Volunteer at a race

Since I was not running the Boston Marathon this year, I decided that I wanted to give back to the organization that made last year’s run so easy for me. If it hadn’t been for their organization and assistance in fundraising, I would never have been able to exceed my fundraising goal nor be so relaxed that morning as I waited to head over to the corrals. This year I signed up with Dana Farber to work at the Hopkinton Start Area - Runner Refuge at St. John’s Parish Church.

I got to the church at 6:00 am so that I could get my assignment. I was excited to be there to see all of the DFMC runners getting pumped up to run Boston. I was also excited because my friend Helen would be there to work with me. Unfortunately, due to some health issues and a minor surgery, she was unable to run for Dana Farber this year. But, she has already signed up for next year. Helen is quite a dynamo and will surely set a PR in next year’s race. I will be there to cheer her on.

Helen and I were assigned to the medical table. This was probably due to our extensive medical training. Who better to answer medical questions or help runners than a couple of business people, right? I do have first aid training through the Boy Scouts and felt that I could help answer questions since I have been running for so many years and have dealt with various minor ailments. Besides, as Helen said, “They can’t need anything to dramatic since the race hasn’t even started yet.”

Helen and I had a lot of fun talking with the runners who came to the table looking for blister guards, band-aids, Vaseline, ibuprofen and aspirin. You could really tell the difference between the runners who had run a marathon and those who it was their first time. We tried to calm those who seemed nervous and handed out advice when asked. I even taped up a couple of ankles for runners who needed the extra support. I hope they did ok. I am not the best at that task.

Once the runners headed over to the starting line, Helen and I decided to go and cheer our DFMC team as they headed across the starting line. It took every ounce of willpower not to jump over the barricades and join them on their run. It is an awesome site watching 26,000+ runners cross the starting line on their way to Boston. Some seemed excited, some apprehensive. But overall, the atmosphere was upbeat. Once all the runners had passed, Helen and I headed back to the church to jump in our cars to head home. When I got home, I went onto Facebook and noticed Helen’s post which summed the morning up for me. It said, “Helen Morey Gallo Has never given so many men advice on how to keep their nipples from bleeding...”

I have to take a minute here to say that I was surprised to hear how few people volunteer with the organizations they have raised money for in the past. I had never volunteered at a race up to this point either. But, I can tell you that the time I spent as a volunteer was one of the most fun and educational experiences I have had in my running life. With Helen there, it included humorous entertainment - free of charge. Seriously though, I can’t tell you how many of the team thanked us for being there to support them. I realized that I will do it again in the future for the energy and fun meeting fellow runners and helping them prepare for a great experience. I have to say that it was a very satisfying experience and I recommend it to everyone. I will definitely be there next year whether I am running for Dan Farber again or manning the medical table.

Here are my training totals:
Apr. 20 – 6.20 miles (54:08, 8:44 pace)
Apr. 22 – 6.20 miles (51:16, 8:16 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 23 – 6.20 miles (52:54, 8:32 pace)
Apr. 24 – 10.40 miles (1:28:40, 8:26 pace

Total Miles: 29.00 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 507.30 miles

One Year Ago

A year ago I was in my taper phase getting ready to run the 113th Boston Marathon as a member of the Dana Farber team. It is hard to believe that it has been a year already. It seems as if it was just yesterday that I was trying to decide what my goal should be for the marathon. I can admit right here that I had no thought of trying to run a 4 hour marathon in Boston. Everything I had read and heard about the Boston Marathon was that you should not try and run a PR in this race. But, as you know, I did set a PR in the 113th Boston and finally achieved my goal of running a 4 hour marathon.

During the past week of rest I am taking due to being in the Rivers’ Edge Players production of The Importance of Being Earnest, I had a chance to think about my favorite memories from the race. The race starts in Hopkinton a little over 4 miles from my front door. The town of Hopkinton has hosted the starting of the marathon since the race moved there from Ashland in 1925. What I remember most about the area is the circus like atmosphere in the corrals as we waited for the starter’s gun to go off. Then I had to run the steepest downhill of the marathon course. It drops 130 feet from the starting line before you start to level off.

The next town on the course is Ashland. We were still heading generally down hill and it is as this point where I felt really comfortable with my pace. I really was not thinking too much about my finishing time at this point. I was just trying to take in all of the sites and sounds of the race. You cross the first 5K marker in Ashland and I remember thinking that I was running a bit too fast at that point. My split time was 28:18. I knew the Newton Hills were ahead and I didn’t want to struggle when I hit them.

