April 15th Preview

We’ll join the Eugene Marathon preview run this SATURDAY (with no training scheduled from the Running Company on Easter Sunday). Their scheduled distance is about 17.5 miles, with an eight o’clock start from the turf fields, west of Hayward on 15^th Avenue. Ours is 21 miles, so I recommend starting early to add three-plus.

I’m emailing the route map. The run takes you into Springfield on D Street, 10^th and Centennial, then back to the river paths. From there, you continue to the Owosso footbridge, across, then return to where you started.

The possible early add-on of about 3.5 miles: 15th, to Agate, to 24^th, to bike path near South Eugene track, to 19^th, to Agate and 15^th again.

Bring a drink for delivery at about five miles, on Centennial Boulevard. Later stations will be provided by the organizers. Weather forecast: starting temperature in 30s with little chance of rain.

WEEK 15 LESSON: YOUR FUEL

Question: Do you recommend that I drink during the runs?

Answer: It’s a requirement. You can’t go 26.2 miles without drinking, and probably not without drinking something stronger than plain water. This is true on cool days as well as hot. So I ask you to practice drinking early and often during all training. Bring a bottle of your favorite sports drink for delivery on the course. Walk or stop while drinking, so you’ll get the fluid in you rather than on you. Even though sports drinks supply carbos, it isn’t enough to fuel you for runs this long. I strongly advise you to add “foods” in the form of gels, bars or similar products. Refuel every 30 to 45 minutes during the training run and race. Everyday nutrition and weight control can, of course, affect your performance as well. But I abstain from advising on these matters and ask you to find your own experts (which I’m definitely not).