Boston Marathon Recap

Well, now I understand what all the hub-bub is about. The Boston Marathon = an absolute blast (usually—when you’re not hill-climbing-- during the actual run itself, but definitely during the pre and post-race festivities). Crowd support (it seemed the streets were lined with high-fiving toddlers and grannies alike the entire 26.2 miles) was unparalleled, the aid stations were plentiful and well-stocked, and the course was challenging, yet faster-than-expected. Throw in a pinch of near-perfect weather and a speck of general race day giddiness and I’m not sure I could have dreamt up a much better scenario.

Now to the particulars, as they pertain to me; below are the mile splits I took during the course of the race. Due to my inability to accurately stop my watch for each split, these should be taken with a grain of salt (i.e. add or subtract a second or two here and there, though added together they do equal my official time).

Mile 1: 6:23
Mile 2: 6:11
Mile 3: 6:10
Mile 4: 6:13
Mile 5: 6:28
Mile 6: 6:20
Mile 7: 6:20
Mile 8: 6:32
Mile 9: 6:33
Mile 10: 6:41
Mile 11: 6:39
Mile 12: 6:28
Mile 13: 6:31
Mile 14: 6:36
Mile 15: 6:50
Miles 16-18: 20:28 (this averages out to 6:49 pace)
Mile 19: 6:50
Mile 20: 7:10
Mile 21: 7:27 (this is the mile that features Heartbreak Hill)
Mile 22: 6:55
Mile 23: 7:12
Mile 24: 6:44
Mile 25: 6:59
Mile 26 (+ 0.2-mile): 8:04

Total: 2:54:44 (average pace = 6:40)



And here’s how I did on my goals:

1.) HAVE FUN. It took a lot of guts—miles, time, energy, money, etc.—to get here, so just toeing the line should be smile-inducing in itself - CHECK
2.) Finish strong—the wall’s going to be there eventually, so find a way to get over, around or through it as quickly as possible - CHECK
3.) I’m seeded #1890, which means I’m supposedly slower than 1,889 people. Try and finish in the top 1,500 – CHECK (I finished as #787 overall)
4.) Keep your sub-3:00:00 streak intact—a tall, hilly order, but your legs haven’t endured all of those hump-bridge sprints for nothing – CHECK, though I feel a few more hump-bridge sprints may have been in order
5.) Set a new marathon PR (Personal Record)—that means under 2:53:40. Not realistic, but neither was my running marathons a little over a year ago – CLOSE (56 second off)

A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to everyone that Buzz’ed, texted, and emailed their well-wishes/congrats, with an added “I couldn’t have done it without you” to Stink Bottom, Little Tip, Charles River and Jeremy for their unconditional support throughout.

And now, on to the pictures (click on any you'd like to enlarge):


Ryan Hall came before me...


...as did Meb...


...and eventual women's winner Erkesso


Keeping up "I'm having a good time" appearances


Am I out of camera range yet? Smiling uses up too much energy....


Brunch: Gatorade, gel and a finisher's medal

Next up: The Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie, a 50-miler on 6/12. More on that (my thoughts on training, mileage requirements, etc.) in short order.

List Day

It appears this will be a post comprised almost entirely of lists. So, without further ado:

Well, only four more days until B-Day. Flying out nice and early tomorrow, with what seems like a million things to do (dog depositing, one last run, packing, etc.) in between now and then. But they’ll get done, likely due to the extra bit of pep in my step.

And speaking of my additional vim and vigor, I feel it’s important (in any race) to stay positive before, during, AND after said race. And the best way I’ve found to do so, being the spirited sort I am, is to set various goals for a race, so that I have both something to shoot for (appeasing my competitive side), while at the same time insuring that I can be happy/proud of my result. My goals for the Boston Marathon (in order of increasing difficulty):

1.) HAVE FUN. It took a lot of guts—miles, time, energy, money, etc.—to get here, so just toeing the line should be smile-inducing in itself
2.) Finish strong—the wall’s going to be there eventually, so find a way to get over, around or through it as quickly as possible
3.) I’m seeded #1890, which means I’m supposedly slower than 1,889 people. Try and finish in the top 1,500
4.) Keep your sub-3:00:00 streak intact—a tall, hilly order, but your legs haven’t endured all of those hump-bridge sprints for nothing
5.) Set a new marathon PR (Personal Record)—that means under 2:53:40. Not realistic, but neither was my running marathons a little over a year ago

Despite the weather (supposedly rainy every day, with race day temps of 55/40), I plan to make the most of my trip to Boston and do the following whilst there (you didn’t think I was only going up to Mass. To run, did you?!):

1.) Tour of the Sam Adams Brewery (4/17)
2.) 7:10 PM EST Red Sox vs. Rays game (4/17)
3.) Visitation of Mike’s Bakery
4.) General strolling about the city (Boston Common, etc.), with a likely focus on eateries

Today’s my last day of running (having only put in 11.84 miles since Monday), prior to Monday’s 26.2—just a few easy miles, to limber up the legs (and mind). Then it’s rest, rest, rest (of the legs, not the mind).

