Boston or Bust

It just wasn't my day...

2010-05-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all the runners these last couple of days at the Scheels Fargo Marathon!!!

As many of you may know my 20x10 goal was to qualify for the 2011 Boston Marathon. My qualification time is 3:10 and unfortunately I ran a 3:18 yesterday. Was I disappointed, YES, but although the Fargo Marathon is done for this year, 2010 as a whole is not. I will run another marathon or two this year. My goal of qualifying for Boston may not have been accomplished in Fargo, but I am not done trying!!!

More details of my race day to come...

-James Botnen

2 DAYS UNTIL...

2010-05-20T18:29:00.001-07:00

THE MARATHON!!!

The week leading up is always full of mixed emotions because I am spending my time being nervous, excited, talking myself up for the big race, and checking weather.com on a constant basis. The only thing that is making me nervous (and every other runner) is the expected forecast for Saturday. I just checked and it looks like it could possibly be cloudy and a little rainy. I wouldn't mind the clouds because it would calm down the heat wave that has been rolling in the past week.

No matter what the weather is like on Saturday it will be a great day with family, friends, co-workers, and volunteers! I can't wait to see everyone on and off the course.

Good luck to everyone running this weekend and THANK YOU to all the volunteers!

and did I mention...I CAN'T WAIT!!!

-James

Just over a week away!!!

2010-05-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

This is the time of training/preparation when I get anxious for race day to be here because I am READY!!! I have come to the conclusion that I am never going to be pain free when it comes to running. My adrenalin will be pumping on race day enough to mask any discomfort in my hamstring.

Today was another wet day in Fargo (I think this is 4 days in a row), but still got in a nice 6 Mile run with 3 other co-workers. I will get in an easy 10 Miles this weekend and rest up next week before the big day.

Have a great weekend everyone and remember...There is no such thing as TOO much rest next week. Your body needs as much rest as it can get before the beating it will take next weekend, no matter if it is 3, 6, 13, or 26!

-James

Is it MAY Already???

2010-05-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is May even with this crappy weather!!! I want April weather back right NOW...I am sure we all hope it will be back before the marathon.

These are the days that I look back and wonder if I have done all the training I can to reach my marathon goal. It is my last 20 Miler this Saturday and then it is time for tapering and resting up before the big day. I get so NERVOUS the weeks leading up to any marathon because I always doubt myself. I am a very confident person but there is always that chance that "race day" won't be your day. That WILL NOT be me this year...3:10 here we come!!!

Enjoy the tapering everyone and remember...YES, it will feel weird not running as much leading up to May 22nd, but it is well deserved.

-James

1st Race of the 2010 Season!!!

2010-04-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

I should have blogged about this earlier, but the first race of the season was a success. It was the Earth Day Half Marathon last Saturday (April 17th) in St. Cloud, MN. It was a the first time I had run this race and it was a great course and overall well organized. Thank you to ALL the volunteers and spectators who made it a exciting race!!!

I ran it in 1:27, not a PR but I was happy with the result. The funny thing about running is that you won't always get a PR, but it may have been a better race due to the conditions. St. Cloud was that race, I missed a PR by just over 1 minute, but felt great at the end.

It was a rough week of recovery, a couple of short runs and a couple of ten milers. The problem was that I have a REALLY tight hamstring and haven't been running at the speed I should be at. I will take today off and see how the hamstring feels. I might have to go in for a massage or something.

I am happy in my progress for the marathon. One more twenty miler and then it will be tapering time. We will see how these next couple weeks until the marathon go, and hopefully I will feel 100% confident come May 22nd!

Happy training and tapering!

-James

It might be time for group running!?!?

2010-03-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

I have always been a "loner" when it comes to running. I have never been a person of many words and felt that running with someone was a waste of energy because you talked too much. 2010 might be the year that I change that.

I have gone on a couple of runs with some co-workers and have found the opposite to be true. You don't necessarily talk that much, but instead you keep each other motivated during and in between runs.

I also am going to start participating in a weekly running club. Scheels Running Club meets every Thursday at 6:15pm. I won't be going this week due to church, but on Thursday, April 8th, I hope to see everyone there. I believe that this will help me to meet other runners in the community as well as keep me motivated by talking with others about their training and stories. I will definitely put this event into my weekly training.

