The Start of The Boston Trip (LA) | Boston Diaries Day 1 - This Messy Happy

Aug 13, 2025

Intro: This is a quick summary of The Start of The Boston Trip (LA) | Boston Diaries Day 1 from This Messy Happy. It’s a fun, behind‑the‑scenes look at how they’re handling travel, packing, and staying active in the final week before the Boston Marathon. Be sure to watch the full video for all the details.

Key Points:

They’re in a middle‑week taper: no hard workouts, just short, easy runs to keep the legs ticking.
Plan for four short runs each week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday) with distances around 8 km (5 mi) each, plus a meetup run.
Use easy runs to maintain form and confidence while staying healthy, especially when feeling a bit under the weather.
Keep pacing easy; they’re running at roughly 4:30‑4:40 per kilometre (about 7:15‑7:30 per mile) which is slower than marathon goal pace but perfect for a taper.
Practical travel tip: pack for a wide temperature range (Thailand heat to LA cool to Boston cold) and bring personal comforts (like a pillow) for long flights.

Workout Example:

Day: Sunday (first day in LA)
- Warm‑up: 5‑10 min easy jog
- Main set: 8 km (≈5 mi) easy run at ~4:30‑4:40 min/km (≈7:15‑7:30 min/mi) – keep the legs moving, no hard effort.
- Cool‑down: 5 min walk + stretch

Repeat similar 8‑km easy runs on Tuesday (Santa Monica Pier meetup), Thursday (pre‑flight run), and Saturday (Boston 5K) before the marathon.

Practical Tips:

Stick to a 4‑run‑per‑week schedule during the final taper to avoid over‑training.
Keep runs short (8 km) and at an easy pace to stay fresh and prevent illness.
Use a wood‑chip trail or beach path for a change of scenery.
Pack layers for temperature changes and bring a pillow for comfort on long flights.

Closing Note: Give this low‑key, 8‑km easy run a try during your own taper—adjust the distance and pace to match your own training plan in the Pacing app, and enjoy staying fresh for race day! 🚀