Its all about the journey not the destination!OK that's what you are supposed to say when you come up short of your goals. Well it is. January 2012 194 pounds 29% bodyfat (I may have rounded down). And we started Insanity. April 2019 165 / 17 or so. In the beginning had I been asked Boston Marathon? Uh, no way. Now, a finisher.
Throughout the weekend a series of Runner's Seminars are conducted. Past winners, champions, legends ... From my notes...
'We run marathons to run this one.'
Ryan Hall Your greatest message to pass on is yoru greatest struggle', 'in the pain is where the lesson is'.
Dave McGilavarry, race director and 48 consectutive Boston Marathons. Follows the last runners, this year after triple bypass surgery.
DM 'Like all of you I just want to cross the finish line.'
DM 'I'm very fortunate to be one of the lucky ones able to run'.
DM 'I'm a race director, I help raise the self-esteem and self-confidence in people'.
DM 'The comeback is stronger than the set back'.
Authors Seminar
Amber Burfoot, 1968 winner, 'exercising makes me feel good.'
Gene Dykes, age group record holder, 'I guarantee you can run farther than you think you can.'
Jonathon Beverly, author, 'Joy comes when hig skill meets high challenge.'
Women with BAA background in Business Seminar
Joann Flaminio former BAA Chairman 'Be prepared to take advantage of opportunity when presented.'
JF 1) keep going 2) you must do what you think you cannot do 3) go for it (can't do worse than the men).
JF 'Face fear and don't let it get in the way.'
Kathrine Switzer, 1st female runner with bib number (261 - now retired). 'What was the problem? Jock wasn't the problem, he was a product of his time, the problem was there were no opportunities.'
KS 1) Be persistant, 2) show up 3) do anything it takes.
KS 'Trust you team (in you absence)', 'talent is everywhere, let it succeed.'
Dusty Rhodes (really), Expo organizing company owner, 1) it's not if you win or lose, it's about the W's 2) can they perform when less than 100% (when evaluating candidates) 3) teamwork.
Past Winners Seminar Jack Fultz 1976 winner and Greg Meyer 1983 winner.
GM 'When you find out you are good at something it draws you in.'JF 'I wanted to see how well I could do, how far I could go, and what I needed to do to get there.'
'Being comfortable with discomfort.'
'The conversation you are having with yourself.'
'Don't awfulize the pain.'
GM 'It's a hate run, it's all good.'GM 'If you want to get better at running, go run', 'not days and weeks but months and years' (also suggested yoga).
GM 'Manage the course, manage the emotions, manage the hills.'
I qualified for the 2019 race in October 2017. It's been a long 18 months from finish line to starting line. The last thing I envisioned myself doing was not finishing or walking across the finish line. I did run across the finish line - but not by much.
Keeping it in perspective completing the Boston Marathon is an achievement in itself. It was my tenth marathon, five of which were qualifiers, meaning better than the time standards set by the Boston Athletic Association to be eligible to gain entry into the race.
Weather at race start was 45 degrees at the end 60 degrees. The day started with heavy rain and we worked our way to the busses in ponchos. The gear drop off is at the Boston Commons/ There are scores of school busses transporting runners to the Athlete's Village at the High School in Hopkinton about a 45-60 minute ride, comprised of three large tents with runners strewn about and portapotties with very long lines (that moved reasonably quick). The announcer calls the waves and (red, white, blue and yellow) and the runners move towards the starting line. Throw away clothes and shoes are collected from the village through the roughly 1/2 mile walk to the start line. The wave of 8,000 funnels through the starting line which at 39 feet is most narrow of all the 'majors'. We are running on small town roads to begin; two lanes separated by a single line down the middle.
And I made a rookie mistake. The Saturday before race day I rode a BCETS ride 60 miles, 4000 feet of climbing AOK and the error was the 17 mile run on Sunday that I reinjured my right calf; and ongoing issue. I did not take another running step until the race day start. During the week I wrapped, taped, iced, compressed, massaged and whetever else I could do not minimize the pain. Race day morning I had five pieces of kinesiology tape on my calf and seven more on my legs. I was wearing two pairs of compression socks with the right one rolled over to provide maximum support.
In the back of mind I was thinking that if my calf gives out on the first step, would I be able to walk the course within the time limit. And it didn't give out. I was figuring it was just a matter of 'when'. Could I get far enough along the course to finish wherever it did? I carried two Hot Shot and Base Salt. I worked the Gatorade mout rinse and stayed hydrated as much as possible. I think I had the injury covered be it 'oscillation' or electrolyte based.
My pre-race time range was 8:00 miles to go 3:30 to 9:00 to go just under 4:00.
The first four miles are downhill and every runner is warned - don't go out too fast - you will pay for it later'.
Start in Hopkinton - elevation 450 feet
1 8:05
2 8:11
3 8:06
4 7.57
OK maybe I went out too fast.
Ashland - elevation 200 feet.
5 8:12
6 8:11
Framingham
7 8:11
8 8:21
9 8:22
Natick
10 8:31
11 8:42
12 8:42
13 8:29
Wellesley - the 'Scream Tunnel' - 100's of High Fives (no kisses).
I knew the day was not going as hoped as I watched my average pace slow.
I readjusted my goals from Age Group 55-59 Boston Qualifying time to AG 60-64 BQ
14 8:44
15 8:58
16 8:44
Newton - Fire Station (don't remember seeing it).
I adjusted my goals again 'sub 4:00'
17 9:30
18 9:53
19 10:00
20 11:02
Heartbreak Hill - I adjusted my goals again 'Run through Heart Break Hill'. 'Ran' it.
21 11:42
22 10:20
Brookline - I kept thinking the pain will stop If I walk - how long can I put off walking...
23 10:58
24 12:05
Citgo - walked - the walk of shame.
I walker along the side of the course between the white line separating the crowd barriers from the runners.
At first, my head was down, as a I processed the disappointment and someone shouted 'Get your head you accomplished an amazing thing!' And I did. I felt much better.
Most of the comments were quite encouraging. One yelled 'you did something i could never do!' I high fived lots during the next two miles and it was OK.
25 17:59
26 14:49
0.6 5:50 'Right on Hereford left on Boylston' is the iconic call of the last two, of five total, turns on the course. I wanted to run them, I ran the right on to Hereford, slowed to a walk, and ran the left on to Boylston to the finish line, which is much further down the road than one would hope.
Once crossing the finish line one moves quickly through the water, medal, and feed stations, and out to the family re-group area. The rain started while I was wlaking through the line and the wind picked up considerable. The timing was actually quite good; relatively nice weather for the race bracketed by rain.
We returned on to the T to Lechmere and went to Dunkin Donuts. I had my medal around my neck, a man asked if I did the marathon. Yes, I did. He said 'I tried once, didn't finish, never tried again'.
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