Hello All,
Only 2 1/2 weeks late...but here it is. Right after getting back from
Boston on Tuesday (22nd), I left with my family for a camping trip (took
our travel trailer). Came back home Sunday and started my new position the
next day. Life has become even more busy....
Short version of the marathon...Had a wonderful time and ran an easy
marathon finishing in 4:00:02.
Longer version... Arrived in Boston Saturday morning with my sister in law
Felicia. We took a taxi to the Beacon Plaza in Brookline. Now, on first
impression, I was a little nervous. This is an older inn and had a musty
smell in the lobby. But, we found our room met all of our needs except for
a plug in the bathroom. It had a window A/C which I ran for fresh air
constantly. It was very quiet, located right on the marathon course (about
mile 24) and across from the "T".
After getting settled, we headed to the expo. Wow!!!! It was the biggest
expo I've seen. But, the crowd was too much for me. We got what we needed
to get there and left. The wall with the runner's names was pretty neat.
I ran into some friends from Columbus.
The Saturday night encounter was very nice. Thanks Robin for arranging
everything!! We met the Horvath's, the Holley's, a couple from Columbus on
the Penguin list (but I can't remember their names), Connie, Julia, Joe,
Nangel and others. It was great to meet everyone!! I think Felicia enjoyed
it also!
Sunday morning, thanks to fellow Deads assistance, we made it to St.
Ignatius on Boston College campus for Easter mass. It was beautiful. From
there, we traveled by the "T" of course and by foot to the Breakfast
brunch. Yum, yum. We were a little late, but still found lots of good
food!! We met more Dead Runners. I got to meet Terry Wataabee and her
son, Mike Sheldon, Jim Adams and others. Thanks Julia and Joe for the
great Brunch.
We relaxed the rest of Sunday afternoon and then headed down to the pasta
dinner area and walked around the Fenweil (?sp)Hall area. I bought a
massager at Brookstone (my shoulders were hurting from carrying my bags at
the airport and a backpack on Saturday). We met a friend, Tom, from
Columbus for the pasta dinner. The line was very long, but we had a great
time talking and laughing all the way from the line and through dinner.
Sunday morning, I met a friend, Denise, from Columbus at the bus loading
area and we rode the bus over to Hopkinton. We had a nice time and waiting
for the marathon start really went fast. We found another friend from
Cleveland and waited inside the tent until the start.
We started in the 14th corral, so it took about 11 minutes to cross the
start line. Denise and I ran together for the first 14 miles and then I
went on as she wanted me to go ahead. There was so much going on around us
and so many people that there was always something to watch. I ran an easy
pace, but didn't feel that the first 16 miles were all down hill as some
had told us. The Wellseley college area was super. It was just amazing to
see so many crowds and people around you for the entire marathon. I ran
into a Dead (was it Chad Brooks) for a short time around Heartbreak hill.
That was my slowest mile, but I didn't think the hill was terrible.
At about mile 23 I realized if I sped up a little I could get in under 4
hours, so I tried. It is amazing how I felt pretty good even at that
point. But, I was running a slower pace for me. I high fived Felicia in
front of the Beacon Inn and kept on going. At this point, it was hard to
pass people as many were walking or slowing down. I missed the 4 hour mark
by 2 seconds--oh well. I did hear someone yell Dead Runner close to the
end, but I couldn't turn fast enough to see who it was.
My split times were 8:47, 8:52,9:01, 8:54, 8:50, 9:05, 8:49, 9:04, 9:03,
8:57, 18:18, 9:05, 9:09, 9:19, 8:58, 9:26, 9:45, 9:24, 9:39, 10:19, 9:01,
9:22, 9:25, 9:12 8:23; 1:45.
It was an awesome finish area. We went out to eat at an Italian restaurant
close by which was excellent. Someone grabbed me by surprise and it was
Connie Chan and Mike Sheldon.
We flew back home early Tuesday morning. It was a great time! Thanks to
everyone who helped us navigate our way through Boston. What a beautiful
city!
Take care!
Jennifer Browning
Columbus, OH