Believe to Achieve

Ran the entire marathon with April. No splits. Watch went wacky after mile one. We dressed alike so we would be easy to spot and because it is fun! Plan was to stick together thick or thin and not worry about time and not look at watch til halfway. Started in wave two corral four. Gun went off and we stood there not moving for several minutes as they announced the corrals before us. With April undertrained and myself with a bum left leg, like elite runners would be smart and not run on it, we were not sure how we would do. But we were off and running. No way to pick it up. The crowd of runners seemed to stretch on forever. Our own personal Boston Marathon treadmill in reality mode. Our plan at half was to pick it up but after 2 miles and the further i got into it i knew i was going to be just hanging on. My hip and knee were in not in the right gait form. It has been bothering me for a while and just walking it was hurting. There is only so much focusing off of pain or on pain you can do in a marathon before the pain of just running a marathon consumes the body and i honestly wanted to walk from Newton Hills on when the wall hit for me. April also was feeling it greatly in her legs and instead of taking off from me at the half which i was sure she would she said she couldnt and would stay with me. That was the best news of the marathon because without her i would have stopped and been in well over four hours. In case you hadnt heard the marathon was hot again. Not 2012 hot but same temp difference from my arrival (38 degrees last thursday) to 70 on race day at halfway. I didnt need any additional clothing at the start. Not good. In the first mile i was sweating from the heat of the sun at 1030 am and the crowds of people beside me and along the course (one million spectators, double last year they say). I wore compression sleeves and i was roasting like i was in golds gym. After three miles and several miles later i moved them down to my ankles hanging loosly there. No time to sit and remove them so i just dealt with that awkwardness. April was high fi ing and having a grand time. I was more introverted and wore sunglasses. The crowds were overwhelming and it was an emotional run. I knew i had to run because i had two legs and many did not. We saw several amputees running. Amazing! Because of the crowds we could never really pick it up and truthfully the crash would have been bigger if we did try. So our focus turned completely to friendship and helping one another through hard times the Boston Strong way. April just told me we would just run it with an ultra shuffle. My back was so tight from the bracing and i could not tap into any adrenaline. Hydration wasnt a problem. I peed four times along the course. But a contributing factor were two gus i had for the race that had caffeine. They were a new kind

and i thought hey had hardly any caffeine if any. My heartrate was soaring. I took one before the halfway and another at 22 miles. I became nauseated three or four times and dizzy. I felt like i was not trained at all. Weird. We did the half in 1:38:43 so not fast. It was a hard one. Just one of those running days you dont feel wonderful to go out and do but time was not on my side. It was marathon day. It had to happen. The best and most memorable moment was crossing each timing mat with April my long time fast running blog friend, the ultra shuffling, high fiving a few kids along the course and seeing people running with out legs. Turning onto Bolyston street and knowing all that had transpired last year, was so heartwrenching. I had to run closer to the right side of the street instinctively. The images of last year superimposed over my present course. But as i raised my handwith Aprils across the finish line nothing was more relieving knowing we took back the streets of Boston! Boston Strong. April strong. Julie strong. The world strong. Thank you spectators. Thank you race directors. Thank you family. Thank you Boston.