My Trail Racing Experience (2012 Busa Bushwack Trail Race)

Several years ago, I was looking for a different running experience because I had grown tired of road running. My brother who lives out in Santee, CA suggested we try a trail race at Mission Trail Park. It was going to be a 9 miler through the park. I don't remember a lot about that race other than that it was challenging and fun at the same time. I moved out here to Westborough, MA shortly after running that race and never thought about another trail race until 2 months ago when a friend suggested I sign up for the Greater Framingham Running Club's Busa Bushwhack Trail Race.

I thought about it for a few days and then decided to do it. I wanted a different challenge. I had been keeping my mileage up and was feeling well trained to tackle a 10 mile trail race. My friend and I chose to sign up for the 10 mile race rather than the 5.3 miler. I mean…we are seasoned runners. 5.3 miles wouldn't be enough of a challenge. It is amazing what runners will talk themselves into when there is more than one discussing a given race. I figured the distance and the hills on the route wouldn't be impossible to conquer as I had been running hills on my normal training runs. What I didn't think about were the rocks, roots and dead leaves on the trail and how that might affect my speed and well being.

I kept up my training runs on the weeks leading up to the race. I made sure that all of my routes had several difficult hills to simulate the terrain of the upcoming race. I did my speed work as well. So when I arrived at the starting line to begin the race, I felt prepared and excited about the race. I had set absolutely no goal for myself in the race. I wanted to finish and not be bleeding at the end. Plus since it was the first time I was running this race I was assured of a PR. I knew it was going to be a great run.

The first 3/10 of a mile was on a neighborhood street that led to the entrance to the Raymond J Callahan State Park. Callahan State Park is an 820-acre wooded park. It has seven miles of marked trails and is used for activities like fishing, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. The entrance we were filing through was off of Major Hale Dr. It was so narrow that the runners had to stop and go through the gate single file before heading up the single track trail. It was a little bit of an annoyance but did not really affect anyone's time.

Once I got onto the trail, I started to pick my way past the slower runners and tackled the first of several easy hills. The trail was strewn with rocks, branches, leaf litter and even a few exposed roots. I kept telling myself to pay attention to the ground to avoid tripping and falling. I am glad to say that after 4 miles I had had a couple of stumbles but no wipe outs. Of course as I had that thought my foot clipped a root and I sprawled out onto the trail more embarrassed than hurt. I brushed myself off and started off again telling myself to pay better attention.

 

I was really enjoying the fall leaves (what was left of them) and the solitude of the park. There may have been about 200 runners running the 10 mile route but there were several sections of the race where I was either alone or only in view of 1 or 2 other runners. It was nice to be running a race but having time to get lost in nature and my own thoughts.

 

As I started down a particularly steep hill lost in my thoughts, I noticed my Garmin had loosened on my wrist. I reached over to tighten it when my feet slipped on the leaf litter and down I went again! This time on my butt. My Garmin flew off and I slid about 25 feet down the trail. I gathered myself up and went back up the hill to find my Garmin. I couldn't see it anywhere. Just as I was about to give up a group of runners started down towards me and the lead guy says, "Garmin!” He grabbed it and handed it to me as he went by. I shouted, "Thanks!" He responded, "I should have hit stop so you don't lose time." I chuckled to myself as I headed back down the hill. Now I was bound and determined to not fall again the rest of the way.

 

I only had about 4 miles to go. As I approached the 6 mile point in the race I came upon the toughest hill of the race. Most of the other steep hills, I was able to shorten my stride and keep running. This one was never going to allow me to run any part of it. I tried but ended up walking up it. As I was passing another runner struggling up the hill, she muttered "Who was the sadist that created this route?" I laughed and replied, "I don't know. But we are the masochists who paid to run it!" She didn't even laugh as I crested the hill and left her in her misery.

 

The next couple of miles were mostly downhill and I was really starting to get into a good rhythm. I figured I would be able to get to the flat final portion before we headed back onto Major Hale Drive and really open it up for final push to the finish line. As I reached the level portion of the trail, I started to pick up my pace since I was feeling great. Unfortunately Mother Nature wanted to humble me once more as I clipped a good sized root and was slammed down onto the trail with my right knee hitting a rock with some force. It was really painful as I stood up. Another runner stopped to make sure I was alright. I thanked her and started to walk gingerly down the trail. I was mad at myself for not paying better attention to the trail. I was in pain. Yet, I was determined to run the rest of the way and take my aggravation out on the rest of the trail all the way to the finish line.

 

When I finally emerged from the park onto Major Hale Drive, I picked up speed to the point where I was running at a 7:30 per mile pace. I passed several runners and finally made the turn to the finish line. I crossed it at 1:39:51. My right knee was pretty sore and caused me to limp a little as I headed over to grab some water and a bagel. My time put me 109th out of 166 finishers and 15th out of 19 finishers in my age category (50-59). Not bad considering how many times I crashed and burned along the way and for only my second trail race.

 

I did learn a few things that I will try to remember the next time I run a trail race. Maybe they will help you as well if you decide to take your racing "off-road". They are:

 

1. Wear the Right Running Shoes. I ran in my normal shoes. They worked fine on the leaf litter and packed-dirt path. If I were to make trail running a habit, I might look into trail-running shoes because they provide more protection for my feet.
2. Start Slow. Like any race, I should have started a little slower at the beginning. I think my falls coming later in the race were due to my legs getting fatigued from running on all of the uneven surfaces.
3. Adjust My Stride. The only way to prevent tripping over roots and rocks is to lift my feet — especially my toes — slightly higher than I normally would when running on pavement. 
4. Look Ahead More Often. By looking at the trail about 10 feet ahead I will be able to see the upcoming terrain and avoid any obstacles. Maybe it will allow me to complete the race without falling.
5. Remember that Walking is OK. There are just some hills that are too steep to run. I know that there are experienced trail racers who walk – why can’t I.  

It was really a fun and challenging race. I finished it and despite the final nasty fall I was not bleeding. Mission accomplished! I am planning to add trail races into my running calendar next year. Winter is on its way so the trail running season is effectively over. Spring is only 5 months away and I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities to find a trail race somewhere nearby. If you are in the Framingham area next October, think about joining me for the 2013 Busa Bushwack Trail Race. I will be the guy lying across the trail as you run by.

