Kerry's Running Blog

Light workout and stretching this morning. I was surprised to see how tight my hamstrings were. Knee still a little sore. Didn't notice any soreness in my ankle or hip flexors, but then I didn't really push that.

Another light workout this morning. Stretching, weights, leg lifts and crunches. Last night I soaked in the tub for half an hour with the jets on my knee and thighs. When I got out I didn't feel the slightest trace of pain. Took some glucosamine and chondroitin and put on a heat pad for a while. No pain at all during the night, but noticed a little stiffness and soreness after the ride into work. I think I'll follow the same routine tomorrow and then try the elliptical trainer at the AFFC tomorrow evening.

Followed pretty much the same routine this morning as the past few days. Weights/stretching and floor exercises. Knee was a bit sore yesterday off and on. I think most of that is due to having it bent while I'm sitting at my desk. I'm trying to keep it elevated more now with occasional heat. I'm starting to feel a lot of pent up energy, like I need to get out and run. If I'm not sore today, I may try the elliptical machine this evening.

Took it easy this morning just to test the knee. Didn't feel any pain or soreness, which is encouraging. I'll have to see how it feels later on to make sure it doesn't stiffen up from sitting at a desk all day.

No pain in my knee yesterday while sitting at my desk and no pain later that evening. Went a little farther and faster this morning and still no pain in my knee. Wore brace before and after as a precaution. Stretched hamstrings and ankles prior to starting, but right ankle was still a little sore. Didn't feel great, but things seem to be moving in the right direction. Just hoping I can get loosened up by Monday.

Felt pretty good this morning. Increased the pace and distance from yesterday. Didn't notice any pain or soreness in my knee or ankle. Getting some spring back in my step. I'm hoping I haven't lost too much endurance. Weather forecast for Boston looks pretty ugly (rain, wind, cold).

A little faster than yesterday just to make sure that my knee would hold up. Didn't notice any stiffness or soreness. Boston is going to be interesting -- if they don't cancel it this year for the first time. Some of the weather forecasts are saying rain/sleet mix with headwinds 35 to 45 miles an hour (gusting to 55 to 60). Doesn't sound like PR conditions :-)

Paul has already written up a much better summary of our Boston Marathon experience than I could, but I'll just add a few personal details.

I spent the days prior to the race looking at the weather reports and trying to find a reason to believe it wasn't going to be that bad. At some point I just decided that since it wasn't anything that I could change and since I'd already decided to run it that I wouldn't worry about it any more. That seemed to help as I left the hotel around 5:30 am to head for the buses at Boston Commons. It was raining steadily and the wind was around 30 mph gusting to 40 or so. I brought clothes for a variety of conditions, thinking that I could just dispose of what I didn't need along the way. I was at Boston Commons before 6:30 and was happily surprised to find that the rain had stopped and the wind had noticeably slackened. I didn't expect it to hold but was encouraged that it was at least pleasant for a few minutes. I met Tom a short time later and we went to get in line for the buses. It had started to rain again but that time and it seemed like we waited a long time before we boarded the bus. I noticed that there were a lot of grim faces, but determined faces on the buses.

As I thought that we would get to Hopkinton well around 8 am (based on our expected departure from Boston Commons by 7:00 or 7:30), I didn't even think to look for Paul immediately. Tom and I headed for the portapotty line as we both needed some relief. It was a very soggy walk across the field, but there was a growing sense of excitement. I pulled out my phone at that point and was surprised to see that Paul had called (I guess my phone was too buried in layers of clothes to notice). I called him back and we soon figured out where we were. I was quite surprised to find out how late it was. It was great to finally see Paul and head to the edge of one of the big tents to try to get ready for the race. They'd already called for the first wave, so we hurriedly changed into drier clothes before heading for the corrals. The conditions were far from ideal, but the whole thing was still very exciting. I had skipped many of my pre-race hydration, fueling and stretching rituals, but it seemed at that point that most everyone was just in survival mode. I really didn't know what to expect heading into the race. My knee had really been bothering me in the weeks leading up to the race to the point that a five mile run would leave it sore for four or five days. I tried to rest it as much as possible in the previous two weeks, but that meant I'd hardly run in the last month. My knee wasn't hurting at all during the start, but I put on a neoprene brace just to help as much as possible. My primary, secondary and tertiary goal was to finish.

