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Boston Marathon

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)
 

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)

May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)

May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110

June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)

 

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.

 

Personal:

I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!!  :)  :)  :)

Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015.  Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis.  The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS).  It is not curable.  After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS.  It is a miracle!!! 

Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!

 

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles: 311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles: 313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles: 225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles: 44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles: 60.91
Race: Boston Marathon (26.2 Miles) 05:02:22
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
26.600.000.000.0026.60

 Nothing but VERY "warm" memories!!! :) :) :)

Shouldn't classify this as a race report.  I did NOT race today.  The heat simply gave me a good reason to have a party considering my current lack of fitness.  When BAA offered to keep the course open for an extra hour...I thought to myself: "YAY, instead of 6 hours, I get to have 7 hours to party! Silly me! :)  Met everyone (TomSlick, Hillbillyrunner, AndyB, Lark, Jeff, Mindy and Teena) down at the hotel lobby at 6am to walk couple blocks to Boston Common for our bus ride to Hopkinton.  Marcie deferred so she could run a PR at SLC, smart choice!  The mood on the bus was very subdued compared to past years.  

Got to the athlete village with over 2 hours to kill.  Found a shady patch of grass to set out our air mattresses.   It was so warm that I had zero appetite, forced down a banana, bagel and gatorade.  Wished AndyB and Jeff luck as they headed to their Wave 1 start; soon followed by Teena, Slick and Ronnie to their Wave 2 start.  Mindy, Lark and I were in Wave 3.  Lost Lark on the way to the drop bag buses.  Called Lowell and met him and his niece, Karen by the "It All Starts Here Sign" where we posted for more pictures.  Felt bummed that I did not connect with Steam8.  Mindy and I made one more trip to the pop...plenty to choose from.  The athlete village was suddenly deserted, they turned off the music.  Lost Mindy on our long march to the corrals.  

Of the 5 Bostons I've run, this was by far the farthest back we started.  Lowell, Karen and I didn't even bother to enter the corrals we were assigned, we simply followed the throng of charity walkers.  Couldn't believe we were still walking after crossing the start where we waved to the camera.  It was so crowded that running was futile.  We walked, jogged, goofed off, made new friends, told stories, sang, took insane amount of pictures for 17 miles.  Saw a Utah Valley Marathon ad. poster/sign so we ran back and found a spectator to take a picture of us standing beneath it.  Took pix under the TJ Diner sign in honor of TJ who had a pacemaker put in 5 days after running Boston last year.  Took pix at every memorable or interesting locations.  Wish I knew how to post pix from my cell here.  Saw lots of hamburger clad runners, one Robin Hood, one toothbrush, two tie-die warriors, 3 fairies,  a very cute spectator Santa.  We marched with the National Guards, danced with little kids, stopped at a backyard BBQ and was tempted to sample their food.

Cannot thank the spectators enough.  They offered us ICE, popsicles, cold water, apples, oranges, twizzlers, sprayed us with hose, water guns.  We marched with the National Guards.  High-fived so many hands that mine hurt a good hurt! :)  Lowell would pour water on me and Karen at every aid station.  I got a hold of a bottle of cold water and sneaked up on Lowell and doused him good.   Cannot remember the last time I had so much fun with a water fight which went on for a few miles! :)  Whenever we passed a runner/walker with a "in memory of...", we'd ask him/her to tell us their stories.  It was very inspiring. 

If I wasn't so short, I would've kissed the Wellsley girls on the foreheads!  I blew kisses to all the ones holding a "Kiss Me" sign and high-fived the rest.  Their energy was SO AWESOME!!!  Kept a close eye on Lowell to make sure no Wellsley girls geezer-napped him! :)  It was here that I lost him 2 years ago!  Karen was awesome in keeping track of us.  Her family has rented a car and would meet us on the left side of the road every so many miles.  We were running mostly on the right side of the road where there was more shade; but would run over on the left side whenever we got words that her family would be there soon.  We stopped and chatted with her family and reapplied sunscreen and of course took pictures.  We missed them one time and ran back to find them! 

I got separated from Lowell and Karen at the mile 17ish PowerBar energy gels station.  I ate my 3rd energy gel there and went to the left side of the road in search of water.  I should mention that because we were running WAY BACK of the pack, some of the aid stations had run out of cups.  But it was not a problem as the locals had plenty water to offer.  I made sure that I would drink gatorade at all the even number miles and water at the odd number ones.  Somehow in the chaos of searching for water, I lost my running buddies.  I walked back to the energy gel station calling out their names.  Other runners thought I was a nutcase when I asked if they'd seen "Idaho Sam" (that is what's written on the front of Lowell's shirt).  I pulled out my cell phone and called Lowell and left a message that I would be walking all the Newton Hills so he could catch up if they were behind me; otherwise I would keep a steady pace and hopefully catch up to them if they were ahead. 

NO ONE was running on the Newton Hills especially on Heartbreak.  I felt that I had the energy to run it but it was pointless so I just visited with my fellow walkers.  For some reason, the hills did not feel as long.  I really enjoyed the Korean drum music.  There were some scary sights from the Red Cross tents where many had succumbed to the heat.  I decided that after cresting Heartbreak I would run the rest of the miles for as long as my legs and lungs would let me.  The energy gel must've kicked in...I found myself running with ease and being carried along by the energetic and loud Boston College crowd.   I did not walk anymore, only slowed enough to grab fluids at the aid stations.  I heard so many people yelling: "Look at her GO!" as I passed a sea of walkers for 5+ miles.  The silly grin on my face from mile 1 stayed with me all the way to Boylston where it turned into a HUGE smile as I spotted my hubby by the Prudential Mall.  I found out later that he stood worrying for 2 hours when the AT&T alert quit coming after the half.  He thought I got hurt and DNF.  He called me but of course I did not hear my phone...how could I with the LOUD crowd! My sweet sweet hubby was there early standing by the guard rail on Boylston.  He watched the elites and winner ran by and cheered and waited patiently and looked for me every time a medic cart went by.  I love him so much! :)

This was my slowest marathon ever; yet one of my funnest.  My first Boston in 2008 was my fastest marathon.  Both times I had a strong finish and felt awesome afterwards.  I ran (err jogged) a 2:32:33 first half and finished with a negative split.  As a side note, my Garmin registered 26.6 miles, the longest Boston distance yet!  I am SO GRATEFUL that I had no asthma issue and was able to finish in one piece.