 

Oct. 1 – 6.10 miles (54:53, 8:57 pace)
Oct. 2 – 3.20 miles (24:24, 7:42 pace) – Speed Work
Oct. 4 – 6.30 miles (50:20, 7:56 pace) – Tempo Run
Oct. 5 – 5.10 miles (43:51, 8:36 pace)
Oct. 6 – 7.20 miles (1:04:49, 8:57 pace)
Oct. 7 – 10.10 miles (1:28:55, 8:49 pace)
Oct. 8 – 6.20 miles (56:32, 9:05 pace)
Oct. 9 – 3.20 miles (23:52, 7:28 pace) – Speed Work
Oct. 11 – 6.20 miles (49:33, 8:00 pace) – Tempo Run
Oct. 12 – 6.20 miles (54:28, 8:57 pace)
Oct. 13 – 11.10 miles (1:37:30, 8:47 pace)
Oct. 14 – 8.20 miles (1:13:08, 8:55 pace)
Oct. 15 – 6.20 miles (58:13, 9:23 pace)
Oct. 16 – 3.20 miles (23:56, 7:29 pace) – Speed Work
Oct. 18 – 6.20 miles (49:30, 7:59 pace) – Tempo Run
Oct. 20 – 4.80 miles – Mt. Greylock Backpack
Oct. 21 – 3.40 miles – Mt. Greylock Backpack
Oct. 22 – 6.20 miles (58:54, 9:30 pace)
Oct. 23 – 3.20 miles (23:56, 7:29 pace) – Speed Work
Oct. 25 – 6.20 miles (49:30, 8:00 pace) – Tempo Run
Oct. 26 – 3.50 miles (32:27, 9:17 pace)
Oct. 28 – 10.00 miles (1:39:51, 9:59 pace) – Busa Bushwhack Trail Race
Oct. 29 – 4.20 miles (38:36, 9:14 pace)
Nov. 1 – 6.20 miles (56:21, 9:05 pace)
Nov. 2 – 6.50 miles (58:58, 8:57 pace)
Nov. 3 – 8.10 miles (1:09:10, 8:32 pace)
Nov. 4 – 10.20 miles (1:29:34, 8:47 pace)

Total Miles: 167.2 miles
2012 YTD Miles: 1,264.3 miles

Mara's First 5K Race

My daughter Mara has always been active. She played sports when she was little and then took dance lessons. Later on she was part of her Junior High and High School theater groups. Even with all of this activity, Mara never seemed too interested in running. She would go to her brother Nathan's track meets and came and watched me finish a couple of my marathons. But, she never expressed a real interest in the sport. Therefore I was a bit surprised when she told us after being at TCU for a couple of weeks that she wanted to train to run a half marathon.


Most people who decide to start running set a goal. They may choose to start running with the goal to run at least 1 mile every other day. Or they might go out on the internet and find a "Couch to 5K" training program with the goal to run a 5K with some friends in the near future. It would be that rare person who would suddenly decide that they wanted to run a half marathon having never really trained seriously for any type of road race. I can tell you that when Mara decides to do something, she goes all in. Needless to say I wasn't surprised. Instead I encouraged her to start running gradually and to build up over time.

Being a Disney fanatic, Mara had set her sights on running one of the Disney Halfs. She informed us that she had found a training program on the Disney website and was going to follow that program. Again, we didn't discourage her. We just cautioned her to take it slow. Mara among her other health issues has asthma and acid reflux. Neither of which are conducive to a running lifestyle. But she is 18 years old and doesn't think of these things as barriers to her goal. Mara will just work around them. She always has succeeded when she set her mind to something.

When we would Skype with her, she would always talk about how she was sticking to her workout routines. She would talk excitedly about how "buff" she was getting. It was really great to see how excited she was about this new found hobby. TCU has a newly renovated recreation center. When I was there it was known as the Rickel Building. Now the Rec Center has a purple indoor track, a 12,000-square-feet weight room, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool with a hot tub, a 1,000-square-feet climbing wall and locker rooms with a sauna. Mara goes over there and uses the treadmills and elliptical to get her miles in.

After a few weeks of continuous training, I suggested that she think about signing up for a 5K race near campus so that she could get a feel for what a road race is like before signing up for a half marathon. Surprisingly, she thought that was a good idea. I then asked if she would like to run one when I was going to be visiting her on Parents Weekend. There is always a 5K being run somewhere almost every weekend. She told me that she would like that but cautioned me that she was not as fast as me. I have never thought of myself as fast. I assured her I just wanted to run with her no matter what her pace would be on race day.

We signed up for a small 5K race in Arlington, Texas called the Trailblazer III Two-Fifths Marathon & 5K. It was described as a flat fast course on a trail in River Legacy Park. It said that the 5K course was mostly tree lined which I thought would be really nice. Mara thought so too. The entry fee was only $20 per person and Mara would get her first race T-shirt. I told her just to keep training but to rest at least the two days before the race.

The race was set to start at 8:30 a.m. The Horned Frog football game had been moved from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. So, Mara and I were a little concerned about running the race, heading back to my in-laws, showering and getting to the game before kick-off. But, we committed to running the race. We got up at 7:15 a.m. and headed up to River Legacy Park to get our race number and to find the starting line. It was definitely a small race which I loved. There were 34 runners in the 5K and many more for the 10 miler (2/5ths Marathon). It was a beautiful morning for a run and we enjoyed hanging out waiting for the start. As we waited, I told Mara that she could now consider herself a real runner. She asked, “Why?” I told her the famous quote, “The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank.” She liked that.

The race director started us a little later than expected. This put a little pressure on us as we didn’t want to miss kick-off. The other issue was that Mara had forgotten to bring her inhaler with her. I told her that we should just take it slow and see how it goes. Her goal was to run it in 45 minutes which was definitely doable. I was just a little concerned about her asthma acting up. The gun finally went off about 9:00 a.m. and we headed out on the trail.

It was a really flat course and tree lined as promised. Even though I wanted to go out slow, the excitement of the race caused us to go a little faster than we wanted and we finished the first mile in a little over 10 minutes. I pulled the pace back a bit. When we got close to 2 miles, Mara was having a little trouble breathing so we took a short walk break and then started running again. We had to take a couple of short walk breaks during the last mile. But when we saw the 3 mile marker, Mara wanted to run hard the last 1/10 of a mile. We picked up the pace and pushed to the finish line.

We finished the race in 35:03 and 11:17 per mile pace. Mara was so excited to have finished and had crushed her goal time by 10 minutes. She was grinning from ear to ear. We got some water and headed to the car so we could get back down to my in-laws to shower. She called her Mom on the way and I could tell how proud she was of her accomplishment. She should be. So many people say they are going to go out and run a 5K race and then chicken out in the end. Mara could have decided not to run when she realized she didn’t have her inhaler. But, Mara is one tough girl and she was going to run this race no matter what.

As a long time runner, I get real pleasure out of helping other runners meet their goals. When I have been at 5K and 10K races in the past, I loved seeing new runners complete their first race. You can see the excitement their eyes as they cross that finish line. They now know the feeling of accomplishment that all of us runners feel when we race no matter how fast or slow we run. Pretty soon they will be doing 5Ks and 10Ks regularly because they have become addicted to a healthy running lifestyle that will facilitate their health and happiness for the rest of their lives. I am sure that Mara has caught the bug and I am looking forward to running a race with her in the future. Do I hear “Turkey Trot!”

