All this week you will be treated to an inside look at how your fellow Wicked friends prepare for the Boston Marathon through Wicked’s own Boston Marathon Interview. If you are running the Boston Marathon next week feel free to click here to download the interview questions and email it back (with a picture of yourself if you would like) to tim.short1@gmail.com.
Boston Marathon Interview
Wicked Runner: Beth O’Grady (Beth is a member of Steve’s Team)
How long have you been running, when/why did you start?
Aside from doing the corporate challenge with my company each year, I did not run on a regular basis until summer of 2002 when I set a goal to run my first Boston Marathon in memory of my brother Stephen O’Grady. I can still remember how hard it was to run one mile without walking- seems like longer than 7 years ago!
Is there something about the Boston Marathon that makes it special to you? Why run this Marathon?
Each marathon has its own appeal, but it’s always great to be “home” so you can eat your own food and sleep in your own bed the night before. Also great to run locally at you get a lot of shout outs from people along the route, especially the Wicked Running 17 mile spot!
How many Boston marathons have you done? Or will this be your first?
This will be number 3 for me.
Do you have any special diet the week prior to the marathon? It’s the “try not to get fat” diet, which is tough when I cut the miles way back.
Do you follow any specific running program to prepare for a Marathon?
Everyone trains differently, but I’ve always done the alternating long weekend runs, where mileage goes up gradually every other week, alternating with a shorter run of 10-13 miles. I’ve stayed healthy so it must work for me and these old bones.
What’s your favorite training run while training for a Marathon?
The last one- yahoo!
What is your way to approach running a Marathon? I.e., slow at first, negative splits?
Ha! Ask a fast runner. My approach is to run how I feel that day, and every day is different. Number 1 is to finish healthy and strong so I can enjoy my victory with friends!
Do you bring your own nutrition for the Marathon? Electrolytes, Gels, Bars?
We got hooked on the lemon Power Bar energy gel bursts we gave out at the Frosty Four. Figures, as they turned out to be almost impossible to find anywhere!
Are you shooting for a specific time at Boston or are you running to enjoy the sights and sounds?
I’d like to have my best “Boston” time, but don’t plan to shoot for a PR. Running to enjoy the race and running for time are 2 very different experiences- this time I’m running to enjoy achieving my goal to run 10 marathons before my brother’s 10th anniversary. Not bad for someone who could barely run a mile without stopping 7 years ago!
Do you run with an MP3 player?
Have any tunes that get you over the wall or the rough points in the Marathon? My training partner was my radio (I’m old school- don’t own an MP3!) but that was happily replaced with my wicked running friends who make the miles go by fast!
Anything else you would like to add??
I’ve trained for marathons all by my lonesome, and I’ve trained for marathons with my Wicked Running Friends- Friends are so much better!
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