Saturday, March 12, 2022

Boston Marathon Training & Amazon Sponsorship

It's been a while since I have updated my blog. The last time I posted I had just made a full recovery from Covid and was starting to train again. 

The big news is that Amazon reached out to me about a month ago, offering to sponsor me in the Boston Marathon! They found me on Instagram and said they were running a campaign with the Boston Marathon around the 50th anniversary of women running the race.

Amazon is an official sponsor of the Boston Marathon and as part of their sponsorship, they are promoting female runners for this 50th anniversary. What does it mean to be sponsored by Amazon? They have covered my travel expenses and my registration fee, they have given me loads of free gear (of my choosing) along with some extra cash and perks. In return, I share my training on social media and the gear that I am using from Amazon. 

Here is a link to Amazon's Boston Marathon page, which features the women they are sponsoring.

Here is a link to my personal storefront with all my favorite gear.

I have been enjoying working with the PR agency that represents the Boston Marathon & Amazon on this campaign. It's actually somewhat surreal because I tried for 8+ years to qualify for the Boston Marathon and now this amazing opportunity has come up!

Training Update
Training is going really well, especially considering I had to take over three weeks off in January. I've been able to do all my workouts and hit all my paces without feeling burnt out and without any niggles or injuries appearing. 

For long runs, I have switched from the Nike Odyssey React to the ASICS Gel Nimbus Lite, and that has made a huge difference with my Achilles tendinopathy. The Nike is a bouncy shoe with a 10mm drop. The ASICS has a 13mm shoe and doesn't compress as much. They don't even make the Nike Odyssey React anymore, but I had stock piled a few pairs. The good news is that the long runs aren't painful for my Achilles like they used to be. The problem still exists, but it's milder than it was before. 

My long run progression has been as follows:

February 11: 10 miles easy (8:51 average)
February 19: 14.1 miles easy (8:31 average)
February 26: 17.5 miles easy (8:19 average)
March 5: 18 miles with 8 at marathon pace, MP miles averaged 7:20
March 11: 20.2 miles easy (8:41 average)

I am happy with my endurance and stamina. I have been logging 55+ miles a week for the past four weeks, and I'm on track to run 70 this week. My speed isn't what it once was, as evidenced by a set of 9 x 800m. Those averaged around 3:17, which is slower than my usual 800m time, but it was windy that day so I can't complain. 

I continue to have weekly strength training sessions with my coach and those are one hour long. I do a shorter version of the exercises she gives me on one other day of the week. I want to prepare my quads for all the downhill of Boston. 

I got my bib number and I will be in the same corral that I was in back in 2018. Wave 2, corral 5. Even though my qualifying time is 3 full minutes faster, the race has gotten more competitive so I haven't moved up. 

I am not planning on running any races between now and Boston. I am registered for the Shamrock half, but when I got Covid, I decided that I didn't want to sacrifice training for the taper/recovery needed to run an all-out half marathon. I had also been registered for a 5K on the Friday 10 days out from Boston, but they canceled that race due to construction on the course. 

So everything is coming together nicely and I am thankful for every day I am healthy and able to run. I am cautiously optimistic about this race, knowing that anything can happen between now and then! Exactly two years ago they canceled the race, so now I'm not ruling anything out. I'm taking things one day at a time and I'm so thankful to be training for such an amazing marathon. 

9 comments:

  1. Congrats again on this amazing opportunity! A local runner from Chicago is also on the team--hopefully, you'll get to meet up. You've had so many doors open for you and it's been really fun to follow your journey.

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  2. CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's true that 2022 got off to a rocky start, but it's starting to redeem itself. I agree with not ruling anything out, but I'm pretty sure that we're done with race cancellations. I'm looking forward to adding more bling to my medal rack in the next few weeks.

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  3. What a great opportunity! Congratulations!

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  4. Way to go Zebra with the Amazon sponsorship! Enjoy it! All the years I went there had to pay for it! And good to see those Native American gals in the mix!

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  5. Sounds like you're past the COVID blues (wish the whole world would be bc we;re dine with this garbage but the world is not done with COVID.) I know I've also been out of touch and usually respond to all your blog msgs (outside of the female gear stuff bc I just can't comment on bra's and such for obvious reasons lol) but think I missed some,

    Just glad to hear such great news on the training front and that it sounds like you'll be prepared for Boston come April. Wish I could be there too but they didn't want me there (we know why, I'm the bad person risking everyone else's life apparently lmao)

    The Amazon thing is awesome that you were able to get that. Then again, you are a marketing guru and so should any of us really be surprised if we know what you do professionally...

    So proud of you and honored to be associated with you to the little extent we are. You continue to amaze me with so many facets of your life!! Just so glad to hear that you're fully past COVID and seems to be doing great with your training!!

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  6. Well done on your Amazon sponsorship deal, Elizabeth! I love the products that you have on your page too. All the very best for the rest of your training for Boston.
    Kind regards,
    AV

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  7. Congratulations and good luck!!!
    I just learned about you when I bought a used copy of Boston Bound at a local bookstore. The previous owner really loved your book! She highlighted, circled, started, hearted and underlined a ton of passages. On page 109 above the chapter heading she wrote:
    * ..."She said; "I think I'll go to Boston". That "She", is ME!!

    I think your book had a real impact on her

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    1. That's so great to hear! Hopefully she made it to Boston and therefore no longer needed the book! :-)

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  8. Congratulations and good luck! Seeing how you have progressed in your journey, I feel so inspired as a beginner runner that I can certainly get better if I keep at it and continue training the right way. Plan on buying your book.

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