After the race, we went to Durgin Park for our post-race celebration dinner.  My son, Eric worked from 8am 'till 7pm in the finish line med tent.  He said it was like a MASH unit.  He started countless IVs, treated and bandaged numerous blistered feet.  "Bus-load" of runners were treated with heat-related problems, vomiting, cramping, fainting.  He earned his volunteer jacket.  So proud of him!  I saw many runners collapsed while walking to the bag drop buses! 

It was amazing that out of the thousands of spectators, I would run into Lowell's wife and daughter-in-law when I was walking back to my hotel.

 

Post race dinner. L ro R ~ Marcie, Larry, Smooth, Eric, Lloyd, Mindy, Jeff.

Many thanks and congratulations to my fellow bloggers and friends who braved the heat to race, run and offer support on this historical 116th Boston! :)

Elixir (ski Patrol) Miles: 26.60
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Teena Marie on Sat, Apr 21, 2012 at 23:51:01 from 68.107.222.43

I think Eric was the true hero for the day! An 11 hour shift in that heat! WOW!!!! Seriously, that is beyond compassion and extremely cool. You have raised the most amazing kids!!!! :)

Sounds like you had fun today at the SL races as well. :)

LOVE the pics!

Congrats on another Boston, sweet SSF!!! :)

Luvs! :)

From Smooth on Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 00:14:54 from 174.27.212.157

Hi there SSF! Check out the pictures I posted on last week pre-Boston fun. There's some good ones of you...absolutely beautiful you! :)

Yes, had lots of fun cheering and pacing Lowell's friend this morning at SLC races!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL

From flatlander on Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 07:21:50 from 65.73.178.138

Great report, loved the Wellesly account. You did this one the right way, and honestly, your time is not bad at all. Most people were 45 minutes to an hour off their PRs just like you, but you barely broke a sweat. See you there next year!

From Nancy on Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 07:59:31 from 76.23.21.118

Way to have such a fun time. I really enjoyed reading your race report.

From Rhett on Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 19:21:36 from 74.33.2.207

Smooth, it sounds like you had a great week in Boston, one that you will remember with fondness. I loved seeing all the pictures. It makes me want to go back. I'm so glad you decided to do the race and just have a blast along the way. It is one of the many fun ways to do Boston.

From Rachelle on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 09:15:38 from 159.212.71.25

I don't know how I missed your report! It sounds like you had such an amazing race and more importantly a fabulous vacation with friends and family. I just love your attitude and love that you ran the entire race with a big smile on your face. :):) You are the best!

From Chad on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 09:54:19 from 168.177.153.27

Ohh wow. What a fun race. I'm so glad you had a wonderful experience. I knew you would recover from your injury and be ready for this. Congratulations, you're an inspiration to us all.

From Smooth on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 12:27:06 from 174.27.212.157

Flat ~ THANKS! Aren't you glad you sat out this one? See you next year. Hopefully the weather will be nice and you can go for that PR!!!

Nancy ~ It was fun! I can't get enough of Boston!

Rhett ~ Larry and I talked about the times we spent with you and Doone at Boston. We missed you terribly. I was very lucky that Lowell would run it with me. Definitely did not want to slog this Boston alone. Lowell and Karen and the spectators made this SO FUN! I remember how you took lots of pictures the year that you ran with a torn PF. Your "airplane pix" came in my thoughts as I turned onto Boylston at the top of Hereford! I can't wait to see you at Boston...will it be next year?

Rachelle ~ I need to go comment on your report. I have read it and your other blog. You are an amazing runner and a wonderful wonderful girl. I told my hubby about you. We are so impressed by you and your zest for life! :)

Chad ~ thanks! someone once said that a race is like a gift. You never know what you're going to get and yet grateful for what's given you. I am indeed grateful that this Boston turned out to be one of the most memorable one!

From Tom Slick on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 12:42:39 from 168.179.157.58

I sure loved sharing my time at Boston with you and yours. Congrats on a well done Boston.

From Bec on Thu, May 03, 2012 at 09:36:56 from 68.206.133.141

I FINALLY read your Boston report. I am so happy that you had such a great time. That is so cook that Eric got to work in the med tent. I am just happy that I didn't meet up with his mom in the med tent. Good job staying sane in that situation. :)

From MaryMary on Thu, May 03, 2012 at 18:57:27 from 99.185.60.234

Great race report and attitude! I also like PW=Power Woman!

From Smooth on Thu, May 03, 2012 at 22:13:49 from 174.27.212.157

Slick ~ the feeling is mutual! :) Are you going to run Boston next year? Hope so!

Bec ~ Every time we went to Mike's Bakery at Boston, I thought of you and your family the year you ran Boston and we met up afterward to do the Freedom Trail.

This year because of the heat, the med tent was super super busy. They treated over 2100 runners...so Eric worked super hard. I'm glad I didn't meet him in the med tent too! :) I really had fun!

MaryMary ~ I read Steam8's report and was so happy to hear that she had a GREAT time with you and the sisters at Boston. You ran a GREAT race despite that record heat!

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