Today is the start of the John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo! That also means it’s the first day to pick up bib numbers for the 113th Boston Marathon. Expo dates and times are as followed: Friday, April 17th: 2:00 PM to 7pm, Saturday, April 18th: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday, April 19th: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. If you are running the Boston Marathon on Monday 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. Please send in the completed interview by Saturday.
Boston Marathon Interview
Wicked Runner: Billy Shea
Billy Shea is all smiles while training for the Boston Marathon
How long have you been running, when/why did you start?
I’ve been running since 1997, a relatively short time considering my age. I started because my brother-in-law, Billy Prentiss, had been running for years, and I wanted to out-do him. It hasn’t happened—yet!!
I started running marathons for the first time in 2008. Chip Bott told me we were going to do Disney in January. I needed that “extra push.” In addition to Disney, I also did Boston, Chicago, and Stone Cat that same year. I qualified for Boston in Chicago.
Is there something about the Boston Marathon that makes it special to you? Why run this Marathon?
What makes Boston “special” to me is the prestige it holds in the running world. I was amazed last year at the number of spectators and support given at every point along the run.
Do you follow any specific running program to prepare for a Marathon?
For my first marathon I trained faithfully, following a plan I had read in a book called “4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon.” For my other marathons, I have not been as regimented; however, I do try to achieve my “long runs,” usually maxing out at 20 miles.
What’s your favorite training run while training for a Marathon?
My favorite training run for the Marathon is the Eastern States 20 Miler which starts in Kittery, Maine and ends in Salisbury, MA. This year the race was held on a rainy, windy day. Luckily the wind was at our backs most of the way. It’s good to train in some “nasty weather” because you never know what conditions marathon day will bring.
What is your way to approach running a Marathon? I.e., slow at first, negative splits?
I usually go out “too fast” during marathons, fearing that if I’m too slow, I won’t make my hoped for time. I know this is not good practice, but it is hard to beat mentally. This year I plan to force myself to go out slower and see what happens.
Are you shooting for a specific time at Boston or are you running to enjoy the sights and sounds?
This year I have not trained as well as I should have for Boston. Therefore, rather than shooting for a specific time, I plan to run and enjoy the sights and sounds. That being said, I know come the day I’ll most likely try to outdo my best time of 3 hrs. 46 min. 31 sec. It probably isn’t going to happen. A 4:15 is more likely “in the cards” for me this year.
Do you run with an MP3 player? Have any tunes that get you over the wall or the rough points in the Marathon?
Occasionally on training runs I’ll run with an iPod; however, I don’t race with one.
Anything else you would like to add??
Wicked Running Club has been a wonderful support in helping me try new things and achieve certain goals. Without the Club, I never would have met so many amazing people, all unique but all sharing that common goal of pushing oneself to run just that much longer and faster.
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