What a fun weekend! The most I got out of Boston was that the best marathon experience is as a team. Man was that cool! I felt as ready for this marathon as any I've ran, great mileage, great speed and a nice taper. In the groove. What a humbler...it's like that scene from Knights Tale where he says, "You've been weighed, measured and found wanting". I hit the 5k just about dead on goal, 18:14. I was drenched already. The 10k was right on 37, still conservative and planning on using the fuel later. By now I was taking two waters and a Gatorade at every water stop. A first for me. I started having a harder time and couldn't make the planned shift to a quicker pace. Jeff and Walter caught up to me, passed and I adjusted my time back 30 seconds a mile. I didn't feel the pace was a problem, it was just suffering! I'm not used to just the total feeling of suffering. Pretty much think I've trained for the leg pain, but I have no mental toughness for the heat part. I came through the half and from then on I decided to quit after the next two miles. When I reached that point, it wasn't getting any worse, so I decided to quit after the next two miles. This went on until cresting Heartbreak Hill and I realized that I could finish this. Best feeling I've had in a long time. Better than the finish. Around mile 23 I looked over at the guy next to me and it was Walter, so I told him we should stick it out and finish under 3 hours. He doesn't remember any of this... The race was a surprise, a mixture of not being prepared for the heat part of it and learning I need some mental toughness.
Guys and gals run in heat like this all the time around the world and kick $%&@. especially trail runners. We road racers need to suck it up.
Other highlights: Awesome race dinner the Shadleys set up. Great times flying to the race and spending time with Walter and Rob, both guys that basically taught me how to run. I kissed two Wellesley girls, one with a sign that said, "kiss me, I'm naked', and one with a sign that said, "kiss me, it's my last year, I'm a senior". How many times does that happen at the halfway point of a marathon? :) My arm is sore from all the high fives. I missed the transvestite and Santa Claus, but I did beat the guy in the monkey suit.
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