PUBLISHED 03/14/2007
Best Way To Conquer Heartbreak Hill...
The legendary--or should we say notorious?--hill can vanquish the already vulnerable. But Kathrine Switzer, who after her historic 1967 debut went on to post several top-five Boston finishes, suggests you "welcome Heartbreak. Your legs need the change in muscle action from all the earlier downhills." Okay, but just how best to prep for good ol' Double-H? "Run hilly courses in training, especially on the long runs," Switzer advises. "Put in hills right at the 20-mile mark, or, if your long run is only 20 miles, start the hills at 14 and keep 'em going. Preparedness prevents intimidation."
...And that bloody new one at the end So, you thought it was smooth running after Heartbreak. Well, a new "hill" has been added with just a mile to go. To offset traffic--both vehicular and human--around the marathon finish, the course has been slightly rerouted. At the 25.4-mile mark, runners will now briefly turn off Commonwealth Avenue and go under Massachusetts Avenue, a maneuver that will require them to go down a slight decline before climbing a similar grade to rejoin Commonwealth. Once again, Dave McGillivray pleads for prudence from runners. "If you're complaining about a hill at that point," says the race director, who has run the marathon 32 consecutive years, "then you're just looking for a reason to drop out."
Best Stories To Inspire Marathon Mania
Comeback Kid
Heartbreak Hill can't faze Mark Buciak, who knows something about heartbreaks. On February 1, just 11 weeks before marathon day, the Chicago native underwent open-heart surgery to repair a leaky aortic valve. Within two weeks, he was on an exercise bike preparing for his 27th-consecutive Boston Marathon. He doesn't expect to beat his PR (2:30) this year, mainly because he plans to walk up the course's hills. But Buciak, 45, ain't complaining. "This may not be my fastest marathon, but it will be my most special."
Wives' Tale
The finish line of the marathon is just a long, David Ortiz_-style blast from Fenway Park. And for the past few years, while the Red Sox have been playing their traditional Patriots' Day ball game, several of their wives have been running the course. The swiftest of the bunch: Kathryn Nixon, 36, wife of rightfielder Trot Nixon, who clocked 3:51:51 in 2000. Nixon plans to be back this year, along with two-timer Dawn Timlin (4:09:42 PR), the wife of pitcher Mike Timlin, and Shonda Schilling, wife of pitcher Curt Schilling. Besides running, the women have raised more than $100,000 for charity. "We look forward to seeing each other at spring training to do our own spring training for the marathon," says Schilling, 38. "It's great being on a team with so many 'running' wives."
Cure and Simple
They may not have qualifying times, but they're certainly not bandits. They're the 1,000 or so runners who gain entry into the prestigious race by raising money for various charities. Among the 18 sanctioned charities, the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge is the largest (500 runners) and has raised the most money (nearly $26 million for cancer research since 1990). "I'm convinced we will put an end to this disease at some point," says Brian Herr, who has run the past 16 years for the Dana-Farber team. He hopes to raise another $10,000 this year.
Best Bars For A Big-Time Celebration
Once you've had some water or sports drink, it's time to kick back and refuel with a bit more gusto.
Crossroads Irish Pub: A fun, casual bar catering to meat-and-potatoes types. Did someone say carbo-load? (495 Beacon Street, 617-262-7371)
Vox Populi: Exquisite martinis. Exceptional bistro fare. There's no training tomorrow. Enjoy. (755 Boylston Street, 617-424-8300)
The Rack: If your quads have a little something left, be sure to hit the dance floor. (24 Clinton Street, 617-725-1051)
An Tua Nua: In case you didn't get enough of the Wellesley scene, this Irish bar and grill is a favorite with the college crowd. (835 Beacon Street, 617-262-2121)
Cheers: Yes, tourists come here, but so do local legends, like Tommy Leonard, veteran bartender at the famous (and, sadly, defunct) Eliot Lounge. (84 Beacon Street, 617-227-9605)
