Had a great weekend: from the Encounter dinner to the finish of the race,

everything just fell into place. Supper in a nice location, plenty of food,

nice to get together. Red Sox won the Sunday game, (and almost swept the

series.) Drove over to the BAA pasta supper afterwards. Spoke with several

runners.

Race day I parked in Underground Common garage-$8.00 for the day. Hopped a

bus and made a new friend, person from Chicago who had nearly the same

qualifying time as I did. We camped out under the tent, taking turns

looking after each other's bag as one took pit stops, etc.

I moved back one corral, as I didn't think it would make much of a

difference. We were just round the corner on the side street. Several

people seemed to panic as they walked back from the start, and just hopped

the fence into our bracket. Where were the Conscience Police to enforce

this? Took over eight minutes to reach the Start. I knew right then that I

would not set a PR. But, I was determined to make the best of it. I ran

eights the whole way. It was hard to do better than that, especially in the

beginning. Most people in our group were running the same as us. Did low

8's in the beginning. High 8's later. Slowest was cresting Heart Break

hill in 8.58, which also was for my last mile too. Thought I was really

zooming along, but in retrospect I must have been slowing.

Finished 3.40.45 Chip and 3.47.57 by the clock. I did 3:35 to qualify.

Loved the crowds, and people along the way. I knew where several were

standing, and made an effort to acknowledge everyone. GO DEAD RUNNER!

Only glitch seemed to be the recovery of baggage from the busses. Thousands

of runners were funneled down rows of busses. We were packed so tight it

was like trying to move around in an elevator, with 50 other people. Found

my bus had 3-4 deep screaming outside the windows for the workers inside to

retrieve their bags. Workers were overwhelmed! I held my number up, and

was lucky enough to have him find it (on top?) and hand it out over the

crowd to me. Felt guilty that I was only "in Line" a few moments. Still

took another 5 minutes to get back down the street again. I know it they

must have been overwrought when thousands descend on your location like the

ancient plagues of locust. But aside from that, every thing else was fine.

Liz missed my finish line run, but said the big screen TV and speakers kept

her informed. She was in constant contact with her boyfriend who tracked my

progress thru the chip time on his work computer, and called her with each

update. They had predicted my exact finish time, which I beat by 30

seconds, but still she missed seeing me.

Legs were a little sore, and I think it was from the lack of fluids. I

drank two cups at most water stops, and felt I was too hydrated and bloated

during the race, but of course, I probably could have had more. Drank most

of the night in replenishment, and didn't have to use the bathroom once.

They are a little sore this AM, but are manageable, and I'm getting around

OK.

This was truly a wonderful time, though I probably won't ever qualify again,

It was memorable. I'm so glad I did it!!!

Rich Paulsen #9606

Woburn, MA

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