113th Boston Marathon-Interview with Karen Giroux

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: Karen Giroux (member of Steve’s Team)

How long have you been running, when/why did you start?

I was not an athletic kid! I didn’t start running until I was about 30 years old when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I found that moving my body kept my symptoms mostly at bay. I didn’t get serious about running until 2002 after my youngest son was born. Then I fell totally in love with it!

Is there something about the Boston Marathon that makes it special to you? Why run this Marathon?

It’s special to me because it’s the “home-town” marathon and everyone (even non-runners) has heard of it. My family in CA and NC can follow the marathon. I am running this Boston as a member of Steve’s Team for the Stephen O’Grady foundation.

How many Boston marathons have you done? Or will this be your first?

This is my 1^st Boston. I usually like to run small marathons in beautiful places. This will be by far the biggest marathon I’ve ever run.

Do you have any special diet the week prior to the marathon?

I try to eat healthy most of the time. I’m superstitious about making sure I eat the same meal before all long runs and the marathon. (For my last marathon it was chicken soup!) This time I went with the traditional pasta and salad.

Um…and it seems Easter left-overs like lemon squares and gum-drops and chocolate bunny this week. Not healthy but yummy!

Do you follow any specific running program to prepare for a Marathon?

I use a variation of the Hal Higdon program. Since I am a fitness instructor I have a TON of cross-training built into my schedule, so I need to be very careful not to over train. I like to gradually build mileage over 18 weeks with long runs alternating between 13 and up to 20 miles.

What’s your favorite training run while training for a Marathon?

This training cycle I loved the Nahant Runs with fellow Steve’s Team members and other Wicked runners. My favorite race was a half marathon we did in New Market NH. The weather was perfect and the course was beautiful. We sure had our share of “not-nice-weather” training runs, so any run where it was not raining/snowing/below freezing/or windy was a great run!

What is your way to approach running a Marathon? I.e., slow at first, negative splits?

I try not to go out too fast. I usually settle into a pace by 5 miles or so. Once I am at the half-way point, I decide if I can pick it up or leave it steady.

Do you bring your own nutrition for the Marathon? Electrolytes, Gels, Bars?

I will be using the Lemon Power Gel Blasts that we used all during training. I HATE gu, so I will just be waving to everyone at the mile 17 Wicked aid station!

Are you shooting for a specific time at Boston or are you running to enjoy the sights and sounds?

I’ll never tell! I do plan to enjoy my run, though.

Do you run with an MP3 player? Have any tunes that get you over the wall or the rough points in the Marathon?

I don’t run with music. I love to run with my friends, and we talk, talk, and talk. (I’m sure I talk too much sometimes!) You learn a lot about people when you are spending a couple hours each week running with them. I have made some wonderful friends!

Anything else you would like to add??

I’d like to say “thanks!!” to Beth for asking me to be a member of Steve’s Team! Good luck to everyone else running! Thank you to everyone who’ll be volunteering out on the course, too