Sept. 3 – 6.00 miles (54:17, 9:03 pace)
Sept. 4 – 3.20 miles (24:48, 7:45 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 6 – 5.10 miles (46:16, 9:04 pace)
Sept. 8 – 9.10 miles (1:19:37, 8:45 pace)
Sept. 9 – 7.10 miles (1:04:49, 9:08 pace)
Sept. 11 – 3.20 miles (25:30, 7:58 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 13 – 5.20 miles (41:39, 8:01 pace) – Tempo Run
Sept. 14 – 6.10 miles (53:30, 8:46 pace)
Sept. 15 – 9.20 miles (1:22:50, 9:00 pace)
Sept. 16 – 7.20 miles (1:04:17, 8:56 pace)
Sept. 17 – 5.20 miles (46:46, 8:57 pace)
Sept. 18 – 3.20 miles (24:39, 7:42 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 20 – 5.10 miles (48:14, 9:28 pace)
Sept. 22 – 3.10 miles (35:01, 11:19 pace) – Trailblazer III Two-Fifths Marathon & 5K, Arlington, TX
Sept. 24 – 6.30 miles (55:40, 8:49 pace)
Sept. 25 – 3.20 miles (24:22, 7:37 pace) – Speed Work
Sept. 28 – 5.20 miles (41:40, 8:00 pace) – Tempo Run
Sept. 30 – 6.60 miles (59:03, 8:57 pace)

Total Miles: 99.3 miles
2012 YTD Miles: 1097.1 miles

A Runner's Empty Nest

On August 12, 1991, my wife Beverly's and my life changed with the birth of our son Nathan.  Where we once were a young couple with no real cares or worries in the world, we now had another person to care for.  What we didn't know then was just how challenging raising a child would be for us.  While it was challenging, it has been equally as rewarding.  I can remember wondering how was I going to be able to be the guardian and the caretaker of this tiny, helpless little person who had suddenly appeared into my life.  And more importantly, how was I going to be able to empower him to be able to live a healthy, happy, and successful life?

Those questions did not get any easier on July 12, 1994 with the birth of our daughter Mara.  Here was this beautiful baby girl who too would need love and caring to grow up into an equally beautiful woman.  I remember looking at her and wondering what she was going to be like when she grew up.  What I didn't know was that raising her would be a wild and furious ride through life.  If I knew then what the ride would be like, I would have buckled in and enjoyed the anticipation of the most wonderful E-ticket ride I could imagine.

Don't get me wrong, both of my children presented parenting challenges in their own way.  They have both grown into happy, healthy and caring individuals who will do great things in this world.  What I  know now is that having children forever changes you.  I found that nothing from their first cries as they enter this world until they leave the nest remains the same.  Everything I thought and cared about changed.  Not only that but my perspective on life and all of my fears and dreams forever changed.  There were always going to be two individuals walking across this planet whose well being would affect me no matter how long I remain in this world.

Fast forward almost 21 years to the day Nathan was born and there I was at Texas Christian University (TCU) moving my baby girl into her dormitory for her freshman year of college.  It was a very strange and almost surreal day.  In August of 1979, I was doing the same thing at the same place.  Time seemed to telescope, where unless I looked in the mirror, I felt like that same 17 year old kid nervous about being on his own for the first time.  I could see that same nervous excitement in Mara as we got her settled in. I was excited for her and at the same time a little sad that she didn't need me as much as she did over the past 18 years.  She was an adult now.

I will admit that when we left Nathan at Tulane two years ago, I felt sad and happy.  I could tell he had picked the right college and was going to be fine.  I also knew that even though our family dynamic was going to be forever changed that day I still had Mara in the house which would help me transition.  But, leaving TCU that day was even harder.  Letting go this time was far more emotionally charged. After all, Mara and I had a special bond in that we both love to entertain others.  I had become so involved in her theater life that I knew I was going to have a hard time transitioning to not be able to see her perform.  I reconciled myself to the fact that Bev and I had done our best to prepare her for this next phase of her life.  So when I hugged her good-bye, I could only think of one thing to say -- "I am proud of you." 

It wasn't until I arrived back home that it truly hit me -- our nest was empty.  Nathan came back with Bev from Texas and was home for a week before he headed back to Tulane.  The house became so quiet and calm without them here.  I wasn't sure how it was going to be for me without them around like they had been for the last 21 years.  I knew that I would really miss them, but with cell phones, text messaging email and Skype, I knew we would be in touch.  I do miss them but I know that we are going to develop a new kind of relationship with them.   Even though they are not under our roof any more, they know we love them and that they will always be our first priority.  That will never change.

So Bev and I enter into the third phase of our life together.  We are older and more settled in our ways maybe.  We have devoted so much of ourselves to raising a family, and much of our communication was directed towards that.  I find myself feeling a strange emptiness that was never there before.  I also find it tough to communicate with Bev in general though not because she is unable to communicate with me.  I think it is just that uncomfortable feeling of not knowing what to talk about that is not related to the kids.  Regardless, I am deeply committed to her and love her as much or more than when we first got married.  I guess I am not sure yet what being a couple again will be for us.  I do know that we have travelled this road together for 27 years and there is nothing to stop us from enjoying the rest of the ride as we find new choices, more freedoms, and new ways of loving each other.

 

Aug. 17 – 4.10 miles (36:44, 8:58 pace)

Aug. 18 – 6.10 miles (53:00, 8:41 pace)
Aug. 19 – 6.10 miles (53:31, 8:47 pace)
Aug. 20 – 5.50 miles (47:38, 8:40 pace)
Aug. 21 – 3.10 miles (24:28, 7:54 pace) – Speed Work
Aug. 23 – 5.10 miles (44:42, 8:46 pace)
Aug. 24 – 6.20 miles (55:55, 9:01 pace)
Aug. 25 – 6.20 miles (55:04, 8:53 pace)
Aug. 31 – 5.20 miles (45:11, 8:41 pace)
Sept. 1 – 6.20 miles (54:24, 8:47 pace)
Sept. 2 – 6.20 miles (54:24, 8:47 pace)

Total Miles: 60.0 miles

2012 YTD Miles: 997.8 miles

40th Falmouth Road Race -- Triumph!!!

My alarm went off at 3:30 am so that I could get up and get ready to drive the hour and a half to Falmouth for the 40th running of the Falmouth Road Race.  I had heard nightmare stories about the traffic getting into Falmouth on race day.  I didn't want to take any chances.  I knew if I left my house around 4:00 am, I would get down there in time to find a parking spot close to the buses and I could take a nap in my car and not be stressed out before the start.

I arrived at 5:35 a.m. and parked at the Mullen-Hall School which was a very short walk to the buses.  Once I parked and stretched out in my car to nap, the rain started.  It was a very heavy rain.  I dug around the back of my car and found some trash bags figuring if it didn't let up by race time, I would at least stay dry until the gun went off.  I then took a good nap setting the alarm on my Blackberry for 7:00 a.m.

The alarm went off and I awoke to the continuing sound of rain.  It hadn't let up at all.  I ripped holes in the trash bag for my head and arms.  I put my IPod in a plastic bag and stuffed it in my fanny pack and headed out into the rain to walk over to the buses.  As I walked with the rest of the runners, the rain started to let up.  My makeshift raincoat kept me dry as I walked over to  Lawrence Middle School where the buses would take me over to the starting line area in Woods Hole. 