It was thrilling to start the race and to realize that the long awaited moment was here. What could be better than running the Boston Marathon with my good buddies Paul and Tom! A thousand impressions and sensations made the miles just fly by. At about six miles I started to sense that the easy part of the race was going to end before long. I tried to brush that feeling away, but it just seemed to linger. When we stopped for a portapotty break, my legs felt unusually tight and drained of energy. My knee wasn't really hurting, but I'd pretty much decided that the underlying source of my knee problem was very tight hamstrings which seemed to be getting even tighter.

We got going again, but I could feel that things were starting to head south (although we were actually moving northeast). Approaching Wellsley College it was easy to forget your troubles as you could hear the screaming in the distance. It was incredible to run through that stretch of the race and just draw strength from all their energy. As we finally passed that section of the course my body started telling me it had had enough. I had to remind it that we were only at the half way point and that we weren't going to be quitting. I tried to hang with Paul and Tom for the next few miles, but I finally had to tell them to just go ahead. Neither Paul nor Tom seemed anxious to go, but after a couple of additional stops and entreaties, Tom reluctantly went on ahead. Paul insisted that he couldn't have kept up with Tom and wanted to stay back, but you just have to know from the nails that he eats for breakfast that he would have found a way to do it.

Over the next ten miles I continued to test the limits of Paul's patience. He never wavered or failed for a moment to stay positive and cheerful (despite his own pain). There were times when I felt worse and times when I felt a little better, but I'd already made up my mind that I'd finish one way or another. As Paul mentioned we finished strong. I felt pretty wasted, especially as you have to walk such a long way to pick up your medal and clothes bag, but I was very happy at what we'd accomplished. Despite or even because of the pain, it was an awesome experience. It reconfirmed my faith in the goodness and selflessness of others. Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Tom. And thanks to all the volunteers and spectators that came out in the wind and rain to help us find our way to the finish.

Note: I categorized these miles under marathon pace, not because we were really going that fast, but because it seems wrong to put them under "Easy Miles."

Worked out on an elliptical trainer at the Westin in Philadelphia.

Worked out on an elliptical trainer at the Westin in Philadelphia.

Beautiful spring morning with just a little sprinkle now and then. Temperatures were in the low 40's, high 30's. This was my first run since the marathon, so I mostly just wanted to see how the legs would respond. My hip flexors were just a litle sore, but over all I felt great. I ran into Greg P. and Chad L. on the trail behind the high school. Gradually picked up the pace without any noticeable pain. Just as I was finishing, my calf starting feeling a little tight, but I feeling pretty optimistic that my knee problem is a thing of the past. I'm going to just get back to running six days a week and then build up daily miles and start throwing in a weekly tempo run and a long run on Saturdays. 

My hip flexors were kind of sore starting out, but felt OK after a half mile or so. It was a little cooler this morning than yesterday with the clear skies, but the birds were singing and spring was in the air. I pushed it a little harder than yesterday after the first mile and I started to feel a little stiffness in my right knee towards the end. I think I'll first try to get back to running every day before I increase the mileage much.

A bit warmer and darker this morning with the overnight cloud cover. Pushed it slightly harder this morning (average pace was 8:20 compared to yesterday's 8:30). The last 0.4 mile was at 7:30 pace. I obviously lost a lot of cardiovascular fitness while I was trying to rest my knee prior to the marathon. I also put on some weight (155.2 on Tuesday). It's going to take some work to get back in top shape.

Wore the neoprene brace on my right knee and didn't notice any pain or soreness during the run or shortly after. My knee was sore, however, after the drive to work.

Took it easy this morning as my right knee was sore most of yesterday. Wore the neoprene brace during the run and the bigger brace afterwards. So far it seems to be feeling OK. Woke up with a sinus congestion and pain, but it went away as I ran. A beautiful clear spring morning with temperatures in the low 40's. If my knee feels all right today, I may try to add a few mile tomorrow.

Beautiful morning for a run. Clear skies, no wind and temperatures in the mid-40's starting out. Ran the Highland Glen loop at an average pace of 8:28. Wore the blue knee brace and noticed a little soreness towards the end of the run, but it went away when I finished. The run was a little harder than I was expecting at this point, but it's been awhile since I've run consistently every day. If I don't develop any knee soreness this morning, I should be able to get back to 30+ miles a week.

Highland Glen Loop. Averaged 8:29. Legs felt better than they have in a long time. No pain or soreness to speak of.

Quite warm this morning as I was comfortable in just a long-sleeve shirt (and reflective vest). Nearly ran into three deer at the south entrance to the park and then almost ran into another doe right behind the house (it jumped into the creek and slipped into the trees to get away).