My Boston Marathon Experience

As some of my followers on this blog know, I went to see The Dead at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on Sunday night. I have to say it was a really good show and they pulled out some really old material from their first albums. The bad news was I did not get into bed until 1:00 a.m. This is not the ideal way to get ready to run a very difficult marathon. The good news is that it was the first time I have been able to sleep more than 2 hours before a marathon. I ended up getting just over 5 hours of sleep before waking up to get ready to go.

I drove over to my friend Trish’s house so her husband could drive us over to Hopkinton State Park where we would catch a bus to the starting line area. We arrived there right around 9:00 a.m. and headed over to our respective refuges to wait for the call to get into the corrals for the start of the race. I went to the St. John’s Parrish Hall where many of my fellow teammates were snacking on last minute carbs, stretching, chatting and decorating their bibs. There was a television which allowed us to watch the wheelchair and elite runners take off. Most people seemed somewhere between calm and excited. I was surprisingly calm.

Finally around 10:15, we all started heading over to the corrals. I was hoping to find my friend Trish somewhere in the mass of humanity crammed into the corrals. But, it was just too crazy and I never found her. At that point, I thought I will just head out and run my race. The sun broke through the clouds just as they announced it was 1 minute to the start. After what seemed like forever, they said the runners were off. I was pretty far back and it took me over 6 minutes to get to the starting line. I crossed the pads that would start my chip and headed down the hill from the start. I have to admit I was pretty excited to finally be off and running.

I had set two goals for my race. I wanted to beat my PR from the Arizona Rock & Roll Marathon by at least 10 minutes which would be a 4:15:00 finish. My stretch goal was to run my first sub-4 hour marathon. I felt good enough to try it. But, the marathon is not easily conquered. You never know what is in store as you run 26.2 miles. Not only that, ahead of me was one of the toughest marathon courses to run. I had a 4:00:00 pace band chart to allow me to keep track of my splits. I figured I would see where I was on pacing at the halfway point and then at 20 miles.

The first 5 miles went by like a breeze. I was able to chat with some of my fellow Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) Teammates. I took in the sites as I ran. I was amazed at how many people were out on the side of the road cheering all the runners on. I had heard about the Boston Marathon crowds. But, I guess I under estimated their enthusiasm. Little did I know how enthusiastic it could get.

The next 5 miles from the edge of Framingham through to Natick Center were pretty smooth. I had found a comfortable pace. I relied on my training knowing I had held a 9 minute per mile pace in a lot of my training runs. I wanted to try and conserve some energy for the Newton Hills. I have to say it is a bit difficult to keep a steady pace with the crowds urging you on. I was hoping to see one of my friends in Natick. But, the crowds were too big and it was hard to pick people out of the crowd. Unfortunately, I never saw her. I crossed the 15K mark in 1:24:36 (9:06 pace). I was feeling surprisingly strong.

The weather was perfect for us runners. It was slightly overcast with the sun peeking through periodically. I had finished a good portion of the flatter portion of the course and knew I had the slightly rolling hills in Wellesley ahead. I stuck to my pace trying not to let any of the faster runners pull me along. I tried to stay in my head and focus on my race. I told myself, “Just keep plugging away between 9:00 and 9:10 per mile and you will be fine.” The next stop would be the Wellesley Tunnel and those enthusiastic co-eds.

I had heard so much about the Wellesley co-eds and the amount of noise they can produce, I almost couldn’t wait to get there. I am not sure I can adequately describe the deafening sounds they produced. But, I could actually start to hear them about ¼ mile before I reached them. As I headed into the screaming mass of girls on the right side of the course, I began to slap their hands as I ran by. I stopped for a moment at the 20k marker to take a picture and they screamed even louder trying to get the men (me included) to give them a kiss. I crossed the 20K mark 1:52:44 (9:14 pace) and the Half Marathon mark in 1:58:54 (9:04 pace).

The Wellesley girls definitely give you a big boost. I wasn’t going to kiss any of them because I didn’t want it to delay me on my quest. Plus it is a little bit scary with all of those girls reaching out to slap your hand or on the back. But, I couldn’t resist when as I approached one of the girls screamed, “It’s my birthday! Somebody kiss me!” So, I leaned over the rail and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and wished her a happy birthday. She screamed like I was one of the Beatles. Then I headed off knowing I had the toughest part of the race ahead and frankly feeling a little bit like a rock star.

The run through Wellesley is also a mass of people on both sides of Washington St. They are all cheering you on. I had put my nickname “Froggie Ted” on my DFMC singlet and I can’t tell you how many people made a point of shouting out encouragement to me and other runners. It really does help motivate you when you hear your name as you run by the fans.

As I approached the 25K mark, I looked down at my watch to see if I was still on pace and found I had maintained a 9:06 average pace hitting the mark in 2:21:04. In the back of my mind, I felt I had a good chance to break 4 hours. But, I knew I had the Newton Hills ahead which I had heard stories of ever since signing up to run this race. I decided that no matter what I was going to hit my goal of 4:15:00. I was hoping I could take the hills and keep it up for the last 10K. My goal was to hit the 20 mile maker around 3:03:00.

