Hey,

I thought that a few of you might be interested in joining in with me on some or part of the final tune-up workouts for Boston. I'll be running essentially every day, of course; but, here are the key workouts I have planned:

Sat.3/25 7:00 AM at the Arboretum. Run both sides 3 times, stopping briefly only to refill bottle after each double loop. After warming up, will run each uphill at marathon race pace effort, and "ultra" jog the remainder (flats and downs) of the ~22.5 mile hill run. Breakfast at Quincy's afterwards.

Mon. 3/27 ~6:00 PM ~10 miler. After warming up, run 3 minutes at marathon race pace followed by 1 minute jog -- repeat 10 times; do remainder as easy cool down run.

Wed. 3/29 ~6:00 PM (earlier if possible). 12x800M workout, with the usual warm up, recoveries and cool down -- will take over ~11-1/2 miles to complete. Probably no track available, so will do on measured lake loop between Commons and 59 (3/4 mile lake loop with 1/2 mile hard and 1/4 mile easy for each of the 12 laps). Goal is to keep all the 800s sub 3:15, with as many as possible down near 3:00. If anyone knows of a track that will definitely be open on this date, please let me know.

Sat. 4/1 7:00 AM on Prairie Path at mile marker 5 in Warrenville for a variable paced 20 miler.
miles 1-2 (to marker 3) 10:00 pace
miles 3-4 (to marker 1 before Wheaton) 9:00 pace
miles 5-6 (to marker 1 after Wheaton) 8:00 pace
miles 7-8 (to marker 1 after Wheaton, having turned around at marker 2 to avoid busy street) 7:00 pace
miles 9-10 (to marker 1 before Wheaton) 10K race pace effort (an easy workout before this segment ....)
miles 11-12 (to marker 3) 7:00 pace (this segment is hard to do ....)
miles 13-14 (back to marker 5) 8:00 pace
miles 15-16 (to marker 5, having turned around at marker 6, just before Hwy. 59) 9:00 pace (nonstop run to this point)
quick stop to refill bottles
miles 17-20 (out 2 in either direction and back marker 5) 10:00 cool down

Mon. 4/3 ~6:00 PM ~10 miler

Wed. 4/5 6:00 PM -- first track workout of the season at North Central College.

Then, perhaps a bit of taper before game day on Patriot's Day 4/17 ....

Steve