I passed the 5 mile and 10K mark in Framingham. I work for Staples and my office is in Framingham. I really enjoyed the first truly flat portion of the course. I hit the 10K mark at 56:58 and was feeling like I could run at that pace forever. Still in the back of my mind I felt I was going a little too fast. The general consensus from my running magazines and podcasts is too not go out too fast as the hills later in the course will take their toll.

The 15K marker is in Natick. This is also the portion of the course where you have another downhill to the 10 mile marker. You then level off until around mile 12 where you hit the early rolling hills that will lead you into Wellesley. When I crossed the 15K mark, I was at 1:24:36. Some how I was running a very even pace. I wasn’t sure how long I could sustain it. I just decided to continue along and just try and enjoy the experience. I was really loving every step of the race at this point.

The half marathon mark is in Wellesley. But, what I remember most of all is the “screech tunnel” at Wellesley College. I don’t think that I can truly describe how loud these girls are as you run through the “tunnel”. The girls reach out to touch the runners and are begging the men to kiss them as they go by. I couldn’t disappoint and did give one of the girls a kiss as I went by. When I hit the 20K marker I was at 1:52:44 and at the Halfway Point I was at 1:58:54. When I noticed that I was on pace to potentially run a 4 hour marathon, I thought, “I have been here before and faded at the end. Better not think about it at this point.” But, I was not feeling any fatigue or aches or pains at this point in time. I left Wellesley crossing the 25K mark at 2:21:04 and knew the next stop was going to be the Newton Hills.

I crossed the town line into Newton. What is interesting is the most difficult hill in Newton is actually the first hill. It was tough. This hill on Washington Street (Route 16), climbing from the Charles River crossing at 16 miles, is regarded by Dave McGillivray, the 2007 race director, as the course’s most difficult challenge. The hill follows a 150 foot drop over the course of ½ mile and forces many runners to a walking pace. I hit the hills and knew I could handle them. I just wasn’t sure how it would affect my time. When I hit the 30K mark just before Heartbreak Hill, I was at 2:49:51.

Heartbreak Hill rises over 0.4 mile and is between the 20 and 21 mile markers near Boston College. It is the last of four "Newton Hills". Heartbreak Hill itself rises only 88 vertical feet which really is not that bad. I actually don’t recall it being hard at all. The nickname "Heartbreak Hill" originated with an event in the 1936 race. On this stretch, defending champion John A. Kelley caught race leader Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, giving Brown a pat on the shoulder as he passed. His competitive drive apparently stoked by this gesture, Tarzan Brown rallied, pulled away from Kelley, and went on to win—in the words of Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason, "breaking Kelley's heart."

After cresting the final hill, I knew I had a fairly easy course left. Some down hills and a couple of minor hills were all I had left. I hit the 35K marker 3:18:19. It is here that the course briefly touches Brighton and then immediately enters Brookline. This is also the point where at Cleveland Circle you turn onto Beacon Street and know you are in the final miles of the race. I was still not feeling any major fatigue. I was actually feeling really good. It was also the point of the race where I thought for the first time I might actually break 4 hours. I had 40 minutes to run 4.5 miles.

I finally could see the Citgo sign and knew that I was going to finally be entering the City of Boston and approaching one of the greatest finishing lines in all of marathoning. It was absolutely crazy along Beacon Street and Kenmore Square. The crowds really pumped me up as I crossed the 40K mark at 3:47:25. I had only 1.4 miles to go and 12 minutes to reach my goal. I could not believe it. I had a real chance to break 4 hours. Somewhere deep inside me, I found the energy to finish strong.

As I turned onto Boylston St. and could see the finish line, I knew I was going to reach a goal I was not sure I would ever reach and in the Boston Marathon. I pushed my pace and crossed the finish line in the shadow of the Boston Public Library at 3:59:21. I did cut it close. But, it doesn’t matter. I broke 4 hours and felt a rush that is indescribable. My father when I told him about the race and the fact that I had stopped a couple of times to take pictures along the route and kissed the girls in Wellesley said, “You could have run even faster if you hadn’t been doing all that business on the course.” He is right. I don’t care though because I reached a major life goal and in the most prestigious marathon in the country.

I will be volunteering at the Starting Line Runner’s Refuge for the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team on Marathon Monday. I will be a little jealous of those who will be heading out on the course. However, I have decided that I don’t want to run the Boston Marathon again until I can qualify. I am not sure if I ever will be able to qualify. But, the fun is in the attempt. If you are running the 114th Boston Marathon this year make sure you take in all the sites and sounds as you run. You will never experience anything like it.

