Runner’s World+ Member: Rob DiLoreto
Rob is a Runner’s World+ member. Join him and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
I work with a running coach and “be brave and courageous” is his mindset for the last five to six miles of the marathon. There are many ways to break up the marathon distance (such as the 10/10/10 method recently featured in Runner’s World), but however you do it, the real race begins at mile 20. The countless hours spent training outside in the frigid temps of winter or the heat & humidity of summer help you to dig deep and find that extra gear for the final few miles of the marathon.
Don’t let fatigue or doubt get the better of you–brave and push it towards the finish!
Because I lead such a busy life, I tend to have high levels of stress. Running has helped me to channel that stress into something positive and has become my version of “self-care”. It’s the perfect opportunity to set aside the stressors of life, clear my head, and just run. When I’m running I’m not thinking about the next deadline, what needs to be done around the house, or challenges of raising two young boys; I’m just putting one foot in front of the other and striding my way up and down the hills of Pittsburgh.
Running has also had a huge impact on my nutrition. I am very conscientious about the types of foods I put into my body, and stay very regimented with meal planning (especially before a big race) to make sure I am adequately fueling my body with what it needs.
I joined RW+ because the shift in content Runner’s World has recently undertaken really resonates with me—from focusing more on people in the running community, to offering updates on current running events (ie. Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59 marathon) and providing expert advice from the RW coaches—the RW+ digital content has been fantastic.
Don’t get me wrong, I still get excited when I find the print version of Runner’s World magazine in our mailbox. In fact, I will read the entire issue from cover to cover that night!
I am still motivated by the possibility of qualifying for the Boston Marathon again (I ran in 2015 and 2019.) While I may be getting older and slowing down, I still get excited for the thought of the start line in Hopkinton, running through the scream tunnel at Wellesley College, or seeing the infamous Citgo sign letting runners know there is only a mile to go. But the ultimate motivator for me is getting to smile one more (last?) time as I head down Boylston Street towards the finish line.
When training for a marathon, my alarm goes off at 4:00 a.m. during the week so I can put in a few miles before my family wakes up. Every weekend I make my way to North Park for my long runs, which is located a few miles north of Pittsburgh, PA. The path is a five mile loop of rolling hills around a 75 acre fishing lake. Between the trees, abundance of wildlife, and constant runners & bikers at all hours of the day, I cannot think of a better place to complete a 20 mile run.
I cannot run without listening to music on my apple iPod shuffle (fourth generation model). I have been using this since 2010 and not sure what I will do when it finally stops working.
My running goal is to complete a marathon in 2:52:03. The significance of this goal is pretty simple—it is a random time my wife wrote down a few years ago when I first mentioned wanting to run the Boston marathon. The picture she drew is framed and has been sitting on my dresser ever since.
Am I there yet? I am still a few minutes away (2:57 at the Pittsburgh marathon in 2018), but hopefully can achieve this goal during my fall marathon.
You Might Also Like
