October marathon, this week will be their 22 miler!!! This is a big week, the culmination of many weeks of training. Here’s my advice for you big 22, other experienced marathoners feel free to add your 2 cents as well…
The next 24 hours is your last chance to practice all your marathon planning. Start with tonight, eat like you would the night before your marathon. As you should have learned through the past 11 weeks, you’ll need the right fuel to go the whole distance. Load up on carbs, make sure there is some protein mixed in there, drink a lot of water, feel full when you’re done. This is a big meal, don’t worry about the calories, you’ll burn them all off real soon.
Go to bed at a reasonable time. You may or may not be feeling jittery about the run but either way a good night’s sleep won’t hurt you.
In the morning, EAT! A lot of people still don’t get this. You’ll be running for 3 to 4 hours. Think of a 3-4 hour span during the day that you don’t want a snack… and you’re just sitting at a desk or on a couch. You’ll actually be running this whole time, so fuel up.
Dress for success. This is your real test of your marathon day clothes. Wear what you plan on wearing on the big day. Shirt, shorts, socks, shoes, hat, bra, underwear, rings, necklaces, bracelets, glasses… everything. This is the time you want to find out that your jewelry chafes or your ring gets tight because your hands swell, or you lucky underpants weren’t meant for hours of running. Let any possible discomfort ruin your training run where there isn’t a clock running. Also here’s your chance to dump some clothes at a water stop if they aren’t working out for you, you can’t do that during a marathon and expect to see them again. Here’s one more piece of advice for when you’re getting dressed in the morning: if your feet have been feeling a little tingly towards the end of the run, tie your shoes a little looser. Your feet swell during a run and sometimes the laces cut off circulation to your toes late in the run. There’s no reason to tie your shoes tight for a marathon, just keep them tight enough so they don’t slip and cause blisters.
Oh, speaking of blisters. If you haven’t experienced the discomfort of chaffing yet, prepare for it. Body glide everywhere: Armpits, inner thighs, (men might want to throw some on their nipples too), and toes. If you’ve suffered from blisters on your toes try putting antiperspirant on your tootsies. It cuts down on the moisture, provides a little slickness like body glide, and keeps your feet smelling fresh.
During the run, relax. Don’t race this one. This is a training run. Again, there is no clock timing you, relax! The goal of this one is to finish without hurting anything. Also during the run, EAT, DRINK, REPEAT! There are water stops out there for a reason. I hope you’ve been testing out getting nutrients in you along the way, you’ll need them. My method is gatorade/water/snickers on the odd water stops, water/gu on the even ones. Also this is a good time to practice shorter water stop layovers. I tend to hang out and talk a lot at the water stop. Make sure you give yourself a minute to recover, but during the race you’ll feel a little more rushed during the stop so start to practice not loitering over the next few weeks.
Last piece of advice: DON’T GET HURT. Did I mention there is no clock, we’re not timing you, you won’t get a medal at the end. There is no glory in having your best run this week, save it for October.
See you all out on the roads tomorrow!
Oh, forgot. From Brueggers, down Main St to Pine Banks and around the cemeteries (Forest St, Lebanon, Sylvan) and back Main is 4 miles. You can do it before or after. Barry will have supplies at Brueggers for a mini water stop if you do it before and he can leave some with us there if you run it after.
I will be there for the half route and I’m available for a water stop if needed. See you in the morning, everyone get your rest and hydration tonight!
I will be there also for the half route. This will be my third run with the club, and thank you everyone for being so great! I will be glad to help with the water stop if you need me to. See you in the morning.
In in for 16ish
I’m in for the full +
I can leave my car across from the high school
just water and gatorade unless Barry can throw other stuff in the back
I’ll leave it down there with enough time for me to walk down main street to Bruegger’s.
Great advice Jim…thanks! I am sorry to miss tomorrow’s route. Lone Gull this Sunday and then in FR the following. Making up the distance on my own and looking forward to joining you all again in early Oct. Good luck with your 22/11 everybody!!
I’m in for 16+ (reserving the right to define the ‘+’ on the fly).
I’ll be there for the half!
Good evening!! I always forget to post! Sorry! My plan is to run with Kristen at 7am and then help Barry out with the water stops!
I’ll be there for the half.
I’ll be there, not sure for what.
I’m in
I’m in for the half
Hoping to meet my buds at the 7 mile water stop 9-9:15ish and go from there, that should make 8 miles or so with a walk from the high school to Brueggers.
i am in.