Where we plan out the first marathons of the New Season.

Having completed Berlin-London-Chicago over three weeks, the idea of completing the six major marathons for a second time took hold. Three down and three to go. The remaining three being Boston, New York and Tokyo. I wanted to complete the first two of these while I still had the chance to time qualify and avoid the randomness of the general ballot. It is tough enough planning a long way in advance without having to wait until the ballot is completed and then competing for accommodation and flights with tens of thousands of others.

I am fortunate that my time from London fell within the Boston qualification period. I had a fair buffer with my qualification time so this was decided to be the next event to tackle. To make the trip more worthwhile we decided to add in the Big Sur marathon on the way home. Boston-Big Sur is a thing and Wayno had run Big Sur and given it the tick of approval.

There are, of course, a couple of hurdles to overcome. The first is that Boston is eight days after Canberra marathon. I also really, really want to run Canberra as it will be my ninth and thus I’ll be only one marathon away from Griffin status. Last year we made it into the Spartan status in Melbourne (ten finishes) and a similar accolade awaits in Canberra next year.

With the idea in place then comes the planning. Three marathons in four weeks , ten and a half thousand kilometres from one end to the other and the same back again.
We stay with family in Canberra and will drive home on the Monday. A day to wash, pack and breathe and then on to a plane on Wednesday. If only it was that easy.

We booked flights back in October. Melbourne-Auckland-San Francisco-Boston. Through San Francisco made sense because we were coming back through there to run Big Sur on the California coast just to the south. All good. Until December. When we were informed that Air NZ had decided not to fly to San Francisco on a Wednesday. We could have Thursday or Tuesday. Drive home from Canberra (8hours) and into a 20 hour flight next day. Not really. Fly Thursday. Still the same 20 hour flight then San Fran to Boston (6hr) flight Friday or Saturday to run Monday. Still not great. We had what we thought were non refundable, non changeable hotel room in San Francisco but couldn’t contact the hotel. Air Nz came back with Auckland-Los Angeles-San Fran on the Wednesday. An extra change and four extra hours. Best we could get.

But wait. It gets better. Finally a response from the hotel. Management had changed but they had not only not informed us but also had not informed their hotel group so the email address we had been given belonged to the previous manager and therefore went nowhere. To top it off there was a reservation but no record of payment. We were offered a cancellation and took it gladly.

So no hotel and a long, long trip with a zig and a zag on the way. I noticed in advertising from Air New Zealand that they fly Auckland to Chicago direct. What are the chances I asked our travel agent. You’ve already changed the booking once (their fault so no charge) and if you change again they will take it as your decision and charge a change fee. So for an extra $150 each we fly Melbourne-Auckland-Chicago-Boston. Think that’s the end of it? Air NZ would not allow a stopover in Chicago as we were transferring to a domestic United airlines flight so straight through and into Boston at 1.30 am Thursday. Not happy but it is what it is. I don’t sleep well on planes so a stopover and a bed would be good but C’est La vie.
Then….. United cancelled their flight. We could have seats on the flight that leaves fifteen minutes after our flight lands in Chicago. Not going to happen. Travel agent negotiated us on to a flight the next day at lunchtime. Just as we had initially wanted. Sleepover in Chicago, light run and coffee and off to Boston. It also reinforced for us the value of a good travel agent. Thanks Andy.

From Boston we need to be in San Francisco Sunday week later. We really didn’t want to hang around Boston because it gets very expensive around marathon time. We haven’t spent time in Canada so thought this might be the chance. Flight on Tuesday to Montreal and then the weekend in Quebec, back to Montreal later the next week and fly Montreal to San Francisco. Catch a lift to Monterey with Dave and on to the very scenic third marathon. Point to point up the California coast Big Sur to Monterey. This will be a tourist run to enjoy the scenery. Might even carry the phone for some pics. Fly out of San Francisco to Auckland, spend a couple of days on the Coromandel coast as recovery and then home and on to the next adventure. Pacing up in Brisbane in June with Adam. Might leave that until the next blog when we might have a better idea of the next package of marathons at the end of the year.

How are we feeling about it all?

With eight weeks until Canberra I’m still feeling a bit underdone. Last week was solid with 96 km total but with the Sri Chinmoy half marathon this weekend and thirty seven degrees yesterday this week is lighter. I was planning a run in our local park which has my 12 km loop but it is closed due to storm damage so I’ll have to find an alternate location. I like the park because the trails are easier on my legs than hammering on the bitumen all the time.
I’m hoping I have adapted to the extra mileage well which is why I am feeling like I should be doing more. No soreness but a bit of general restlessness. I’ve done several track events over the last couple of weeks and times were good without being exceptional. Part of getting older. I can see that a sub three hour marathon is but a fading hope but on the other hand my 3.11 in Auckland gave me great hope that I can be competitive in my age group.
If I can put together a sub 3.26 in any of these three marathons it will give me automatic qualification for the 2025 world age group championships so that is my immediate aim. I already have the invitation to the 2024 event in Sydney in September so that is on the Spring calendar.
All in all, I think I am tracking ok. No serious hurts or illnesses. I’d love to find a Nike sale somewhere to bank a couple of pairs of vaporflys but there’s time for that.
Away we go.

Bring on 2024.