Boston Marathon 2020...a little different this year
2019 Finish Line
Everyone who is running the Boston Marathon this year is pretty much aware that the date has been postponed to September 14, 2020 due to the Coronavirus. Many more of you may also be experiencing the disappointment of other races being canceled as well. You may be wondering what you should do now and how you should proceed with your Boston Marathon training.
First, remember that it is 100% out of your control
It is okay to be disappointed, sad, frustrated, etc. Let yourself feel that. Then, move on. There is literally nothing you can do about this. Everyone who is running Boston this year is in the exact same boat. Many races and other sporting events all over the country are being postponed or canceled.
Know that your training wasn’t for nothing
Many of you may feel heart-broken as you have put so much time and energy into training. Training for a marathon takes so much heart, grit, and sometimes tears. This has been a long process too. You can’t just wake up one day and decide to run the Boston Marathon. You had to train your booty off to qualify at a marathon before this. Maybe you even tried a few times before you hit a qualifying time.
The training you completed adds to who you are as an athlete. You now have that much better of a training base. You are now that much stronger. You are now that much faster.
Maybe you completed some of these training runs with friends and adored your time with them. Maybe you trained alone and used the time to clear your mind. Maybe you had some really hard runs that tested and improved your mental toughness. That is NOT a waste.
If you’re injured, this is a blessing for you
Some of you might actually be feeling a bit of relief. If you are currently injured and determined to toe the line and cross the finish line, go ahead and nurse that injury. Take this time to get better!
What should you do for training now
Well, that is a tough thing to address in a blog post because every athlete is different with different goals. If you have a coach, this is a great time to use that person to help you create a game plan. I can’t give you a one-size-fits-all plan, but here are my tips:
If you are prone to injury, my suggestion would be to take some time off. Even if you aren’t prone to injury, it is still wise to give your body a bit of a break. Decrease your mileage, do some easy runs with friends, and let your body rest a bit.
You will not lose all of the fitness you have gained by pulling back for a few weeks. Yes, you may lose a little, but it will come back fast. Taking it easy for a bit will likely have a greater reward than continuing to pound the pavement hard and long.
In about 3-4 weeks, start building your mileage base back up so that by mid-May, you are around 13 miles again. That is a great place to start marathon training for most people.
Remember that training is going to feel a lot different when you get back to it. Why? Because it will be hot. It will be humid! You’re tough, so you can handle it. Just keep in mind that you may need to give yourself some grace on the pace.
Not that you didn’t need a lot of hydration during your winter runs, but it is going to be much more pertinent this summer as you train.
Take some time to chill
Spend some time with family and friends, assuming you are all healthy. You have trained hard and hard training is just around the corner. Now is the time to slow down for a minute and nurture other parts of your life.
Remember that all of the hard training depressed your immune system, so now is a really great time to let that recuperate as well.
Know that when the big day comes around again, I will be cheering for you just like so many others around the world. You will be a part of history - the first Boston Marathoners who raced it in September.