Patience; the new endurance sport.

Luz ~ You haven't booked your flight yet? I hope you get in early Sat. morning. My group are flying on the red eye w/ one lay over at JFK arriving at Boston Logan at 10am. We're going to do the expo in the afternoon. Then we're going to Chinatown for dinner Sat. night. Sunday morning we're going to church, chill or do the expo in the afternoon; then all go to the pasta dinner together. We are also going as a group for dinner Mon night, our traditional post-race celebration. Lark Allen is making reservation for Mon night dinner. I need to give him number of people if you're interested.

Any way, where are you staying? We are at Radisson, we will meet at the hotel lobby on Monday morning at 6am to walk to the bus ride.

I hate daylight saving too. It messes up with my sleep. So excited for you and your sister going down to enjoy Moab.

Oh, another thing, two of the "grannies" on my Lake to Lake relay team (although they are only 44 & 45 year young) are going to run with me in corral 20. You are welcome to move back to corral 20 and hang with us.

I may hang with the grannies--but I think you should step it up to Lucky Corral #18 (more elite grannies there never were)....I'm flying in on Friday night, I'm staying with friends in Hopkinton and also Salem during my stay, but I'll have a car can so go to and show up at all the important parties. I do want to go to the expo on Saturday afternoon & follow you thorugh China town for Dinner. Sunday I'll spend with my friends relaxing, I and they will drop me off Monday Morning at your hotel (6 a.m. @ the Radisson). Don't know what I'll be doing Monday since those same friends will be my ride back to their place after the race. But I want to coordiante some post-race meeting place if that's possible. I can't imagine what 25,000 runners & their support looks like in Copley Square. Is it even possible to sit down somewhere after the finish? I'm worried about where I will collapse :)

Luz ~ Athletes can move back not up in corrals. I guess I'll just have to run fast to catch up to you. If you're staying in Hopkinton; then you should have your friends drop you off at the start instead of at my hotel. It doesn't make sense to drive all the way to Copley to ride the bus back to the start and wait forever.

After you cross the finish, you can't sit down, they make you walk for blocks while they give you the space blanket, remove your chip, give you bottle water, etc. Then you walk to the block to retrieve your drop bag from the bus. Then you walk to the block designated as "Family Reunion". It is very well organized, you just go to the letter your last name start with. So you and I will be in the same "L" family reunion area where my hubby and hopefully your friends and daughter will be waiting.

I had to sit down to change my shoes and put on my warm ups, it was SOOO COLD. I just sat down on the stoop by the Old Church. Someone took a picture of me sitting there looking like a hobo!

Have you driven in Boston? Parking is a nightmare. Anyway, I'm SOOOO EXCITED for your Boston debut. It is going to be SO FUN!!!

You're right about getting to Hopkington first. I think I'm staying Sunday night there. So we will meet. I'm sure you will catch up and surpass me quickly. I know this is your race, i can feel it and those negative splits at the end of those 20 milers are telling you all you need to know. I'm glad we will be in the same letter of the family reunion block. I won't park in Boston, I'll take the train from Wonderland station which is not too far from where I'll be. I'm still trying to coordinate with my friends to see if they can hang out with my 13 yo from the morning to the afternoon and if they are interested in being there at the finish. I am not looking forward to concrete post race. But I will look for you in the L's if I make it to the end (banking on all those 88's).

P.S. I will probably move to corral 20 for the company--but won't stick around or will hang back pretty soon after the start. It takes me so much concentration to run at a steady pace, I can't hold even friendly conversation during a race. Also, I'll be nervous until I run out of energy for (probably around Wellsely). I never relax until mile 20, and then it's a fight to the finish. I hope it's good weather, it would be nice to have an awesome experience!

Luz ~ If your friends are not going to be at the finish. You can always come with me to my hotel where you can begin immediate recovery. It is just one block from the family reunion. I will have my cell phone before and after the race for sure so we can connect/meet up.

Hey we must have posted at the same time. Luz, we will meet up at the athlete village and walk to our corrals. If you feel up to entering our corral you can do so, if not then just keep walking further to your corral. No worries about committing to staying with us. It's so crowded that we will get separated, I am sure. Last year, Lowell and I had planned to run together. We didn't see each other at all even though our finish time was seconds apart and we started in the same corral.

Do not be nervous. Do not go out too fast. It's okay to stay focus...but stay relax and soak in the fun. Don't worry too much about holding a steady pace; just run by feel at least 'till Wellsley. Conserve your energy 'till the first right turn at the fire station (mile 17) into Newton. The work comes at the last 5K like most marathons. That's when you let the spectator crowds carry you to the finish.

That is a good plan regarding post race. I'll know more about what to expect at the finish/race day once I talk with my friends by phone to see how much time they want to spend at the race & with my daughter. Thank you for looking out for me. I'll find my way, but knowing you're there feels like a security blanket. I have dreamed about going to the Expo & Chinatown to eat Dim-Sum with you since last year!

wow...so excited for you guys! A little jealous too :)

Nice work on the paces, even being sore Luz! You are doing great with your training and Boston will be wonderful! In a way I'm glad I'm not running 'miles' yet and don't have to get out in the darkness, but get to enjoy evening walks in the sunset.

There are lots of good and bad things about being pregnant, and a forced timeout to slow down, and take evening walks sounds like one of the good things. This is such a fun trip we get to take each year. I always wonder if I can swing it (who will take care of my kids? can I take a day off work?) But it's always the highlight of the year. If you can, get to Southern Utah at least once before the baby's born! I love SU in the spring.

Oh, I AM! :) Moab is my favorite place in the world! We are going on a family vacation later in April. It'll be our last chance between tracking on/off and baby. I don't think a family vacation w/a less than 1 month old would be too exciting! The desert in the spring time is simply breathtaking! Enjoy Moab this weekend, I hope it's not too dry by the time we get there!!

Have fun in Moab!!!

I hate flying, too, let's hope we both make it in one piece!