I
left my heart in Boston... and my brain in Ashland. SportsBrain that is. Along
with my gloves.,
Sporthills
and 1997 BAA Volunteer jacket. I left them at a Home and
Garden
center. The owner said he'd mail them to me.
This
is one of my favorite weekends of the year. So I try to make it last
by
arriving early, leaving late and craming as much in between as I can.
Went
to the expo with CalGalSal and Connie, then to Chinatown for lunch
Thanks
Sally. Then to the Sat nite encounter at Big City. Thanks Robin and
Janet.
Sunday morning was the Cambridge/Charles River run. Thanks
Doug.
Then off to the Bagel Brunch, thanks Val. Then I met some non
running
friends and went to the Celtics game and then to Union Oyster
House
for Easter dinner. After a good nights sleep it was "the" day.
This
one was special cause it was my fifth Boston and it was on my 52nd
birthday.
After a double hernia operation in March I felt lucky to be
toeing
the line , I have really big feet
;--) from corral #8 in Hopkinton. I
was
unusually
calm as I waited for the race to start. I watched 6 helicopters,
a
blimp and of course the two fighter planes that streak overhead to
remind
everyone that the race is about to start. The gun goes off and
4
minutes later I cross the start line to begin the journey to Boston. About
2
miles into the race I see 2 signs that crack me up. One says "T
Inbound"
and
the other says "Entering Brookline". Both about 20 miles too soon ;-)
The
early miles are easy, but I start to get warm so I shed a layer at
Beckongreen
Garden Center in Ashland. I chat with the owner for a minute
or
two and find out the Red Sox are up 2-1, cool. I take in all the sights, slap
some
hands and enjoy the music and mood of the spectators. I take my
Gu
and salt tablets every 5 miles. I also keep my running club mates
updated
with my progress over the cell phone. I pass a group of people
on
trampolines, bouncing to rap music and that makes me smile. I'm
averaging
about 8:10's and still feeling comfortable. I pass the Wellesley
College
women holding up my cell phone and they shriek even louder !!!
I
pass the half in 1:46 according to my watch. I'm trying to save some
energy
for the hills from mile 16 thru 21. I make the turn at the firestation in
Newton
and get goosebumps as the crowd cheers loudly, the music
blares
and I remember all the great runners who have made this turn
over
the history of this great race. The hills seem to come and go easily
this
year, unlike the last two years. I soon find myself passing Boston
College
and cruising thru Cleveland Circle. I'm still feeling strong and
pick
up the pace. I start passing lots of runners and this gives me a
boost.
I stop just before Kenmore Square to hug and kiss my daughter
and
son. They tell me I look great and they didn't expect to see me this
soon
and also that the Red Sox won 4-1. I get my picture taken with them
and
resume my journey. I still feel good and now I go thru Kenmore, take
the
turn onto Hereford St and up a slight incline and make the last turn
onto
Boyleston St. I see the finish line up ahead and go to the right side
knowing
some running club members are there. I stop again, get birthday
wishes,
hugs and kisses. Really energized now I streak (fully clothed)
to
the finish line. I run the gauntlet to get to the bus that has my warm dry
clothes
only to find out that its broken down in Chinatown :-( I wait about 45
minutes
for the bus to show and another 15 for them to hand me my stuff.
Then
I walk 2 miles to Cambridge, drive Connie and Sally home and
then
shower at my daughters apt before heading to an Italian restaurant
called
Vinnie Testas in Brookline for some carbo replenishment and
rehydrating. I was joined there by Connie, Sally, Sam from Worcester
and
the other birthday boy Dennis Halpin and Gay and about 10
members
of my local running club.
Although my body stopped racing on Boyleston St, my mind kept racing
well
into the night remembering all the great things that happened during
the
day. The Red Sox won, I ran a Boston
PR, it was my birthday and I
got
to celebrate it with family and friends. A day to remember.
Here
are my numbers for Boston 2001:
8083 Sheldon, Michael C. 52 M Westfield MA USA
Pace
Official Time ChipTime
0:08:30
3:42:46
3:37:34
Overall Gender Division
5969/15606 4864/9895 527/1845
Mike
Sheldon Recovering in Westfield MA