I hope everyone is enjoying this awesome SPRING weather!!!

-James

I feel...GOOD!!!

2010-03-23T18:00:00.001-07:00

After my horrible "hill" workout last Monday, my workouts have been going awesome!!! As you could tell from my earlier posts, I couldn't get into the routine of running. It seemed like something would go wrong every workout, whether it was my legs or lungs.

Well...NEWS FLASH!!!...I am back and ready to train as hard as I need to in order to make it to Boston in 2011!!!

My run today felt awesome!!! (even with the winds gusting at 30 MPH)

I just want to take time for some word of advice for those of you who have been struggling like I had been for weeks; Keep pushing through the tough days because you WILL get through them and have better days. I PROMISE!!!

Keep up the training and see everyone on May 22nd for the 6th annual Fargo Marathon!!!

-James

TWO "old" guys kicked my @$$

2010-03-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

Somebody wanted shout outs on this blog so here it is...

Matt and Tony showed me today how tough hill workouts are! Obviously in Eastern ND these are usually done on the treadmill, which they were today. We were set to run 6 miles of hill:

1 mile warmup
1 mile 3% incline
1/2 mile jog
1 mile 4%...and so on

I say so on because that was about the time that I hit the pause button while the other two guys yelled at me to keep pushing and I had nothing left in the legs. It was an eye opening workout which showed me that I am not where I should be to make it to Boston in 10 weeks.

I give those guys props for finishing that workout! I will get there someday. I eventually got back on the treadmill to struggle through 5 miles. That means back to the gym tonight for a couple more miles and an ab workout.

-James

OKAY!!! Matt and Tony aren't that "old"...they just laughed and said that to me when I couldn't finish the workout!

Just what the doctor ordered!!!

2010-03-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought that we would be dreaming for this 30 degree weather. Well it is finally here!!! I have been a treadmill runner for the last 3 months, but finally ran outside for the first time all year on Thursday. I ran with a couple of co-workers which made a huge difference on my pace.

I definitely forgot how much the body pounds on the pavement versus a treadmill. My cardio was fine, but the legs burned afterwards. That something that my body will get used to fast, but it is definitely eye-opening.

Part of me is thinking right now that I'm not the best "featured runner" for the Fargo Marathon. I have been lazy the last couple of weeks and need to get back in the swing of things. Just thought I would be honest. It is hard to believe that the marathon is less than 12 weeks away. Time to crank up the training and prove to myself that I deserve BOSTON and will stop at nothing to get there!!!

HAPPY SPRING!!! (and hope it stays)...

-James Botnen

Here I come...TEXAS!!!

2010-02-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

The weather in North Dakota...well I will just say it...SUCKS!!! It has shown in my training as well...

With the weather the way it has been (cold, windy, snow - typical ND winter) I have not gotten my miles/training to where I want. I have run inside the whole year so far, which has worn me out. Staring at a TV and wall isn't always the most enjoyable thing in the world.

The good thing from all this is that I have lifted and worked on core workouts more than I have every before. I am hoping that this will help me later in races when my form needs to stay strong. I have definitely seen the difference in the little amount of longer runs that I have had so far in training.

With all that said I am leaving for a little warmer place tomorrow morning...TEXAS!!! Although I will be busy with work, I am hoping to get a run in everyday. Hopefully this will refresh my training. Seeing new places while running is one of my favorite parts of a running lifestyle!

Some of my best running stories come from running in other places in the United States. I will update with some photos and stories of Texas next time. Have a great week everyone!

Running hurts so good! Chafing doesn't?!?!

2010-02-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

With the invention of NipGuards and BodyGlide you do not have to be the guy above...OUCH!!! I guess that's what happens when you run in Nike...haha...jk...

I personally have never used NipGuards, but BodyGlide is amazing! It reduces friction so much that you can hardly tell it is there. It can also be used for any activity that causes friction including biking, swimming, work, etc. I would definitely recommend these products so that you never are "that person." They have their advantages, not only pain relief but also never having to be embarrassed. If you get these products you will not have to worry about chafing EVER again!

Don't forget to visit www.fargomarathon.com to sign up for the 2010 Fargo Marathon!