I have to say the buses were run very efficiently and we got to the starting area quickly.  We had a short walk over to the Woods Hole Community Center near the drawbridge on Water Street.  The rain started to pick up a bit again.  I found a little covered area that had a couple of people in it trying to stay dry.  I went in and sat on the ground and hoped the rain would subside before race time.  Since, I had two and a half hours before the race, I turned on my IPod and catnapped in the covered area.  It was very peaceful and I was able to rest thoroughly until the crowds picked up and it got closer to race time. 

Finally at 9:15 the rain stopped.  I was happy about that fact and glad that we would be running under overcast skies.  It was still very humid and the temperature was over 80 degrees.  But, it was going to be much better than running in a driving rain.  I was slotted in Corral 3 and the second wave of starters.  The first wave went off at 10:10 am and we finally got to move up to the starting line.  It was crowded since there were over 12,000 runners packed into the little narrow street.  I reminded me of Main Street in Hopkinton where the Boston Marathon starts. 

We started at 10:20 am.  I had heard that you shouldn't shoot for a personal best in this race because of the narrow streets and large number of racers.  I decided to let the first mile happen at whatever speed I could muster and then see if I could pick up the pace as the race progressed.  I still wanted to try and run an 8:30 per mile average pace.  I knew I was trained for it.  I just wasn't sure if the course and crowds would allow me to reach that goal.  I told myself to just let the race unfold and enjoy one of the most beautiful courses in the running world.

The first mile was hilly and narrow and wound through a tree lined neighborhood.  Despite the rains, the crowds were out and loud as we ran along Church Street.  I was looking forward to seeing the Nobska Lighthouse just past the first mile marker.  The Nobska Light was first built in 1828  and later rebuilt in 1876.  It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Nobska Point Light Station in 1987.  It is a very beautiful lighthouse and overlooks the Vineyard Sound.  I punched my Garmin as I passed the mile marker and had run the first mile in 9:11.

We only had a short glimpse of the sound as we headed back into a tree lined neighborhood.  The crowds were still pretty thick.  But, I noticed that the rolling hills were causing problems for some of the runners.  I took advantage of my hill training and wove my way through the slower runners.  It was allowing me to pick up my pace slightly.  I felt absolutely great during the second mile and finished it in 8:22.  I thought maybe I would be able to hit my goal.  It was still early though.

Between mile two and three you run by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI).  You can see a few of the buildings from the road.  The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was founded in 1930 joining the thriving ocean science community in the village of Woods Hole that at the time included the Marine Biological Laboratory and the National Marine Fisheries Service.  Eighty-two years later, the WHOI community numbers over 1,000, including scientific and technical staff, ships’ crew and officers, and a variety of scientific, service, and administrative support staff, as well as about 130 Joint Program students.  The goal of WHOI is to help advance research and understanding of the ocean and its role in shaping and sustaining the planet.   I made a mental note to come back to Woods Hole in the future to take a tour of the Institute.  I punched my Garmin as I passed the third mile marker and had run it at an 8:21 pace.  Things were looking up.

The fourth mile was absolutely beautiful.  We were running along Surf Drive with the Vineyard Sound to our right.  Since it was windy, the sea was choppy.  It looked like a really nice beach to come and hang out on in the summer.  I am sure if I had not been focused on the race,  I could have seen Martha's Vineyard across the sound.  I really enjoyed this portion of the course.  It was 1.5 miles of scenic beauty.  When I passed mile marker number 4, I had run a 7:57 mile.  The crowds had started to thin and I was able to find a comfortable running pace.  I had 3 miles to go with some rolling hills and I was feeling great.

We turned left onto Shore Street at about 4.4 miles and headed up into the neighborhoods again.  The crowds were really starting to thicken in this area.  They were really great at encouraging the runners.  Since the Falmouth Road Race puts your name on your bib number, I heard a few people yell "Go Ted!" which was nice.  The runners were definitely thinning out and I was able to keep a very steady pace.  I hit mile marker 5 and had clocked an 8:16 mile. 

Mile five to mile six runs around Falmouth Harbor.  The crowds are really thick here which is nice.  But, the roads are narrower than Surf Drive.  This meant I was having to dodge around runners more than I had the last 4 miles.  It was started to get pretty hot as there was no breeze.  The race provided water stops which I took advantage of at this point and walked through them to get as much hydration as possible.  I finished the sixth mile in 9:04.  I was mad at myself for having dropped off the pace.  It didn't matter though, I had 1 mile to go and I was going to kill that last hill before the finish line.  

I passed the 10K mark and was at 54:30.  I had a real chance to break 1 hour.  The hill that so many people were talking about at the starting line was steep.  I took it in stride and pushed myself up and over it.  I passed so many people on that hill.  It made me thankful for the hills around Westborough.  When I crested the hill I could see the finish line.  I let it all out and ran as fast as I could passing people along the way.  I crossed the finish line in an official time of 59:59 -- an 8:34 pace!  I had run the last mile in 7:50.  I was really pleased with my effort and results.  It just goes to show that if you don't stress yourself out and let the race come to you great results will follow.

According to the race results, 10,612 runners crossed the finish line.  The winner of the race finished in 31:59 which is an average pace of 4:34 per mile.  Now that is fast!  I finished 2,315th overall which was in the top 20% of all racers (actually 21.8%).  I finished 1,578th out of the 5,193 men who finished the race which is the top 30%.  I am so proud of myself for training hard and reaping the rewards.  I will be turning 51 in a couple of weeks and I think I have many more years of racing ahead.  I am training smart, eating right (mostly) and having a lot of fun out there on the roads. 

July 30 – 6.10 miles (54:31, 8:55 pace)

July 31 – 3.20 miles (24:43, 7:43 pace) – Speed Work
August 2 – 5.50 miles (47:24, 8:37 pace) – Tempo Run
August 3 – 6.10 miles (55:24, 9:04 pace)
August 4 – 7.20 miles (1:05:26, 9:05 pace)
August 5 – 8.40 miles (1:17:59, 9:17 pace)
August 6 – 5.10 miles (45:56, 9:00 pace)
August 7 – 3.10 miles (28:37, 9:14 pace)
August 9 – 6.20 miles (54:09, 8:44 pace)
August 12 – 7.00 miles (59:59, 8:34 pace)

Total Miles: 57.9 miles

2012 YTD Miles: 937.8 miles

My Next Adventure - The 40th Annual Falmouth Road Race

On August 12, I will be running my next road race.  I was selected in the lottery to participate in the 40th running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race.  I have read about this road race every year since moving to Massachusetts in 2008.  It is one of New England's more famous races.  I have to admit I never heard about it when I lived elsewhere in the country.  But, since moving here, I have found it is extremely popular and people try each year to win a spot in the race through the lottery.  More people apply for places than can be accommodated in the race, so a lottery is held to select the field of runners. I made my application during the short window of time back in early May.  Much to my surprise, I was selected on my first try.

