Woke from a deep sleep and squinted at the clock, a little past 8. I
was wide awake at 3 & then 4 but not now. Gordon & Julie are up already
and I could sleep for a few more hours but its time to move. Check the
weather online for the hundredth time, it hasn't changed, finally a nice
cool Patriot's day! and I just need to find my running watch and get a
cup of coffee and run that 3rd Boston marathon. Bagels & coffee &
cereal & gatorade in the car and on the way to Alewife station where
Dave & Meg Cushing (two young newlywed bandits) are waiting for us to
pick them up. We're all a little nervous, well except for Julie and
Gordon, as we finally wind our way down Ash Street until the road is
blocked off. We hop out of the car and walk, Julie heads home for those
living room seats at the Red Sox game. Its almost 11:30 and you can
walk right up to the starting line the crowd only a couple of people
deep, wierd, different than previous years. I work with Dave & Thursday
they weren't going to run, then Friday they were, then Sunday Dave
called & cancelled, then called Monday at 8:30 am and they are good to
go. I point them to the right, "Boston is that way. Don't worry Boston
loves runners on Patriot's day, bandits included".
It turns out they waited until every last runner had started then headed
down the hill, finished in 4 and some change.
I set out to find the baggage buses & a porta potty. The first was easy
but the second wasn't. Wound up in the wrong area waiting in line at
11:50 & jogged around the back and down a side street to the start nice
& easy. I told myself that I should wait until after the first wave was
gone but couldn't stand the suspense and ducked under the fence when the
8000 numbers started passing by.
I've experienced some ups & downs with running this year, an injured
ankle last May (can still feel it), and then times with no energy,
dragging myself out to run. Also some great experiences, Reach the
Beach in the fall, a decent time at Clarence DeMar, and lots of fun at
NYCM. So my New Year's resolution is to run for enjoyment and I've been
ignoring my watch, running below that discomfort threshold, and focusing
on staying healthy and enjoying my runs.
But today I have a very serious agenda and a complex strategy to
execute, go out at 7:30 & see how long I can keep it up, ha ha! (expect
that to last until Newton Lower Falls) I was running as if in a trance
early on, self centered, running smooth & easy, enjoying flowing with
the stream of people, just focusing on breathing, trying to fall
forward. My Mom & Dad were out at around mile 8.5 & I got to give Mom a
big hug (not so sweaty this year it being 20 degrees cooler). And then
Wellesley, those girls have so much energy! I'm keeping that 7:30 pace,
1:38 at the half, wonder what I'll have left for the hills?
It didn't turn out so bad, the first hill over Rt 128 was under 8 mpm.
And now I know the hills pretty well from the Firehouse to BC from all
those runs with you Deads. I was well under 8 mpm I think except for
mile 21 was about 8:30. Heading down to Cleveland Circle I hoped I'd
get my groove back but I guess I used it up, those 7:30 miles were not
coming but the pain definitely was. I had a new (80 miles on em) pair
of lightweight sneakers and some new socks (didn't someone say never to
try new stuff on marathon day?) and something is drilling into my little
toes, especially on my left foot. I figured I'd wind up at 3:25 or so
and just stopped looking at my watch and tried to think about nothing
but remembering to breath deeply, pushing out my belly with each breath,
and pushing the pain and the thought of stopping and walking out of my
brain. (This is what positive splits will do for you!) Then I hear
"Hey Neil!" it was Tim on the side of the road somewhere near Fenway!
That got me up to Kenmore Square. Then somehow after a very very long
time I was turning right & then left onto Boylston and that finish line
can be seen so far up ahead, I just blocked out reality & pain and when
I hit my watch on those rubber mats it said 3:20:45! (I'm still happy
about that!)
It feels so good to stop...
Can't wait to do it again!
(not running today in Ayer, MA)
Neil