We decided to make the trip to Boston a two day affair and get a room in NY
about 4 hours away. This was so we could surprise the girls with a stop off at Niagara Falls. They had
no clue we were going and even after seeing some signs saying the falls were the
‘same direction’ figured there was no way we were stopping since we were clear
that we would do some sight seeing in Boston while I was there to run. They
really enjoyed that stop and took many a picture. My oldest daughter graduates
this year (time… it just vanishes) and she is very much into photography. She
is very good with Photoshop and is helping do wedding pictures this fall. Maybe
I will post some Falls pics with race ones she took. So what about the younger?
Well the way into Boston
Saturday was the stop at the American Doll shop. Yes, I was patient with many
other dads and then off to the hotel.
The Marriott downtown was nice, but wow is the cost of
everything in Boston
high. I actually booked a hotel out of town, but mom had a surprise call and helped
us get a room down town. Very cool.
Sunday was full, started out catching the 5K with Erik (Hamdog)
– It was good to meet him and is a pretty darn nice guy (and he doesn’t finish
last). I was happy to meet his family and we watched Andrea finish the 5K. She
had a great race – mid 17’s well on her way to sub 17. Shortly there after I
got me meet Jon (JG), Amy (Steam), Jake, Andrea and Rachelle – everyone was as
nice as they are on here if not more so. We went for a few mile run to be loose
for Monday (cept Amy, she had that shot in her knee, but at least she got to
experience the marathon and I was thrilled for that). It was really good to
talk to everyone. I am holding Jake to his training tips, but he is making me
get on the track…
Monday was the moment. I knew it was a long road back from
injury (or at least it seemed so) but going into the weekend I thought I had a
shot at a PR if we had a tailwind. Then the heat forecast came out. Then it
kept getting worse. I am sure everyone is well aware of the heat – that was the
topic of the marathon. So the plan? Start out strong, but controlled, if the
heat did not bother me I would go for it, if not just enjoy the ride.
Here is how it went down… er at least what I recall …
Miles 1-2 7:39, 7:37
I felt really good. Paces right were I wanted them with almost no effort, ready
to kick it down if I kept feeling this way. I was also very loose and keeping
it ‘light’ with the runners around me.
Mile 3. 7:53 This
is where I actually felt the heat a bit. I figured I still wanted a good race,
but I better back it off for the next several miles and see how she went. The
mood was still light and fun though and I took the time to high 5 all the
little kids out there.
Mile 4. 7:50 This
was not on the ‘things to see’ in Boston.
So we all know people have to ‘go’ at moments there are no available bathrooms.
Usually not a problem as people run off the course a bit and take care of
needs. So less that a few feet off the course a lady decided she had to go and
dropped it all. A full moon was not on my list for Boston, but we sure got it. Seriously?
Miles 5-6 7:59, 7:47 The
miles were not peeling off anymore.. It was certainly warm, but manageable I
thought. I still was joking around, but I noticed others were starting to
labor. It was awfully early in the race for so many people around me to be
working this hard.
Mile 7 7:58 Most
of the people I kinda paced with early on had fallen off. At mile 7!? I believe
this was the first of many road signs they had up that said HOT HOT HOT, at
first I took it as a compliment, but then I realized they wanted to remind us
of what we already knew… IT WAS HOT…duh…
Mile 8. 8:10 I
staggered back my pace some. I was feeling it a bit and did not want to crash.
I marked this as the ‘let’s forget the Garmin and soak in the event’ mile.
Mile 9-11 8:26, 8:07,
8:42 Some up and downs as Boston
is full of, but I was enjoying the people and fun times here. The families with
sprinklers, a guy racing as ‘Waldo’ and kids with squirt guns abound! The support
was second to none.
Mile 12-13. 8:29, 8:25
Wellesley. They
did not disappoint. I was happy to see a Republican, a Baseball Fan and a Time
Lord in the mix.
Mile 14. 8:26
Halfway , I felt okay, but the heat was even affecting even my sense of humor.
I still went out of my way high 5 kids, but I was very happy to see the fire
department open some hydrants.
Mile 15-16 8:35, 8:36
Mellow miles, convincing myself that the good news is the humidity was low. Oh
and another big fat sign telling us it was hot and to hydrate. Thanks.
Mile 17 9:06
bathroom stop. Every marathon so far I have one and just one potty break. This
killed me. Why? That porta potty. Sure I was only in there for 20 seconds, but
the temperature in that thing was at least 20 degrees warmer. For the first
time, I felt sick from the heat. I got back on the road and trotted for a few.
Mile 18 9:27 The
first half mile here I was trotting trying to get that sick feeling to pass.
Mile 19-20 8:46, 9:17
I started to feel better after getting sprayed off and more fluids, but I am
not sure I ever was 100% back after that stop.
Mile 21 9:37 Paul
said Heatbreak Hill was for tourists… well on this day, I was a tourist. The
heat made that more difficult that it should have been.
Mile 22-23 8:43
The down hills following. I walked as I drank my cups of water/Gatorade here on
out.
Mile 23-24 9:15, 9:11
The crowd was great through out, but as we got to these last 4 miles it was
incredible support. Here is where high 5’ing the kids cost me. I saw some little
ones and made sure I got them… well then there was a wall of them so I kept
going. I swear there was over a half mile of kids to high 5 and I got them all.
I was beat after that all joking aside. I could not wait to grab some water.
Mile 25 9:39 I was
getting my ‘almost done’ feeling when I saw these very cool flaming shorts. I
though, hey a guy on our blog wears shorts like that. As I went to pass him I
was like… wait… that is Mike (rt). He did not look well, I stopped and
introduced myself but I am still not sure he knew who the heck I was. He told
me he did not wear the matching shirt, but the heat was brutal. I told him I
was the idiot who wore all black.
Mile 26 9:25 The
family was yelling at shouting, it was funny because they were between a family
from Canada and a family
from Mexico
who helped them yell. They were afraid I would not see them in the crowd and
honestly in my daze I am glad they got some help shouting. I stopped for a
second to hug the girls and finish up.
Mile .2 7:58 (pace) That gave me to break I
needed to finish up running stronger.
Horrible heat, but would I do it again? You bet I would. I
know this was not a great event for many and I am now pretty positive I could
have finished at least 35-30 minutes faster on a cool day, but I don’t care
really, it does not make it a bad marathon. I honestly enjoyed the experience.
That night we walked all over and yes I wore the medal. The
people were really nice and supportive. I enjoyed the Commons and Gardens. That
night I woke up twice breaking a fever. After a little research - could have
been slight dehydration, but who knows. I feel fine nowJ. Anyone who read all
of that… sorry! And sorry x2 as I typing this on the road… who knows the errors
it may contain!
| 