Fargo Marathon = 4 months away!!!

2010-02-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

It is February 1st and that means that the marathon is 16 weeks away. This means a lot of things including better weather (hopefully?!?!), more outside running, and of course kicking training to the next gear.

Good luck to everyone and hopefully Spring is just around the corner!!!

The Technology of Running

2010-01-17T19:07:00.000-08:00

People think that running is one of the easiest sports to buy for because there is no "equipment" involved. The fact is that running is one of the most complex sports to buy for. Yes, to start running, all you need are some shoes, shorts, and a shirt, but with today's technology, running is much more complex than that.

There are so much different technical running gear out there these days. Whether you want to stay warm, cool, or find a shoe it is a tough decision to find the right gear that will work for you. In the next few months I will be testing as many products as possible and posting my reaction to them.

We all know about the big companies out there, but I want to find out about the small companies as well. Sometimes it is the small companies that have ground breaking technology that can help your running in many ways. Is there smaller companies out there that you know of with great technology and products? If so, please let me know.

I want these blogs to be as interactive as possible. So instead of me just typing away, I will always throw questions into the blog to allow as many people as possible to comment. I will also respond to every comment so we can keep that line of communication open. I believe that the best resources out there are other runners. I learn so much by talking to other runners and want to carry that over to this blog. So thank you in advance for those who will leave comments in the next months.

Keep up the training! It almost feels like Summer (30 degrees) here in North Dakota!

-James Botnen

History of the Boston Marathon

2010-01-12T18:32:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in the last post my 2010 goal is to qualify for the 2011 Boston Marathon. It would be the pinnacle of my running "career" if I was fortunate enough to make it to Boston.
The Boston Marathon is the only marathon in the world that a runner needs to qualify for, besides the Olympics, making it one of the most prestigious and coveted marathons in history.

For many marathoners, including myself, to qualify for Boston ("BQ") is a goal and achievement in itself, making it a people's Olympic event. To qualify, a runner must first complete a standard certified marathon course in a certain amount of time according to gender and age, and yes FARGO IS A CERTIFIED COURSE! Visit www.bostonmarathon.com to see qualifying times. An exception to the qualification requirement is awarded to 1,250 runners who raise a pre-determined level of sponsorship for officially designated local charities.

The first Boston Marathon was run in 1897, inspired by the inaugural Olympic marathon in 1896. There are about 20,000 runners every year along with over 500,000 spectators, making it New England's most viewed sporting event. The race is held on the third Monday in April, which is Patriot's Day, a state holiday in Massachusetts. Most local residents consider this day Marathon Monday.

Just talking about the Boston Marathon gives me the chills. Although Boston would be the high point of my running career, I will never forget where my running started! The Fargo Marathon has a special place in my heart because it was where it all began. I volunteered at the 2006 Fargo Marathon and set a goal of running the full marathon the next year. I thought it would be the only marathon that I would ever run, but became addicted to the best sport I have ever been involved in. I am still running after 5 marathons and do not plan on stopping any time soon.

What are your running memories? Where did it all start or where will it all start? I want to hear everyone's stories and I hope to see you out running sometime soon!

-James

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

2010 is finally here and it is hard to believe that the Fargo Marathon is a little more than 5 months away. I ran my first 10 mile run yesterday, and am already excited to be a part of this years marathon when we reach 20,000 runners! My run was inside because I can't stand this frigid weather. For all of you who run outside in negative degree weather I give you a lot of credit! I would rather suffer on a treadmill than freeze my fingers and toes off outside.

As with any year, resolutions are a huge part of any body's new year. Instead of New Year Resolutions, I like to make goals for myself every year. Resolutions are things that come and go within the year, but goals are something that you strive for throughout the year. This is why I like goals versus resolutions.

My main goal this year is to qualify for the 2011 Boston Marathon. It has always been a goal of mine since I started running 4 years ago, but it finally became an attainable goal of mine last year when I missed qualifying by 4 minutes (3:14:02) in the Twin Cities Marathon.

I believe that goals are a huge part of my success in running, and life in general. Without goals, how are we to challenge ourselves? What are your 2010 goals?

I hope the new year has treated you well so far, and I hope to see you back here soon!

-James Botnen