Here are my training totals:
Apr. 4 – 11.00 miles (1:38:50, 8:59 pace)
Apr. 5 – 6.20 miles (54:56, 8:51 pace)
Apr. 6 – 4.50 miles (36:27, 8:06 pace) – Yasso 800s
Apr. 7 – 7.40 miles (1:05:48, 8:53 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 8 – 5.20 miles (40:46, 7:50 pace)
Apr. 10 – 10.20 miles (1:26:24, 8:27 pace)
Apr. 11 – 10.20 miles (1:26:57, 8:31 pace)
Apr. 12 – 6.20 miles (55:23, 8:56 pace)

Total Miles: 60.90 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 478.30 miles

Are Flowers Only Red with Green Leaves?

Some of you know that I go to a chiropractor to keep me aligned and in good health. Each time I visit, he has handouts that discuss things that he thinks are important to pass on to his patients. He truly believes that people through chiropractic can be well and stay well without the outside intervention from dangerous drugs and surgery. While I never eschew “regular” physicians and only go to alternative practitioners, I have found that I have had no injuries since I started going to a chiropractor almost 10 years ago. I do believe that an optimally functioning spine and nervous system is not a bad thing when I am logging so many miles.

This week, he had a story that I thought I would share with you.

A little boy went to his first day of school. He took out some crayons and he started to draw. He drew colors all over the paper, because a paper filled with colors is what he wanted to see. The teacher said “What are you doing, young man?” “Drawing flowers” he said. “It’s not time for art yet,” the teacher said. “And anyway, flowers are green and red. Everyone knows that. There’s a time and a place for everything, and there are certain ways certain things are supposed to be. So repeat after me: Flowers are red and leaves are green, and there is no reason to see them any other way than they have always been seen.”

But the little boy was confused. He said “There are so many colors in a rainbow. There are so many colors in the morning sun. There are so many colors in one single flower. I want to use all of them.” “You are a sassy young lad,” the teacher scolded. “Repeat after me: Flowers are red and leaves are green, and there is no reason to see them any other way than they have always been seen.”

The teacher put him in a corner and told him it was for his own good. “You won’t come out until you get it right, and respond like you should” she warned.

The little boy got frightened, sitting in that corner all by himself. Lonely thoughts filled his head. He finally went to the teacher and said what he knew he was supposed to say “Flowers are red and leaves are green, and there is no reason to see them any other way than they have always been seen.”

Time went by, as it always seems to do, and the little boy and his family moved to another town. He started his first day in his new school. On that first day, the smiling new teacher said “Isn’t drawing flowers fun? There are so many colors a flower could possibly be, so let’s see if we can use every single one!” The little boy drew neat and orderly rows of red flowers with green leaves. The teacher asked him why he didn’t want to use more colors. “There are so many colors in that box of crayons! Won’t it be fun to see how many of them you can use?” The boy was astounded. He could use all the colors? He could make yellow flowers with purple leaves? He could color the sky green! He grinned widely as he reached for the box. This was going to be his best picture ever.

When I read this it made me think about all the advice I have ever read about running. There seem to be so many rules and criteria for establishing a training regimen. There are certain prescribed ways of stretching, pacing, etc. We, as runners, are told how to do almost everything. I began to think that isn’t this just like the teacher in the story? Aren’t we all being told how to draw a flower and what color it has to be? Shouldn’t we try to find a way to get back to why we started running in the first place?

I have decided that I am going to escape that jungle of green and red flowers. I am going to try and run for the sheer joy of being out there on the road and experiencing the wind in my face with no real goal other than pleasure. Running gives you the chance to feel completely at one with what you are doing, to know you are strong and able to control your destiny at least for the moment, and to gain a sense of pleasure independent of results.

I know that to get to the starting line and to achieve the goals we set for our racing that we need to log certain amounts of miles and complete certain work outs. But, I also know that trying to adhere strictly to a plan can also lead to injury and disappointment if we miss our goals. During this process we tend to forget about the happiness we feel when we are out there on the road. We take the fun out of running. So, I am asking you to add joy back into your running. Take a day and just run with no particular goal in mind. Just go out there and remind yourself why you started running in the first place. You may find that flowers are not always red and leaves are not always green.

Here are my training totals:
Mar. 28 – 10.20 miles (1:32:58, 9:06 pace)
Mar. 29 – 6.10 miles (54:49, 9:09 pace)
Mar. 30 – 4.50 miles (36:30, 8:07 pace) – Yasso 800s
Apr. 1 – 5.20 miles (39:53, 7:40 pace) – Tempo Run
Apr. 3 – 11.30 miles (1:38:14, 8:41 pace)

Total Miles: 37.30 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 417.40 miles