The story goes that Tommy Leonard, an avid runner and popular bartender in Boston and Falmouth, closed his bar to watch Frank Shorter in the Olympic Marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics.  Leonard like the rest of the country was interested because Shorter was in contention to be the first American to win the Olympic Marathon since 1908. After Shorter won the marathon Leonard was quoted as saying "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could get Frank Shorter to run in a race on Cape Cod?" One year later, in the summer of 1973, with the help of a local high school track coach John Carroll, and the town's recreation director Rich Sherman, the first Falmouth Road Race was run by approximately 100 people. The next year there were 445 runners.  Finally in 1975, Leonard's dream came true when Frank Shorter came to Falmouth and joined 850 other runners in the race.  Now 40 years later, I will line up with 12,800 other runners to participate in one of the best non-marathon races in the country.

According to the race's website:

The race is seven miles long and begins in front of the Woods Hole Community Center, near the drawbridge on Water Street. The first three miles are narrow, hilly, winding tree-shaded roads, while the last four miles are open on the flat right next to Martha's Vineyard Sound. A small steep hill lets you know that you are beginning the last half-mile of the race. Once you crest the hill it is "all downhill" to the finish.

I have been training on hills to try and prepare myself for the early hills.  I would like to run the race at an 8:45 per mile pace.  This would mean I would finish in 61 minutes.  I am not sure whether or not I will be able to hit my pace as I suspect the narrow course will limit my ability to hit any pace as there are so many runners.  If I start off and find that this is the case,  I will just run the best pace I can and just have a good time.  I am hoping that the estimated 75,000 spectators who line the course will make it feel like the Boston Marathon which will make it an absolutely enjoyable race.  No matter how I fast I finish, I am going to relish the experience which is really what this sport is all about.

July 9 – 3.10 miles (26:48, 8:39 pace)
July 10 – 3.10 miles (23:48, 7:41 pace)
July 13 – 6.10 miles (53:01, 8:42 pace)
July 15 – 5.10 miles (44:41, 8:46 pace)
July 16 – 3.20 miles (24:46, 7:44 pace) – Speed Work
July 19 – 5.20 miles (41:45, 8:02 pace) – Tempo Run
July 20 – 6.20 miles (54:12, 8:45 pace)
July 21 – 9.20 miles (1:21:09, 8:49 pace)
July 23 – 5.30 miles (47:25, 8:57 pace)
July 24 – 3.20 miles (24:50, 7:45 pace) – Speed Work
July 26 – 5.20 miles (41:29, 7:59 pace) – Tempo Run

July 27 – 6.10 miles (54:48, 8:59 pace)
July 28 – 8.60 miles (1:19:13, 9:12 pace)
July 29 – 9.10 miles (1:19:07, 8:42 pace)

Total Miles: 78.7 miles
2012 YTD Miles: 879.9 miles

2012 Green Mountain Relay - The Howlin' Haulin' Huffin' Herd

On June 22nd, I met up with my friends Jason, Brooks and Tim to head up to Smugglers Notch Resort.  We wanted to get on the road early so we could have some dinner up there and rest before our next adventure race -- The Green Mountain Relay.  We got on the road and made really good time arriving at the resort in time to have a nice dinner and to get settled into our condo to wait for the other 8 runners from The Howlin' Haulin' Huffin' Herd to arrive.  The team chose to stay up at Smugglers Notch as it was very close to the starting line in Jeffersonville, VT and allowed us to get a good night's sleep before the start of a potentially 36 hours race.

The rest of the team arrived around 10:30 pm or so.  Jason, Brooks and I had been enjoying a nice bottle of Argentinean Malbec.  Everyone was really pumped up for the race.  So they opened the second bottle and had some wine with us.  We talked about the legs and what we could expect to see on the course.  We knew that this relay was a small one with less than 30 teams participating.  This meant we would be running on the road without any other runners in sight most of the time.  For those who had never run an adventure race, I tried to calm any fears they had which seemed to help.  We turned in after agreeing to be up at 6:00 am to head over to the starting line to turn in the final paperwork before our 7:30 am start time.

Surprisingly everyone was up on time and we loaded the vans with our snacks, water, duffels, etc.  Then we decorated our vans with various sayings and our runners’ names.  I put “Dude…Where’s My Runner?” on the back window of my van thinking it would be funny.  We all got a good laugh out of it.  Unfortunately, it was prophetic.  We then jumped in the vans and headed up to Jeffersonville to the starting line area.

We checked in with the race officials and were good to go.  We all stood around stretching and nibbling on some of the snack food while we waited for the official start.  It turned out that there were only 26 teams in the race.  This meant the 7:30 am start had a total of 3 teams starting.  Kent was our first runner and took off at the gun.  My van was Van 1 so we had to head out to meet him at the transition area. 

Our first four runners were Kent, Jason, Vanessa and Brooks. They all had great runs.  We were at 3 hours and 48 minutes which was a 9:11 per mile pace.  This was starting to look like we were going to have a really good race.  I was runner number 5 on the team and had the three most difficult legs in the race.  Not sure why I signed up for runner 5.  Regardless, I had trained on hills to make sure I was ready for my three legs.  Unfortunately, no amount of hill training would help me if I missed a turn.  Which is exactly what happened on my first leg.

Brooks came in and handed off to me.  I took off hoping to hold a 9:00 to 9:15 pace for this leg.  It was 8.2 miles.  The first 2 miles would have me going uphill gaining 400 feet of elevation. Then a little over a mile of downhill before heading back up hill gaining 500 feet over 1.5 miles.  Then the last 3.7 miles were downhill losing about 700 feet.  I knew if I could push over the hills, I could pick up time on the downhill section.  I had a plan in place and thought I knew the route. 

The first turn was 0.7 of a mile and I was looking for the turn or street sign that would tell me where to turn.  I was running along past 0.7 mile and noticed none of the street signs were the right street.  When I got to about 1.2 miles since heading out, I knew I had missed the turn.  I stopped to look at the map I had and couldn’t figure out where I went wrong.  Just then a car pulled over and the woman driving said, “Are you running the relay?”  I said yes and she told me I was going the wrong way and to follow her. 

I followed her car back to where the turn was and then noticed the sign.  I was pretty mad at myself because I had just added a mile to my run but more importantly added a good 9 minutes or so to my time.  I started to push my pace a little harder than I should to try and make up some of the lost time.  Despite the pressure I was putting on myself, I was really enjoying the route.  I got to run over the Gold Brook Covered Bridge and then up the hill where my team was waiting for me with some water and encouraging words.  They got a laugh at my going the wrong way since I am a trained real estate professional and should have a good sense of direction.

