It's a Wrap!

Wow - what a great day we had on Monday – clear, cool weather and an abundance of runners and fans out on the famed Boston Marathon course.

We started out as an excited crush of runners in Hopkinton – it took 15 minutes after start time for my group to reach the start line, and we were off, every person for himself. Settled into a good rhythm and enjoyed the bit from Hopkinton to about Mile 9, where the mind always starts to wander. Luckily I had my husband, son and parents to look forward to at the midpoint in Wellesley! After that, candidly, the race got harder for me. But I kept picturing your faces thinking, “no, I cannot get in a cab and ride to the finish line … I have to run this thing!

In the end I completed in 5:49 after thinking I could finish faster. Yes I was passed by a man wearing a cast on his leg! Must. Train. More.

I met my primary goals:

• I finished, running, and wasn’t the last person across the line
• Our group raised close to $40,000 and you supporters contributed $4,295 for tools for kids in school.

I wrapped up the race four pounds lighter than I started despite all the Gatorade, water, runner’s jelly beans, and orange slices along the way.

I also did what all good runners do after a distance … threw up on the way home and spent the rest of the day horizontal with my legs elevated!

What I love about this race: it’s Boston and that makes it special. The crowds are terrific, and die-hards. The Wellesley girls and BC students are especially well known for their energetic and vocal exhortation, but all along the route, cheerers shout your name and hold out their hands for you to palm on your way through, as if you are a hero. It’s incredibly personal.

Someone along the course asked, would you run it again. At first I thought No. But after a night’s reflection I realized, of course I would.

Thank you again for your support!

Road Tested

OK, exactly 11 hours and 55 minutes to "starting gun" at 10:30am Eastern.  I have run in all the gear.  I have obsessively pinned the number -25361 - and the gummy beans and aspirin - to the exact right spots on my gear.  The chip is on my shoe.  Ready, right?

... right?!  My parents are here to support the big day, along with Tom and Christian.  I get the nerves the day before something like this and they have all been veerrrry patient.  Either way, we raised something like $4,300 for the schools and combined with the other HEF runners the final total for our team this year will be something like $38,000 to $40,000 - not bad!  That will buy a lot of good support for the kids.  Thank you, you many many supporters at all levels who have made this possible!

This is what the starting line looks like.  Only I'll be wearing something a little sportier and facing the other way:

There's a laurel wreath on the right hand side of that starting line and I'll be stepping on it (again) for good luck.  Have a great day!

First 20-miler Complete

Why this run is good:

The route:   http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/ma/hingham/321126920896978639

7:28, Heading Out

... to plant water and Gu.  Planning same route as last post, with two mile extension.  Sunny, 44 degrees.

First 18-Miler Completed, Yeah Baby!

Stunning, sunny morning today. Hot coffee in hand. Walked with the girls at 5a today then blasted through shower, hair, costume and makeup.  It's a work day.  Hungry!

Completed first 18 miler yesterday during the 9a to 1p slot. I don’t know my actual time but yes it may have taken me about that long. Left a bit of myself out on the course and had to recuperate sitting on a bench in Elin’s garage, sipping water with my head between my legs. No worries, 18 miles following a rocky no-workout week, and as the increment from our 14 last weekend: I feel good about it.

There was a minimal amount of walking and refreshment for about a block right around mile 16, “the wall”. Or is mile 18 the wall? Walked the last couple of blocks into the neighborhood. Next time I’ll be stronger, and faster.

What’s working for me: Planting water and “chocolate outrage” Gu every 5 miles. Carrying small vitamin water in hand. Not only is it a mental aid, it helps me switch off pacing legs, left to right. Over the last half mile of the run I was switching off every five houses.

But I made it.

The run itself if a beautiful one: up winding Hersey street past New England cottages to Main. East on main past the grand homes, the fire station, ball fields, an ancient cemetery, the library. Up Kilby, which is quiet, to Rockland where the views open up to marshes and the Hull windmill. Past Victoria’s Sandwich Shop and the Greek Orthodox Church in sand-colored stone, bells tolling. Past the swan pond and then, glorious in front, the Atlantic Ocean and Jerusalem Avenue with its coastal mansions, winding lanes, and winter dunes shifting across the roads. The sun is out and so is everyone: bikers, runners, walkers with dogs and baby carriages. See-ers of sights and boys in small packs. The run wraps up at Cohasset harbor and Yacht Club, sparkling, too early in the season for much activity but warm enough to get the sap and the summer dreams fired up.

Woo-hoo. We’ll do this one again.

Legs, Get Back to Work

Today’s workout completed, first since last Sunday. 5 miles. The legs still work. Stunning weather, I have to say – low 50’s and everyone is out, we can feel the sap beginning to flow here in New England.

Palate incident turned out to be a bigger deal than I first recognized. Off work most of the week, “razorblades and needles”. Lost my will to live for about twelve hours and resorted to a daytime dose of Tylenol PM! This was the morning after I had to put my fresh-off-the-grill wild salmon and rice dinner into the food processor in order to eat it. Now that is determination. Also I credit Tom’s good cooking.

The good news, I lost four pounds doing not much this week. Makes the running easier :) And this is what it looks like when you are really young and really trim, without a care in the world:

It's what I looked like after I came home and showered up. Okay, if it wasn't me perhaps it was my off spring.

The Curse Takes a Fall

We tackle the Marathon course starting at Mile 12 – Wellesley College. I learn along the way that it’s quite an educational run … past Boston College, then Boston University, and finally Berklee College of Music. Can I earn my MBA just by running? Well, possibly not but I am happy to break the 12.25 mile curse and complete 14.1 or 14.2 miles at my rather steady pace. Afterward, no real pain or suffering, good news. Next weekend 16 miles, or 18, which is where we are really supposed to be at this point. Also it turns out that Heartbreak Hill, which lasts for about four miles, is really not too bad if you start your run at mile 12 rather than mile zero!

Photo: Maura Richards and I looking hot, or cool, or perhaps just relieved, after the run.

PS: it is officially spring, by my measures. My daffs are up about 1 inch, the maples are starting to bud out, and I watched a cardinal let his song rip from the top of one of our trees this morning for all the females to hear.