One week away + Bluff + this is traveling with kids.

(shorts, top, shoes)

Ten miles @ 7:56 pace on Saturday… I was going to add some speed and then made the executive decision I didn’t want to, so I just ran.

We are back home now! We were in Bluff, Utah, which is in the southeast corner of Utah. For spring break, we wanted to go somewhere warm, new, and not too crowded, so we headed to Bluff.

I googled “close-ish family resorts with a pool,” and Bluff Dwellings pulled up.  It was rated 4.7, and the reviews were all amazing while at the same time it wasn’t too pricey, so we went for it.

The kids loved the resort’s park; I believe all parks should have hammocks for parents.

They spent hours at this park.

And I spent hours in the hot tub.

Bluff is a very small city, but it is close to so many hikes, Monument Valley, and the Four Corners. They offer a lot of excursions for things like whitewater rafting (we didn’t do any excursions because our kids were just thrilled with the pool).

I just realized this might feel like an ad ha, but it’s not… we really loved this place.  You could even rent a Teepee to stay in!

We will be back!

We ate most of our meals at the resort and were all surprised by how good the food was… we went through so many pizzas.  The biggest problem was the wind in the area on Friday, but I think that was happening in many areas last week.

Traveling with kids is ordering them the kids meals they wanted and then them not eating what they ordered and eating all of your food instead.

Boston is just one week away.  I can’t believe how quickly this snuck up on us.  I may have been searching for last-minute deals on plane tickets to go watch but couldn’t find any, so I guess watching it on the TV will do.  Good luck to everyone racing.  I hope the weather is perfect for you, the tailwind is strong, and your carb-loading is enjoyable.

Today, I thought I would include some of my tips for Boston!  I have run it four times (2015, 2019, 2022, 2023), and I am positive that the year I ran it in 2022 was the best race I’ve ever had (2:54)!  PS What I did for nutrition in 2022 is in this post.

Here are my random tips for Boston:

*If you get carsick easily, please try to sit in a front seat on the bus and stare out that front window the whole way.

*Wear a pair of shoes different from your race shoes that you can donate and swap out right before the race starts. You will be walking around a lot before the race, and sometimes the Athlete’s Village is muddy, so keeping your race shoes in the clear bag until the last second is one of my favorite Boston tips.  Also, if it is cold and rainy in the morning, a poncho and robe work great, too.

*If it is sunny-> wear sunscreen (EVERYWHERE), and a hat or sunglasses is a need.  It feels like you are facing the sun the whole way, but in a good and happy way:)

*Don’t waste your time weaving! The first few miles of Boston are pretty congested, and then things spread out, so go with the flow and stay calm. Your time will come!

*Find a house for me to buy… the homes along the course are stunning, and I always spend time staring at them in the first 20 miles.

*Enjoy every second of the Wellesley Girls cheering.  You can seriously hear them from a mile away, and it is shocking how loud that portion of the course is each time.  I know music is helpful during races, but if you can go without it for as long as possible, try it in Boston.  The crowds are next level!  Use their energy as fuel.

*The tracks on the road at mile 22 are always a bit tricky for me.  My legs are fried at that point, and I am always so nervous about tripping on them (people do!), so watch out for those!

*Things change a lot on this course.  Now that I’ve run a completely flat marathon, it makes me realize how much things change on this course.  The positives of the constant changes—> You are using different muscles throughout the entire course, which is really nice, and all of the changes keep you distracted!  Remember, if you are hurting… things will change soon, emotionally and/or physically.

*Find all the joy you can, which is pretty easy in Boston.  There are so many things to see along the course (I adore running through EIGHT different little towns or cities over the 26.2 miles), absorb the joy, and run your heart out.

*Newton Hills (miles 16-20), forget about paces and focus on keeping things at the same effort you’ve had up until that point.  Once you get to the top of Heartbreak, there is an amazing gentle downhill where you can get your legs rolling again and pick up the pace, but you can’t do that if you blow up from going too hard on the hills.

*I used the ‘fly and die’ method twice, ran Boston once for fun, and ran it once, pacing it perfectly (for me). I thought I would include my splits if anyone wanted to see how I paced it and what ascent/descent happens in each mile.  I know you hear this from everyone, but BE patient.  This course was so painful when I was not patient in the beginning, and then it was the most magical course when I was patient and held back in the first half, even though I felt like running faster.  PS I know it is only 40 ft ascent in the first mile, but I am always surprised by a few rollers in that first mile.

*Smile as much as you can and take it all in. Don’t forget to let me know how it goes so I can live through you this year!

Who will be in Boston this year?  Who has in the past?

What race have you done that you think has the best crowds?

Please add some tips to this list!

What’s the most relaxing vacation you have ever been on?