I kept going feeling pretty good.  When I reached the biggest hill, I shortened my stride and just kept going.  When I got to a turn before the final ascent, I noticed Vanessa was standing at the turn.  Apparently they were worried I would miss it.  She pointed out the horse that was watching me and then gave me another sip of water.  The rest of the team cheered me on and I pushed on.  What I didn’t know is that Jason had Vanessa run behind me like a groupie and got this very funny shot.  I was totally oblivious to what was happening as I was focused on the run.

As expected the downhill was a relief. I really pushed the pace the entire way.  I really wanted to make up the time I lost.  My quads were taking a pounding.  But, I kept the pace brisk and at one point was averaging slightly less than 8 minutes per mile.  As I looked at my Garmin, I knew I was not going to be able to make up the time.  I pulled into the transition area to hand off to Jackie at 83 minutes and 10 seconds.  I had averaged 9:02 per mile.  However, the official time sheet would show my average pace was 10:14 because I had run an extra mile that did not count. 

Jackie finished her run strong.  We had completed the first 6 legs of the race in 5 hours 51 minutes. We had completed 37 miles averaging 9:29 per mile.  We now would be able to rest as Van 2 would be running the next 6 legs.  If they averaged 9 minutes per mile, we had over 6 hours before we had to meet them at the transition area.  We decided to have lunch in Waterbury and to visit Ben & Jerry’s headquarters.  We figured we deserved it.  Once we had our fill of food and ice cream we headed down to Hancock to meet Van 2 and to start our next 6 legs.

Well, Van 2 was right on time.  They finished their last leg a little after 7:30 pm.  They had run 41.5 miles in 6 hours and 5 minutes averaging a blistering 8:48 mile and bringing the team average down to 9:10 per mile.  This made me happy as we were making up some of the lost time from my missing the turn.  Kent headed out and our runners did their thing.  And 2 hours and 12 minutes later it was time for my second run.  I would be running in the dark with my headlamp and reflective vest.  I love to run in the dark as it is very peaceful and soothing.

My next leg (Leg 17) was a 6.6 mile uphill run gaining 753 feet of elevation.  There were no downhill portions.  I started running at about 9:40 pm.  I was determined to do better than my last leg.  The good news was that there was only one turn and it was easily found.  My teammates stopped a couple of times along the route to make sure I had not been eaten by a bear or run over by a motorist.  I felt great the entire run.  The sky was clear and there were at least a million stars in view.  I am always amazed at the night sky when you are far away from civilization.  It is awe inspiring.

I kept my pace very steady and made the turn onto US 4 East/Rte 100 South and headed to the exchange point.  I finished in 1 hour and 51 seconds averaging 9:12 per mile right on my goal pace.  Jackie ran the last leg and we finished our 2^nd set of 6 legs in 4 hours and 4 minutes.  We had run 28.2 miles and averaged 8:39 per mile.  We were really doing well.  The entire team was really getting pumped up.  Van 2 started their next 6 legs and we headed down to the Weston Recreation Area to get some sleep while we waited for Van 2 to finish.  They had 34 miles to run and would be done in about 5 hours.

We got to the recreation area where there was a large field by the tennis courts where we could set up tents and sleep outside.  I had brought a tarp to sleep on as the temperature was only going to be in the mid-40s.  Almost perfect sleeping weather.  Kent, Brooks, Jason and I got into our sleeping bags on the tarp and the girls slept in the van.  We set our alarm for 5:00 am knowing that Van 2 would be coming in around that time.  I have to admit I slept pretty well before Jason woke us up to get ready for Van 2’s arrival.

They arrived right on schedule.  They had run their 34 miles in 5 hours and 8 minutes.  This was a 9:03 pace.  We had run almost 141 miles at this point and were averaging 9 minute miles as a team.  I knew both vans had our toughest runs ahead.  We did get rest and were well hydrated.  But, getting out on the road for your 3^rd run in less than 24 hours is hard no matter how in shape you are and I knew it would be a battle to the finish.  Spirits were high when Kent headed out and Van 2 headed off for some much needed rest.

Kent, Jason, Vanessa and Brooks all had really good runs.  It was now time for my final run of 4.4 miles.  The route would be fairly flat to start before heading up hill.  My run would have me gaining 615 feet of elevation over the 4.4 miles.  I was ready to tackle it.  I headed off hoping to average 9:15 per mile again.  What I didn’t know is how much the first 2 runs had taken out of my legs.  I was running alone until I heard the footsteps of another runner who passed me like I was standing still.  Then another runner passed me and I felt like I was losing ground.  I tried to pick up the pace but the hill was steep and I didn’t have enough gas in the tank to go any faster. 

I crested the final portion of the hill and saw my teammates cheering me on.  I pushed it a little harder and with sweat dripping off me I handed off to Jackie.  I had finished my last leg in 45 minutes 42 seconds and averaged 9:27 per mile.  I was actually pleased with my pace as I thought I had really lost it and slowed down.  My totals were 20.2 miles (I had run that extra mile) in 186 minutes at an average pace of 9:12 per mile.  My official per mile pace was 9:41.  I knew I had done what I could with 3 tough legs.  We jumped back into the van to meet Van 2 and cheer Jackie on.

We headed on to wait for Jackie at the top of her hill to see if she needed any water.  She said she was struggling a bit.  So, I told Jason that I would run with her to the top of the hill and then down to the turn.  He, Brooks and Vanessa would run the last portion of the run with her to keep her motivated.  I was tired but felt good enough to help Jackie.  We chatted trying to keep her mind off of the run.  We got to the bottom of the hill and she took off with our teammates.  Kent and I drove up to the transition area to meet Van 2.  I knew Jackie would make it because she is tough.

Sure enough at about 8:15 am, I saw Jackie coming in to the transition area to hand off to Tim.  We were done.  We had covered 24.2 miles in 3 hours and 37 minutes which was an 8:58 per mile pace.  Somehow we got faster in the final legs.  We celebrated being done.  All of us got out of our wet, sweaty clothes so we could go to breakfast before heading to the finish line to run across with our teammates.  My van ran a total of 89.4 miles (excluding my extra mile) in 13 hours and 32 minutes for an average pace of 9:05 minutes per mile.  Not too bad!

We enjoyed a nice breakfast and chatted about the race and our experiences.  It seemed to be unanimous that we would all like to do this race again.  We paid for our food and then drove down to the finish line area which was at Mount Anthony Union Middle School in Bennington, VT.  We got there and Jackie pulled out her big blanket and we all stretched out in the sun.  It was an absolutely beautiful sunny day.  We watched other teams come across and finish while waiting for our last runner Alan to come in.  Finally, Van 2 pulled into the parking area and we knew it was almost over.

Alan finally came into view around 1:40 pm.  He apparently also took a wrong turn and had to double back.  He came up the little hill to the parking area where we met him and ran across the finish line as a team.  The Herd and made it with no injuries and a lot of smiles on our faces.  We all high fived each other and talked excitedly about the experience while munching on the pizza provided by the race.  The best part was that the runners who ran in the Mass Dash last summer felt like we had really run our best race.  It is such a different and more enjoyable experience when you have a full team.  After a while, we split up and headed back home with all those endorphins swimming around in our bodies.  What an experience!  I would love to do it all again next year.

