I'm way late with this, but here goes anyway. By now I'm sure that there are loads of folks who are worn out with Boston posts, but here is one more anyway. I only managed to get to two of the Dead events that weekend. The Sunday run and the Sunday Dinner. Both were great. Met lots of the faces that go with the posts. We had intended to get to the Bagel Brunch. But time got away from me after the run Sunday and we finally gave up on that.

I then proceeded to do everything that I could to wipe out any chance of a fast race. Trained hard the week before the marathon, the only taper was that forced by traveling on my normal long run day. Then stayed on my feet all day Sunday at the expo. But then I had never seen anything like that. I had a ball wandering around and checking out the booths. Then I did the same thing Monday morning, only this time just to stay warm. I thought I had brought a lot of clothes to the start. In reality I only had enough to stay warm when I was walking around. So I decided that was my game plan, walk around stay warm and try to spot some Deads. Only managed to stumble across Tonya Ellsworth and Doug Dodds. Then finally it was off to the start line corral. There I got a huge kick out of one girls sweatshirt. On the back was stenciled "Go U Beavers". I was laughing so hard I choked. Tried to explain that reaction to the runners close to me but only got some strange stares.

Finally the race starts. The first mile is horribly slow and crowded and is not helped by the fact that I had to find a bush for a pee stop. Get that over with and find Dennis Halpin running next to me. We talk for minute that get separated at the first water stop. Miles two through 17 are all the same. I'm running nice smooth 7:30's to 7:40's and just having a ball. At first I thought that was too fast, but they felt comfortable so I just went with it. Somewhere in here I met up with another Dead wearing a single -- Jerome ?

Finally we get to the hills. This is what I've been waiting for. My whole race strategy was to run the hills hard. And this I proceed to do. I thought I had picked up the pace here, but looking at splits later I only sped up slightly. But now I'm passing crowds of runners and feeling great. At 21 miles I realize I'm past Heartbreak hill and slightly disappointed. After hearing about this hill for so long I thought it had to be huge.

Now it just the final push to the finish. I'm still feeling great so I pick up the pace. The last 5 miles are all under 7:00 and again I'm passing many runners. The last couple of miles were just a rush. The crowds cheering and the sounds echoing and I'm still feeling great. Somewhere in here I pass another Dead runner in a singlet. I think his name was Kevin. I didn't stop (just shook hands and exchanged names) because I thought I had a chance at 3:20 and another Boston qualifier. Finally the finish 3:21 gun time, 3:19 chip time. And my second ever Boston qualifier.

So I had a great time at the race. Ran well in spite of lots of reasons I shouldn't have. A huge negative split 1:44 first half and 1:36 second. I have never run a really big race before and just thoroughly enjoyed the spectators, especially the little kids. And those final miles downtown are just to amazing to believe.

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