[PhDGirl]

I think the no headphones thing will be for any race that's a qualifier for the Boston Marathon because it's a USATF regulation. I'm not at all interested in qualifying for elite runner status or anything though! Thanks for the dhikr suggestion though - I will try that. I was also thinking of joining a pace group (the race is having them) so that I don't start out too fast and lose energy at the end. I'll see how it is at the race expo.