Each Day Is a Gift

Did a little "homework" beforehand to avoid the snaffu we had the last couple years.  In 2009 we went to Sacrament at Boston 3rd Ward which is a Haitian/Creole Ward...even after talking to the bishop who assured us that it was English. 

In 2010 we went to the Cambridge 1st Ward in a warehouse.  Turned out it was their Stake Conference.  We found an unlock door and went inside to hold our own Sunday Meeting.  Larry conducted the meeting.  Doone played the piano.  Rhett and I bore our testimonies.  It was very memorable.

In 2011 we (Lowell, Terry, Larry and I) went to the Blessing of the athletes at the Old South Church which.  It happened to be Palm Sunday, a really neat Sunday service.  Afterwards we went to the Cambridge 1st Ward with Marcie, Lark, Rhett, Doone, Kathie, James, JoseJ.  The warehouse was no longer the meeting place.  Instead they have built a nice Stake Center.

This year I found out that the Cambridge Wards were again having Stake Conference and the Boston 1st Ward (English speaking) holds Sacrament Mtg at 9am.  It happened to be their Fast & Testimony Mtg.  An African American sister prayed for the safety and God's help for the marathoners on.  A marathoner bore her testimony of God knows us individually.  She was struggling with enough money to pay for the change of flights; having booked them without realizing the marathon started later than she had thought.  God was very much aware of her plight when unexpectedly she received an envelope with a note: "In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me" and $700 cash. 

So glad I went to Sacrament Mtg. today!

After church, we went to Chinatown to yum cha.  While Eric went sightseeing, I checked my emails and received the following alerts from BAA :

Update to Entrants in Tomorrow's Boston Marathon®

Sunday, April 15, 2012 as of 4:30 p.m.

Running any marathon involves risks

• The weather conditions that we will be seeing on Monday, April 16 will involve even more risk.  It will involve an increased element of risk to all participants due to the heat.  Only the fittest runners should consider participating.
• We have put in place a broad array of services and support for our marathon participants, but the risks that will be presented on April 16 will be higher than normal.
• Therefore, in cooperation with the Boston Marathon's Medical Team, it is our recommendation that anyone entered in the marathon who has not met the qualifying standards for their age and gender strongly consider not running, and that they strongly consider deferring until next year.
• Another essential factor to take into consideration is whether you have ever run a full marathon in weather conditions involving hot temperatures-and that can mean temperatures even lower than those that may be present on Monday.  Do NOT assume that any experience you have in running a cooler marathon will be a reliable guide in making the decision in whether to participate or defer.  You must factor in the heat.
• Everyone who does choose to participate should strongly consider running significantly more slowly that they normally would plan to run a marathon.  We have extended the opening of our finish line in support of this recommendation.
• For the overwhelming majority of those who have entered to participate in the 2012 Boston Marathon, you should adopt the attitude that THIS IS NOT A RACE. It is an experience.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY-everyone needs to take responsibility for their own safety.  Ultimately this is an individual sport in which individuals must take responsibility for themselves.

Boston Athletic Association 

Debated whether to defer.  Eric asked me how I felt.  I told him there's a 30% chance that of DNF with my triple threats: 1) still recovering from a 9 weeks old metatarsal stress fracture, decreased in fitness;  2) am dealing with asthma and breathing issue;  3) THE HEAT ~ historically I don't do well in warm weather, muscle cramping being the main enemy.  

After much debate; I prayed about it and felt that I would be okay.  Since I already ran a BQ with 12 min cushion, a deferment isn't much of an incentive.  I will just need to be smart and take it super easy! :)

The pre-race pasta party.  

 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! :)

Whale watching cruise.

Touring of the State House.  Do you know what's under the Gold Dome?

Walked all over Beacon Hills.

Walked to Chinatown for dim sum.  Spent the morning and part of afternoon shopping and revisiting the finish line at Copley Square.  GOOD BYE BOSTON till next year! :)

The best part of going on a trip is NO making beds and NO cooking! :) 

The view from our hotel room's balcony! 

The finish line 2 days later, they were still taking down the scaffolding! AWESOME!

The "T" is the best way to get around.  $15 gets you a 7 days pass w/ unlimited rides!

Got home at 10:30 (12:30 eastern time) last night.  SO TIRED!  But woke up at 4am with congestion and post nasal drip and coughing fits.  Dang!  The UT allergies hit me with a vengeance!  