The Howlin' Haulin' Huffin' Herd was 19^th overall.  We had run 197.8 miles in 30 hours and 35 seconds.  We averaged a 9:02 per mile pace as a team.  What is really interesting is how close both vans were in average pace.  This meant we had a well balanced team and had divvied up the legs correctly.  In looking back on the race, my only regret is that wrong turn I took.  Had I not missed the turn we could have come in under 30 hours.  Oh well, there is always next year!

June 17 – 9.20 miles (1:19:28, 8:39 pace)
June 18 – 3.20 miles (28:59, 9:04 pace)
June 19 – 5.20 miles (46:00, 8:51 pace)
June 23 – 9.20 miles (1:23:10, 9:02 pace) – Green Mountain Relay Leg 1
June 23 – 6.60 miles (1:00:51, 9:12 pace) – Green Mountain Relay Leg 2
June 24 – 4.40 miles (45:42, 9:27 pace) – Green Mountain Relay Leg 3
July 5 – 4.20 miles (39:07, 9:19 pace)
July 7 – 6.00 miles (52:49, 8:48 pace)

Total Miles: 48.0 miles
2012 YTD Miles: 801.2 miles

My Next Adventure...200 miles in Vermont

I had to take off time from running due to a severe case of shin splints in my left leg.  It started to manifest itself during the last 3 weeks before I ran the 2012 Boston Marathon.  It would come and go.  So I didn't worry about it too much.  During my taper phase for Boston, it went away completely and I did not feel that pain until I was about 18 miles into the marathon.  It was bearable enough so that I could finish the race.  But, when I returned to running a few days after the marathon, it became worse and worse until I decided to stop for a week and to go see my massage therapist.

The good news is that my massage therapist was able to get my soleus muscle to let loose and stop pulling hard on the back side of the tibia thus relieving the pain.  In fact, I went for a short run the next day and felt 75% better than before I went to see her.  One week later, I was back to normal pain free running.  I was so happy.  The best part of the treatment is that it has allowed me to get back to running at a faster pace comfortably which will come in handy the weekend of June 22 as I join a team of runners in the Green Mountain Relay in Vermont. 

Yep, I am running another one of those crazy adventure races.  The Green Mountain Relay is over 200 miles of bucolic country scenery for the participants to enjoy.  It is always run over or near the summer solstice weekend.  This year the summer solstice is June 20th.   The runners will run through the heart of Vermont's lush green valleys and of course hills, much of it along Route 100, one of Americas most scenic two-lane roadways.  The route is as challenging as it is beautiful, as Vermont is hilly.   What I am most excited about is that we will always have something new to look at along the route: covered bridges, farmland, valley vistas and small villages brimming with charm.

The race is limited to just 100 teams, thus providing runners an intimate, peaceful racing experience.  This year there are only 28 teams meaning we will have the roads to ourselves most of the time.  The starting line is in Jeffersonville, VT about 45 minutes from Burlington.  The finish line is 200 miles south in Bennington, VT.  There are 36 legs and each of our team members will run 3 legs.  I am going to be Runner #5 and will run 19.3 miles.  My legs are rated the most difficult overall of the 12 runners and I can’t wait.  My first leg is 8.2 miles.  The second leg is 6.7 miles and the final leg is 4.4 miles.  I know my team will be cheering me on. 

If you want to check out our finishing time when the race is over, just go to this web site (http://rltrelays.com/index.php/races/green-mountain-relay.html) and look for The Howlin' Haulin' Huffin' Herd.  I will be writing about our experience in my next post.  If you are a serious runner and like camaraderie, these adventure races are the thing to do.  I highly recommend them.

May 14 – 6.10 miles (57:33; 9:26 pace)
May 15 – 3.10 miles (24:24, 7:52 pace)
May 17 –5.10 miles (40:27, 7:56 pace) – Tempo Run
May 18 – 6.20 miles (56:40, 9:09 pace)
May 26 – 4.10 miles (36:14, 8:49 pace)
May 28 – 5.20 miles (44:38, 8:35 pace)
May 29 – 3.20 miles (25:30, 7:58 pace) – Speed Work
May 31 – 5.20 miles (41:31, 7:59 pace) – Tempo Run
June 1 – 6.20 miles (54:10, 8:44 pace)
June 3 – 7.20 miles (1:04:25, 8:57 pace)
June 4 – 5.20 miles (47:30, 9:08 pace)
June 5 – 3.20 miles (25:21, 7:55 pace) – Speed Work
June 6 – 6.20 miles (49:29, 7:59 pace) – Tempo Run
June 8 – 5.10 miles (45:21, 8:53 pace)
June 9 – 8.30 miles (1:13:31, 8:52 pace)
June 10 – 7.20 miles (1:04:31, 8:58 pace)
June 11 – 4.30 miles (39:36, 9:13 pace)
June 12 – 3.10 miles (26:42, 8:37 pace) – Speed Work
June 14 – 6.60 miles (54:11, 8:45 pace)
June 15 – 4.10 miles (36:12, 8:50 pace)
June 16 – 8.20 miles (1:12:11, 8:48 pace)

Total Miles: 113.1 miles
2012 YTD Miles: 753.2 miles

My Run for the Hoses - 116th Boston Marathon Part 2

As I told my friend Helen after she read my last entry, "Stay tuned it only gets worse."  More prophetic words were not spoken.  We bid the Wellesley co-eds good bye and headed into downtown Wellesley.  The crowds were still very boisterous and several people were handing water and ice out to the runners.  Evan and I took some ice from one of the marathon fans.  I tucked mine under my hat in hopes that it would cool me down as the ice melted.  I have to say it did provide some relief from the heat but only temporarily.  The question remained in my mind, "how much hotter would it get before we reached the finish line?"

As that thought crossed my mind I looked up at a clock along the street and it flashed 89 degrees.  Wow!  That was the ambient air temperature in the center of Wellesley and we still had a little under 13 miles to go.  Evan said that his family would be somewhere past the 14 mile mark.  That seemed to motivate us both to keep running despite feeling the effects of running in the heat creeping up on us.  Our light hearted conversation seemed to help as well.

We started looking for Evan's family who said they would be on the right side of the street just past the mile 14 marker.  We passed the marker still running at a decent pace.  Finally after passing the Wellesley shopping center, we saw them standing in the shade in front of the Senior High School.  We stopped for a couple of minutes so that Evan could talk to his kids and give us a quick breather in the shade of the trees before we had to head on. 

I told Evan that the toughest hill in the marathon lay ahead.  He thought I meant Heartbreak Hill.  But, I explained that the hill I hate the most is the one that leads you up from Lower Newton Falls over 128 and past Newton Wellesley Hospital.  We decided to keep running using the downhill stretch to Lower Newton Falls to help us keep our pace. 