Down the hill I went after crossing 128. My quads were starting to stiffen up. The initial down hills had definitely taken their toll. But, as I headed up towards the turn near the Newton Fire Station, I told myself it is just 3 small hills then downhill to the finish. I had trained on a steep hill in Westborough almost every week. I was hoping my training would make the hills and especially Heartbreak seem easy. There was definitely some doubt in the back of my mind as I turned right onto Commonwealth Ave. and approached the famous Newton Hills.

The 20 mile marker was about 1.5 miles ahead at the base of Heartbreak Hill. I tried not to focus on that and just shorten my stride and get up and over the hills. I hit the 20 mile marker in 3:02:15 and looked up to see Heartbreak. I asked my angels (those I lost to cancer and who I was running the race to honor) to pick me up and take me over the hill. I asked them to help me run the last 10K in less than an hour to allow me to break 4 hours in a marathon for the first time at Boston.

They were there for me. I ran up Heartbreak like it was nothing. I didn’t even feel like I had to struggle to get up the hill. While some runners around me were having a hard time, I felt light as a feather. My hill training had worked not to mention the fact that there were 61 souls listed on my back to help take the load off my body as I glided up the hill. The next thing I knew I had crested the hill and was at Boston College where there were even more amped up screaming college kids. Clearing Heartbreak with relative ease and hearing the students cheering really pumped me up. I headed off for the final 5.2 miles down hill to the finish on Boylston.

I ran down into Cleveland Circle hoping to see one of my friends from work. The crowds were too crazy and I never saw her. The run along Beacon Street was great. The temperature was starting to drop and the head winds where starting to cool me off. I had passed the 35K mark in 3:18:19 (9:08 pace). I was actually feeling good and other than a little soreness in my quads felt strong. The crowds were great urging us all on to the finish. I knew I had a chance at breaking 4 hours. I just needed to keep moving and hold my pace.

Finally, after what seemed like forever the Citgo sign came into view just past Coolidge Corner. I knew then that I was a little over 2 miles to the finish. I also knew that I was going to get one more boost of energy from my Dana-Farber cheering section at mile 25. The adrenaline was starting to kick in and I pushed myself to the 40K marker. I hit it at 3:47:25 (9:10 pace). There I was with 1.4 miles to go and 13 minutes to get there. I thought to myself this is where all those miles I logged come into play. Would I have enough to break the elusive 4 hour mark?

I turned into Kenmore Square and onto Comm. Ave. I heard a shout from the crowd and turned to see two of my cast mates from the Westborough Players Club. I couldn’t help but run over and give them a big sweaty hug. They told to me to get going and finish the race. I was really pumped up and took off. I passed the sign “1 mile to go”. It was all down to the last mile.

I turned on to Hereford St. which has a slight uphill incline and could see the sign for Boylston St. Before I knew it, I was making that famous turn onto Boylston and the finish line was in sight. I looked down at my watch to see how much time I had left and saw I had a little more than 3 minutes to be able to break 4 hours. I had it in my sights. From somewhere deep inside I started to pick up the pace. I was really pushing it to the finish line. In what seemed like an instant, I was hitting the pad that would turn off my chip timer. I almost didn’t want to look at my watch. When I did the dial read 3:59:21! What an incredible feeling. I can’t describe it.

Needless to say I was on cloud nine as I walked through the chute to the chip retrieval area and the medals. I called my Dad and my wife to tell them I thought I broke 4 hours. I obviously would not be able to see the official results until I made it home. I was so excited that I hardly felt the cold winds hit me as I picked up my space blanket and went to get my medal. I dropped off my chip and received my medal and a hug. It was such a fantastic feeling to have run the Boston Marathon and setting a new PR by almost 26 minutes.

After picking up my bag from the buses, I headed over to meet the Dana-Farber Volunteers who would take us over to the Marriott Copley Hotel where food and drink awaited us. More importantly we could get a massage. I went straight to the massage table to get the kinks worked out. I have to say I felt pretty pampered. After a change into dry warm clothes, I had a little sandwich and some pasta salad to hold me over until I could get home. I called Trish and found out where to meet her and then walked over to the hotel where she was and caught a ride home with her and her family. I had a much needed shower when I got home. I changed and then Mara and I went to my favorite post marathon meal – a big juicy steak and an ice cold beer.

This journey is now complete. I have to say that it was the most extraordinary day in my running life. I had a chance to run the Boston Marathon. I ran along its storied course where many a running legend has trod. I completed the race with a PR which also accomplished one of my key running goals by finishing in less than 4 hours. I am so proud of the hard work I put into training for this race. I am proud to have represented so fine an organization as Dana-Farber. I am so grateful for the extreme generosity of friends, colleagues and family who all gave to help us reach the ultimate goal of a world without cancer.

I plan to continue posting to my blog. I have many more races in me. I now want to work towards finding a way to earn my way into the Boston Marathon with a BQ time. But for now, I am going to take it easy for about a week. I will put in a couple of short easy runs to stay loose. Then I will get back into my maintenance mode and search for the next challenge. I hope all who have been following this goofy blog will continue to read it and comment on it. It is a part of my running life now and I hope it will remain a part of yours.

To my fellow runners: Don’t forget to run because you want to…finish because you can.