The plane touched down in Boston it is 5.45am it was cold, damp and overcast!! I had decided to do Boston Marathon last year after I saw a discussion on the Brooks ID web site then talked my friend Jodi into doing it too!! I had had not quite the training I had hoped for due to a stress fracture on my left foot and dental issues, but I had good friends, good hospitality and I was going to Boston to run, to cheer, and to walk to run!! But I was going to Boston!!
At the airport we were picked up by my friend Kathy Laska between Kathy and her husband Brian; Jodi and I had an amazing Boston Marathon experience.
Boston Marathon is huge. Make no mistake about that! And it would have been very easy to get soaked up in all the activity and hype surrounding this grand daddy of all marathons. Luckily for us the Laskas lived a 45 minute drive from the expo and finish line area.
On the Saturday afternoon we went into Boston to pick up our race numbers, the expo was packed and I was so glad we went there Saturday and not Sunday. I was on a mission and was able to meet Steve DeKoker from Brooks Sports, and then went to see Chris from POLAR USA, where they treated me very warmly and I walked out of the expo with a beautiful CX800 Polar Monitor! It was a long afternoon spent on our feet! On the evening it dropped to the 30s! Brrr way to cold to function! We went to a restaurant with Kathy family and celebrated joint birthdays mine and Brian’s’.
The day before the marathon was spent having a lazy morning then Brian offered to take us into Boston for a little sight seeing! My right foot was giving me a few issues after a small 4 mile jog, so we decided to eat and then took the car on a sight seeing tour! Saw Boston Commons, cobbled stoned streets etc.. so much history they just love their baseball. Everywhere we looked there was a sea of blue, marathon people sporting the Boston Marathon wear!! Back home I sorted out my Ravenna shoes, checked my Polar Monitor was working, sprayed my insoles with Kool n Fit, filled my fuel belt with Huckleberry Hammergel, and endurolytes/anti fatigue caps, and matched my bright yellow Brooks gear with neon pink Rudy Project glasses!! You certainly would not miss me on race day!! For some people in the states of Massachusetts and Maine, the third Monday of April is a welcome day off work or school. In the area around Lexington and Concord, re-enactments of the battles in 1775 and the events leading up to them are held. A particular highlight is the opportunity to ring the bell that warned the local troops that British soldiers were approaching. In Boston, a marathon is held. Most years the Boston Red Sox baseball team schedules a game that is timed so that spectators can watch the runners as they leave the stadium. I am here to run the marathon unfortunately for the Red Soxs Fenway Mound was their Heartbreak Hill after they had a hideous loss to Tampa Bay Rays!
RACE DAY
Yikes I was number 15125, which meant I did not start until 10.30am in the second wave of runners, luckily Kathy had done the race before so she dropped us off at 7.30am to the athletes village were we had 3 hours to wait!! It was not that bad as a few things were in our favor, the weather was not too bad, sun was making an effort to warm up the place and Kathy had given up sweats and sheets to make our stay more comfortable. While I was waiting I also had my right foot taped it was a relaxed atmosphere and before long we were heading to the corral, out of thousands of runners I managed to see two Puerto Rican triathletes!!
The race began; it was not as bad as I thought it would be I have experienced a lot worse! I began to run and soak in the crowds energy, it was mostly a downhill slant, and even though I had looked at the profile I was not expecting so much downhill, and before I knew it I was passing the Charles River and then the famous scream tunnel of Wellesley College girls! This is also the half way point and was offering free kisses to all the runners….I declined but enjoyed their enthusiasm. I thought Boston College at mile 21 was noisier! I was so happy to see mile 21 and knowing there was only 5 more miles to go. I had done heartbreak hill and living and training in Southern California had not found the hill as challenging as lead to believe! I loved the volunteers and also the huge presence of military that were either marching or controlling the crowd. I kept well hydrated and so happy I brought my own Hammer gel, as there was only one gel stop at mile 17! And then it was not Hammer gel!! I kept to my nutrition plan and groaned as I realized the last 4 miles were again down hill!! They should rename that section as 4 miles of quad busting pain! It really looked as if I was jogging through a battle field as there were lots of runners now in the hurt box, some pulled muscles others cramping really bad. Years of experience told me to slow my roll, change my gait a little I stopped briefly to have some Kool n Fit sprayed onto my quads and took a little time to stretch, and was able to finally approach the last mile, it was quite emotional, all I wanted to do was cry!! Do not get me wrong they would be tears of joy but here I was me! Running down to Kenmore Square! There was a mass of on lookers all cheering wildly, I saw the chute for wave two I looked up I could not believe it that despite my 8 weeks of no running due I was passing the line in an unofficial time of 3 hrs 32 mins! I had done it despite adversity I had crossed the Boston finish line, standing up and in an official time of 3 hours 31mins and 10 seconds!! I spent 20 minutes in the First aid tent, as my right leg tightened and twitched my hamstring was so tight you could have played a violin! After a little therapy I claimed my medal called my husband AL and went to find my friends Jodi, Kathy and Brian.
Certainly having a home-stay logistically made the marathon a much more pleasant experience! My biggest disappointment was that there was no finish line official photography, just cameras clicking at you in your space sheets!! Would have been nice to have an official backdrop, which after the event was over I discovered did exist but I guess I will have to go back next year to get that photo op!
Enjoyed my Boston Marathon and raised money towards the Avon Crusade against Breast Cancer in Puerto Rico and grateful to Kathy and Brian Laska for their home stay.
Suzy (Ultrawoman)
