Tis been awhile since I last posted. Maybe I posted something about the Virginia Ten Miler last Sept or as far back as the Boston Marathon 2001. hmmmm!?

I've had this thing with the bony part of the heel of my right foot which would hurt after a run, but not during. It started bothering me last year in preparation for BM2001. As the year progressed, I developed tendinitis in my left knee.

I thought I knew the root cause of the problem. It was obviously a muscle imbalance. I worked the weights and over developed my vastas laterales (sp?) which exacerbated the knee problem. I went to see a doctor who seemed to think my problem was caused by my street shoes. I went to see my massage therapist who seemed to find a tight muscle in a different location every time I would visit. He did give me some massage techniques that I could use to work the soleus, vastas laterales, and a couple of others in the lower calf.

With all the bodily problems, I wondered if I should even try to run Boston Marathon 2002. I did qualify with a decent time at St. George in 2000.

Training was virtually non-existent in December 2001. I picked up the mileage in earnest in January, but had some weak weeks where I felt sore and sorry for myself. I mostly trained aerobically working strictly on base yo - yo mileage - up one weak and down the next. It did not seem very promising to run a marathon in April. I picked up on the yo - yo mileage in February and April with greater mileage on the up and down sides.

I experienced a bit of a disaster in early March. I ran 12.6 miles and developed blisters because I thought I could make it through the run even though I had forgotten to bring socks. Yikes!!! Double Yikes. It really hurt. I cross trained which is something I do not like to do nor even admit that I have done it. I committed in the midst of my cross training to flight reservations for Boston. Ready or not here I come! I maxed out on weekly mileage in the third week of March at 68.3 miles. The prior week was 48.3 and following week was 38.4. Not consistent! Yeah, I know!

I did manage some pseudo speed/tempo sessions the week prior to Boston: 5 x 2/7 mile repeats; 4 x 1/2 mile repeats. Other than that, I enjoyed the mildly cool weather at Eagle Creek Park.

My one long run was 21.1 miles a little over three weeks out from Boston. I did manage 15 and 15.4 mile runs prior to my long run. As a result of all my quality training, I was lacking confidence and thought I might run any where from 3:30 (hopeful) to 3:45 (which seemed realistic).

My flight was to leave at 5:30 am last Sat. on US Express - Chautauqua. However, due to some computer glitches experienced at 10 pm on Fri, the flight was delayed until 9:45 am with an explanation at the computer system was warming up. I suppose the Boston Marathon could be considered a warmup prior to an ultra.

I made to Boston; however, I was late for a lunch encounter with Connie Chan and friends. I am so sorry. I had looked forward to the encounters since the running would not get me that excited.

Thanks to Robin Cain and Val Burgos and Connie Chan and Doug Dodds and Julia Kim for organizing, tolerating, transporting, pretending to be interested, etc. I really enjoyed meeting the various Boston deads and those from places in and outside the US. The run from Cambridge Common was a cool event. I remember Connie leading the way and Susan blocking traffic as we crossed streets. Then I think it was Carey (sp?) and some others leading the way as I vaguely recall them discussing ultras.

I was staying at the Chandler Inn which is located in the South End (near the Back Bay Station). It was relatively close to the finish as well as to the bus pickup for the drive to Hopkinton. I liked the area for its unique flavor which included a cool coffee shop. I finally found one that was not a Dunkin Donuts. I had thought that the people of Boston were tasteless when it came to coffee. I found that it took more work to discover the hidden gems (coffee shops buried in the various neighborhoods).

I met up with another runner who was from Orlando, Florida on the ride to Hopkinton. It was his first, my second. You always remember your first. We non-verbally elected to run together for as much of the race together, but might split at any time.

I decided not to drink coffee that morning (avoidance of a diuretic though I craved a cup) and decided I would pound down the water during the race to avoid what I thought might be a warm, even hot and humid race. It was not hot, at least not early on. It was overcast and foggy; cool almost shivering on the walk from the buses to the starting corrals. Thank goodness for crowded corrals where I could be protected from the cooler environment.

It took 4:17 from the starting gun till I crossed the starting line. I ran the following 5k splits: 23:53, 23:41, 23:35, 24:04, 23:35, 24:41, 24:18, and 23:14 (40k). I finished with a gun time of 3:24:56 and a chip time of 3:20:39.

However, it was not until I ran approximately 15k (probably at the ten mile mark) that I contemplated the possibility of running a qualifier for BM2003. I knew I would lose some miles to the Newton hills, but thought I might be able to hold on despite my poor training.

In addition to pounding down the water and gatorade (frequently, two cups per stop), I took in gu and miles 5 and 11 as well as power gel at 17. I think it helped keep the blood sugar level steady. The Wellesley girls were amazing as usual. Like last year, I high fived all the way (whatever the distance) and was temporarily enamored/ in love with everyone my eyes lightly touched on. Out of sight, out of mind; but it was wonderful while it lasted.

I remember Joe Bator describing the downhill [past heart break] as Julia Kim guided me on another mini tour of Boston. I felt alive on that downhill. I did not run it fast, but ran it steady and felt relaxed. I felt like I could even pick up the pace. I did pick it up. My mile splits were 7:33, 7:30, 7:27, 7:27, 7:07 and 1:24 for the last 0.2 miles. I was uncertain as to what my chip time might be. I felt like I was on the bubble at mile 25 so I had to push with almost everything I had. I wonder if I could have pushed harder past the pain threshold!!!! Selah! I was passing people. It was as if they were standing around waiting for something to happen. I was ducking in and out around people as I pushed hard to the finish.

I was happy to finish, but wanted to wait to see familiar faces crossing behind. I remember passing Jerry, the DRS floridian and Dennis and a friend of mine from Indianapolis, but did not see others that I thought I might see.

I legs and body are tired. I spent most of yesterday walking from the Chandler Inn to the Prudential Bldg (wanted to see Boston from up on high) to the Boston Common to the Tea Party Ship (closed for some reason) to Rowe Wharf to Faneuil (sp?) Hall to the Aquarium train station then
back to Back Bay station.

I really enjoyed my trip except for the start.

I wonder what might I had done had I been injury free and fully trained assuming there is such a thing as fully trained - physically maybe!?. . .mentally as well?

My next pseudo race is the Indy Mini Marathon. I contemplate a future marathon in the Fall as I recuperate from injury and start looking for a house to move all my junk and running paraphernalia (sp?).


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