David Wade's Marathon Training Decision: Music, Or No Music?

This Sunday morning, for the very first time, I stood at the Boston Marathon starting line in Hopkinton without a microphone in my hand.

For the past few years, I have hosted WBZ's pre-Marathon special from the town green. It's always a dizzying parade of live interviews with inspiring runners and meticulous race organizers. I have spoken to sight–impaired runners, athletes in wheelchairs, newbies, people who have run 25-plus times and world class athletes who have won the race. Every year I drive home thinking, "I have to do that."

David Wade at the Boston Marathon starting ilne, during live WBZ-TV coverage. (Image: WBZ-TV)

So, there I was this weekend. I was standing at the starting line fighting a couple of emotions. First, frustration. I had just been emailed an Uber receipt that informed me that because of "2.1x Surge Pricing" my ride to Hopkinton cost $62! (Quick aside, my colleagues think I'm strange because I would never ask a friend to drive me out there. I believe, like Jerry Seinfeld did, asking someone for a ride to the airport or to help you move is a very big and personal deal. A ride to Hopkinton at 8:00am is like asking someone to help you move and then drive you to the airport.). Second, I was feeling nervous. The plan was to run 18 miles. More than I've ever run before.

My training partner, Scott, and I took the requisite number of selfies to be able to later brag on social media (and in this blog) and we were off.

Requisite selfie (Image: David Wade/WBZ-TV)

I made a pretty controversial decision early on. I ran without music. Usually I like to have music playing very low in the background. I've been told many times, "real runners don't listen to music." A lot of runners tell me they prefer to "zone out." That never happens to me. I never zone out. I nearly pass out, but I never zone out. Anyway, I wore headphones so I could occasionally have my phone's running app inform me that I'm basically slow and nowhere near being done, but no AC-DC, Eminem or One Direction (wait, what?).

I was pleasantly surprised to have a pretty great run. Leaving from Hopkinton helped me to demystify the start of the race. It's pretty and, more importantly, pretty downhill. Miles 16-18 were tough but I made it and it was slightly less painful than that Uber receipt.

This coming week is a "step back" week. "Only" have to run 14. Lucky me. If you'd like to talk about your training, feel free to tweet me at @davidwade.

Starting from the Starting Line (Image: David Wade/WBZ-TV)