And to finish up this list-related email, here’s a schedule of the miles I’ll be putting in leading up to my next race (and first 50-miler), The Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie (click to enlarge):



On that note, I'll leave you with an ever-so-appropriate song, which just so happens to be a new addition to my training soundtrack:

Deliciously Disjointed

I plan for this blog to be very disjointed. You have been forewarned.

A week from today, as I write this, I’ll be running the Boston Marathon. I’ve been pretty relaxed about the whole thing (I keep telling myself “you’ve got some important training in between now and then” and “there’s so much still to do—work, packing, etc.--in between now and then”), but with only a week to go, am finding it progressively harder to remain so. BOSTON OR BUST!

And in case you didn’t believe my tale of increased excitement, no one in an unexcited state would write-up a meal plan, through Friday morning, for the week (click on the image below to expand it):



Let it be known that I’m fairly certain I will “ruin” all this healthy eating once I’m left to my own devices in the big city, but hey...a few days are better than nothing!

My pup Calli suffered an occurrence of what they call “old dog” vestibular disease (which would be like a severe inner ear infection in humans—up is down, left is right…and stairs are level with the rest of the floor) on Friday evening. I’ll spare you the gory details (bloody walls, gator-rolling and crazy, bugged-out, strafing eyes), but suffice to say, I thought I’d be running Boston in remembrance of her. But after a 48-hour stay at the emergency vet, I was able to take my still-wobbly pup home. She’s a very bruised, seemingly very drunk 9-year old dog…but she’s my very bruised, seemingly very drunk 9-year old dog. And Boston will be run in honor, not remembrance, of her—Calli didn’t give up, and neither will I!

Miles tally since last we “spoke”:

Monday: 5.05 miles in 37:28 (7:25 pace)
Tuesday: 4.62 miles in 31:32. 1.55-mile warm-up in 11:57 and a 1.71-mile cool-down in 13:22, with 8 x hill (0.17-mile), including 3 downhill, in between. My hill splits were: #1--0:53, #2--0:51, #3--0:41--downhill), #4--0:49, #5--0:42 (downhill), $6--0:48, #7--0:41 (downhill), #8--0:48.
Wednesday: 5.01 miles in 35:28 (7:05 pace)
Thursday: 6.1-mile tempo run in 44:18 (7:16 pace)
Friday: REST
Saturday: 5.9 miles total. Ran a 0.95-mile warm-up (7:48) and cool-down (7:33) with 4 miles at race pace (6:34 per) in between
Sunday: 7 mile run (48:31; 6:56 pace) + 3 mile fast bike ride

Weekly Total: 33.68 miles

Lastly, I submitted my entry into my first-ever Ultra Marathon last Friday--The Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie (http://www.theboogieraces.com/BOOGIEINFOPAGE.html). Both the regular (26.2 miles) and ultra (50 miles, in this case) varietals are offered on this hilly stretch of road, and I’ll be participating in the latter. Join me on Saturday, June 12 at 6:00 PM EST in Ellerbe, NC (just over 4 hours away from Savannah) if you’re interested. More about this race in the coming weeks.



(I’ll get a post-sickness picture posted yet this week).

Twenty-thousand, One Hundred Sixty Minutes

Two weeks. Fourteen days. Three hundred thirty-six hours. I won’t go as far as minutes, because this has already become annoying enough. Anywho, no matter which time breakdown you select, that’s how long I have left until race day. Boston Marathon race day, that is.

Thursday, March 25: 8.1 miles in 1:00:00 (7:24 pace)
Friday, March 26: 5.25 miles in 32:03 (ran a 0.75-mile warm-up in 6:20 and a 0.5-mile cool-down in 4:24, with 8 x 800 in between. My splits were: #1--2:43, #2--2:39, #3--2:37, #4--2:40, #5--2:41, #6--2:43, #7--2:41, #8--2:36.
Saturday, March 27: REST
Sunday, March 28: 20.29 miles in 2:34:47 (7:38 pace)
Monday, March 29: REST
Tuesday, March 30: 6.9 miles in 48:13 (ran a 0.95-mile warm-up in 7:42 and a 0.95-mile cool-down in 7:40, with 5 miles at pace--32:51; 6:34 pace).
Wednesday, March 31: 5.24 miles in 39:18 (7:30 pace)

March mileage total: 156.29 miles (and just over 19-hours of my life)

Thursday, April 1: 5.99 miles in 43:10 (7:12 pace)
Friday, April 2: REST
Saturday, April 3: 6.4 miles in 47:51 (7:29 pace)
Sunday, April 4: 14.11 miles in 1:44:12 (7:23 pace)

Random thoughts/observations:

1.) Bowling with your 91-year-old grandmother is quite a bit of fun. She probably would have enjoyed it more herself if she’d been able to pick up a few more spares.
2.) Super Mario Bros. for the Wii is starting to grow on me—I like how cutthroat it is.
3.) The weather couldn’t be much nicer—a bit hot for a long run, but definitely nice on the eyes.
4.) Opening Day (Baseball) is finally here. GO REDS (who are currently losing to the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-3)!
5.) HAPPY EASTER to you all, from Calli and me—I hope you got plenty of gut-busting candies, and she hopes you got plenty of sleep.