Waited till 7am to text my running girl friends.  Karen needed to run 12.  Carolyn and Wendy are resting for their long run tomorrow.  So I joined Karen for 7.25.  Just a little tight in the quads which loosened up nicely after couple miles.  Breathing is still hard though.  Sigh!  I miss the sea level air.  Cool cloudy morning, wore capri, l/s and jacket!  

My bio-clock is still set at eastern time...woke up at 4am.  Allergy still bugs.  Took Symbicort.  Drove to the JRP to run 8 with Wendy and Carolyn.  They needed 15+.  The two black toe nail toes were bugging a bit otherwise no soreness to speak of.  The breathing is still labored especially on the uphill...lots of spitting sputum and snot rockets...sorry folks!  I gained 5 lbs...hopefully it's all fluid and not from the seafood feasting! :)  

Hubby drove us to the finish of the SLC Half/Full Marathon.  We drove around the blocks between 300W - South Temple - Main - 500 South twice trying to get to North Temple to park at the Event Parking.  It was very frustrating with the road closures, detours and congested traffic.  While idling on South Temple, saw the male leaders of the Half Marathon coming in.  Hubby finally took my advice to go back to the Freeway and take the 600N Exit to access the parking lot from the northwest.  We had wasted 30 min precious time driving around downtown.  Note to the new SLC race organizers:  put in plain words where to park and the directions to get to the Event Parking.  I think a few runners thought the finish was at the Gateway.  I had studied the maps carefully and read where the road closures were...but they were clear as mud.

After parking, I quickly called Lowell who was enroute from Pocatello and was actually parked at the Gateway...he thought that was the finish.  Anyhow, made a mad dash to the pop and bee-lined to the barricade 100 yards from the finish.  It was so crowded, I thought I saw RAD cruised to the finish!  Then I saw Becky, actually she spotted me first, looking so speedy and smooth gliding to the finish.  The crowd was so quiet.  I can't believe the huge difference between SLC and Boston.  I started to cheer loudly, clapped and worked the spectators.  Lowell called and said he found RAD and were trying to locate me.  In the process of meeting up with them, we barely missed Toby coming in.  Both RAD and Toby ran impressive PRs this morning!  SO SO SO HAPPY and PROUD of them.

We stayed on to cheer the Marathon Champion, Fritz, blazing effortlessly to a 2:25.  The buzz among the spectator and volunteers was that bib#3 guy ran Boston on Monday.  I got so excited when I saw that he was a fellow FRBer.  I SO SO SO wanted to watch allie but only could stay for the top 3 finisher before having to drive to 3300 South 500 East to meet Lowell's friend, Allyson H, who was running her first marathon as part of her training for an Ironman in June.  I had agreed to along with Lowell pace her the last 10K.  Her expected time was 4:15. 

We got to mile 19.6ish when the 4:00 hr pace group passed.  Allyson's husband rode up to us on his bike.  He did the bike tour earlier and rode from the hotel to find us.  We were pretty certain that we hadn't missed Allyson.  Got a little worried when the 4:15 pace group passed and no sign of Allyson.  We ran further south to the aid station and waited.  Finally Lowell spotted her and we joined in to run with her. 

She was slowing and could not take any more GU.  The sun was beating down and she was taking walk breaks.  She's a tall triathlete from Jackson Hole and I can tell it's getting too warm for her.  I carried her extra GUs.  Lowell ran ahead to the closest convenient store to purchase a huge cup of ice.  We doused her with water and gave her ice.  It's payback time from Boston.  I kept her going, talking to her.  Lowell's big lies were hillarious.  I put ice in her back and short pockets.  Her husband met us at the corner of 1300South and gave her a bottle of flat coke.  Lowell got a fresh cup of ice from 7-11 and we put the coke in the remainder cup of ice that I carried all the way to the finish.  Lowell took pictures of us.  We did jump shots for the cameramen at Liberty Park.  Once we got on State St. I told Allyson we will chick as many guys as possible and chicking Lowell does not count.  We chicked one guy in red when he was walking; then two young guys who were cramping up badly.  I shared with them the coke which Allyson had had enough of.  Allyson was such good sport she responded when we encouraged her to "stick it to the hill" to the top of State St.  It was a triumphant moment running under the Seegull Gate.  Running west on South Temple was exhilliarating, a nice gentle decline finish.  Very proud of her accomplishment.  She threw up into the storm drain after crossing the finish and kept apologizing.  What a trooper! 

We took some finisher photos, found Larry; then walked Allyson back to her hotel.  Lowell treated us to a nice brunch at the hotel.  It was a GREAT non-race race day! :)  One day I will run the SLC Marathon/Half Marathon.  My legs felt like they could've run the Half easily today...still not ready to race though!