It was weird being in Boston without being in race mode, but it was a
lot of fun and much more relaxing. My number 1 goal was to have fun. I
checked that off before the race ever started. It is so much fun hanging
out with the gang and relaxing with my wife. When I finally started the
race I started at the very back of wave 1 with Lito (Bobcat). Before
crossing the starting line I stopped and had some voluteers take my
picture. By the time I got going I was running the Boston Marathon by
myself. Everyone was cheering for me. I was fiving all the little kids.
It was a blast. I found the lady with the "With God anything is
possible" sign. I stopped and took her picture and told her how much her
sign helped me the year I ran with the torn tendon. It was neat to be
able to thank her and it was obvious she appreciated it.
As I ran I
would stop and take a few pictures. I got a couple with the Wellesley
girls and was felling great through the half not exerting any real
effort. I hit the half in 1:42. All of the sudden a little past mile 14
my left calf went. I thought it was a cramp, but now the next day I'm
pretty sure I pulled my muscle. No way I could run. OUCH! My goal number
2 was to finish my 5th consecuttive Boston. I started doing the math
and if I walked the last 12 miles it was going to be close to getting in
with an official time. I would ocassionally try to run to no avail, so I
walked for a long time.
My goal number 3 was to get my picture with
the John Kelley statue. Kathie and her husband James had given me a
great description of what to look for. I spotted the area and headed off
the course with a few interesting looks for the spectators. One guy was
over there and he kindly took my picture with the statue. I kept
walking and even stopped at a couple POPs (my first ever in a race). I
even stopped at a couple med tents and had the massage my calf. It
didn't help though.
After a couple hours of walking and about 6 miles
I got to the bottom of Heart Break Hill. I decided to try and run up
and some how miraculously made it all the way to the top. I celebrated
with a few pictures with the Boston College kids then slowly made my way
to Boston. I found Doone with Larry and James a few hundred yards from
the finish line and stopped and chatted a bit. Canyon came by and drug
me off to the finish. Good thing or I might have been a lot slower. The
second half took me 2:50, 8 minutes less than it took me to run the
whole thing last year.
I did finish though, accomplished all my
goals, and got some good pictures along the way. I'll post some after I
get a CD made. I had a disposable camera.
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