When we reached the hill, it looked huge.  The heat as we started up the hill felt like it had increased 10 degrees.  After a few minutes, Evan and I decided to just walk the hill and start running after we reached its summit.  I can't tell you how lonely it felt walking up and over 128 despite the fact that there were runners all around us.  It was at this point that I started to feel some cramps in my left calf and the beginnings of a couple of blisters on my toes.   I never get blisters when I run.  But with my shoes and socks soaking wet it was inevitable.  I was just hoping they wouldn't burst before I finished the race.

We reached the top of the hill and started a slow jog.  I told Even we needed to look for the Newton Fire House as that was the turn into the Newton Hills.  I explained that the crowds in Newton would be very supportive and loud.  We soldiered on and finally saw that Boston Marathon icon -- the Fire House.  I looked down at my watch and noticed that we were still running at a sub 10 minute pace.  Although we were not feeling great, we only had to get up the hills and then it would be smooth sailing to the finish line.  At least that's what I thought as we turned onto Commonwealth Avenue.

As we passed the Newton Fire Station Evan started to cramp up.  We stopped and stretched before starting up the first Newton hill.  I will admit right here that Evan and I both struggled at these hills the heat was definitely taking its toll.  The good news was the residents lining Commonwealth Avenue were handing out ice, spraying us with hoses and encouraging us to keep going.  We ran/walked the first 2 hills and took a moment out to visit the statue of Johnny Kelley.  I told Evan if did nothing else and had to walk the rest of the way, we were going to run up Heartbreak Hill.  Surprisingly he agreed.

For those who know Heartbreak Hill, it is a 1/2 mile hill starting at mile 20.5 of the race.  In itself, the incline is merely challenging but after 20 1/2 miles in 85+ degree heat the effort to conquer this pesky little speed bump became like Mt. Everest to us.  Conquer it we did.  When we reached the summit I pointed out the Prudential Tower  to Evan and told him, "that's where we are headed."  I told him to keep moving slowly ahead because we would be able to feed off the energy created by the Boston College students which was only 1/2 mile ahead.  I also warned him that we had a half-mile downhill past Boston College which if not taken carefully would punish our legs.  We only had 4.2 miles or so to go and we were going to finish.

As you can imagine after the Newton Hills our pace was really falling off.  I was still getting severe cramps in my left calf, the blisters were swelling and I could feel my big toes beginning to bruise from hitting the front of my shoes.  My feet were swelling more than usual. We were now slogging at a 10:54 per mile pace and slowing down as we went.  We both kept encouraging the other to keep going while at the same time checking to make sure the other was not having any major troubles that might need medical attention.  We were in this battle together.

We reached Boston College and as expected the crowds were loud.  I decided to run as close to the barricades as possible to make sure that I could get some high fives, pats on the back, encouraging words, etc.  I thought it might really help pump me up for the last 4 miles of the race.  I have to say I fed off the energy.  I am not sure how may high fives I gave out as I ran by.  Each one  felt like electricity recharging my batteries.  Someone shouted out that I was looking good.  So I responded, "Yes, but do I still look sexy?"  I have to admit I got a huge laugh out of the crowd. 

We made the turn that would take us down to Cleveland Circle and Beacon Street.  The crowds were still large and loud.  I was still feeling the emotional surge from all of the Boston College students.  Evan seemed to have been recharged as well.  We turned onto Beacon Street and it felt to me like a blanket of hot air descended upon us.  We only had 3.2 miles to go.  But I came to the realization that my reserves were draining fast, my legs were starting to cramp, and the heat was stifling.  I said to Evan we should run walk through this section and focus on making it to mile marker 25 and the DFMC Cheering section.  I felt that the DFMC crowd would give us both the energy needed to make the last push to the finish line.

We trudged on.  The people along the route were really yelling for us and urged us on.  I could see the Citgo sign ahead and knew we were nearing the 25 mile mark.  I spied it before Evan did and I told him we should make sure we run up to them.  He agreed and we started running again.  When we reached the crest of the little hill and the cheering section, I stopped to walk so I could drink in all of their love.  They were awesome.  One of the women gave me a big hug and thanked me for doing this.  I was speechless.  I gave numerous high fives to the kids and adults.  Then feeling a renewed sense of purpose turned to Evan and said let's finish this.

We turned into Kenmore Square and I was feeling rejuvenated.  We started down Commonwealth Avenue.  I told Evan we just had to get to Hereford and then a left on Boylston and we would see the finish line.  I could tell he was feeling rough.  He encouraged me to leave him and finish on my own.  I said no.  We had started this trek together and we would finish it together.  I walked with him for a while and we then ran a bit.  I kept encouraging him by shouting to the crowd, "Right on Hereford and then left on Boylston and then the finish line."  Then suddenly we reached Hereford.

Finally! Hereford Street where the crowd seemed as large as a football stadium on a Sunday afternoon.   We walked again for a little while because there is a small rise to Hereford.  I told Evan that once we turned onto Boylston Street we needed to run the last 2/10 of a mile with a smile on our face as we had just run the hardest race of our lives.  And that is just what we did.  To be honest, I had nothing left.  But I summoned up whatever fumes there were and ran across that finish line with a smile on my face. 

I finished the race in my second worst marathon time of 4:49:00.  I was disappointed that I was not able to set a new PR.  I knew I wouldn't have a chance at that when I started.  But, I felt like I had let down all of those people who supported my run and more importantly those friends who were still battling cancer.   I wanted to make them proud.  I know that I am being silly.  No one expected me to set a record in the second hottest Boston Marathon on record.  Now that I have had time to reflect on that day, I am proud of what I accomplished.  And I want to run another marathon to prove to myself that I can run another sub-4 hour marathon.  Which allows me to end this entry with one of my favorite quotes:

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" -- Winston Churchill

I know I have the courage to continue.

Apr. 23 – 6.10 miles (55:13; 9:03 pace)
Apr. 30 – 5.30 miles (46:52, 8:51 pace)
May 1 – 3.10 miles (24:33, 7:55 pace) – Speed Work
May 4 – 6.20 miles (54:11, 8:45 pace)
May 5 – 7.30 miles (1:04:06, 8:47 pace)
May 6 – 8.70 miles (1:18:31, 9:03 pace)
May 7 – 5.30 miles (49:00, 9:15 pace)
May 8 – 3.10 miles (24:25, 7:52 pace) – Speed Work
May 10 – 5.10 miles (45:00, 8:49 pace) – Tempo Run
May 11 – 6.10 miles (54:41, 8:57 pace)
May 12 – 8.50 miles (1:14:59, 8:49 pace)
May 13 – 10.10 miles (1:32:43, 9:11 pace)

Total Miles: 74.9 miles

2012 YTD Miles: 640.1 miles

My 2012 Boston Marathon

5k	10k	15k	20k	Half	25k
0:30:34	1:01:16	1:31:37	2:03:29	2:10:24	2:37:43
30k	35k	40k	Finish	Pace
3:15:57	3:54:59	4:31:59	4:49:00	0:11:02
Overall		Gender		Division
16605		10102		1504