Lessons Learned From Being a Runner

In 2009 several running organizations got together to establish National Running Day.  It occurs the first Wednesday in June every year now.  It is the day that we runners can declare our passion for the sport that keeps us healthy and in my case sane.  It is also a day that all runners across the globe can go out for a run to celebrate this day.  As a runner it is our obligation to celebrate our sport by planning and going out for a  run, infecting a friend with our passion for running, signing up for a race, or even setting a new running goal for ourselves. I have embraced this challenge and plan to celebrate it every year from now on.

This past National Running Day I went out for a short run as part of my participation in the Runner's World Run Streak challenge.  It was my 10th consecutive run of the streak that started on May 26th and ends on the 4th of July.  I have never run consecutive days without a break since I started running back in 1985.  I thought it would be interesting to see how I would do especially given that I have been recovering from a hamstring injury.  As I ran that day, it dawned on me how much my running has taught me over the years.  I wanted to share with you what I have learned and hope that you have found similar truths during your runs.

The most important lesson that running has taught me is that there is always going to be someone faster, more seasoned or who has run more races than me.  I now know that comparing myself to other runners is a pointless exercise.  Measuring my ability against someone else’s is unfair and truly a waste of my time.  All runners (including me) have a tendency to make these evaluations.  The truth is that all I or any other runner can do is the best that we can do on any given day whether it is in a race or just a training run.  I no longer compare myself to anyone.  Rather I focus on being the best possible runner I can be and try to always run my own race. 

I have always considered my runs to be my personal time.  It is the only time during the day where I get to reflect  and focus just on what I want to focus on.  It is the perfect time for me to think without a lot of distractions.  I sincerely enjoy the sweat and labored breathing that comes with each run.  I find that it is the time where I can release pent up frustrations, tensions and explore those esoteric ideas that help me improve who I am with my family and friends.  I try to enjoy the silence when I can because as we all know there is just too much noise in the world around us.  Sometimes it is just nice to listen to the sound of your my own breathing and foot falls on the pavement.  Most importantly, I know that when I am finished with my run that I am much happier and ready to take on whatever comes my way.

Running has taught me that to be good at anything, I have to put in the time and effort.  So many people are looking for the easy way to success.  I have found that success is never going to come easy.  Without strong effort and dedication you will remain stagnant.  I know that anything worthwhile in life is worth working hard for.  Sometimes the work to get there is not fun as anyone who has trained for a marathon can attest to.  But I can assure you that it is always worth the effort.   I learned that when things don't work out as planned that it is not a sign of failure but rather just a part of the process to get me to where I am going.  Every failure is just a chance to improve.

Which brings me to another important lesson that running has taught me.  No matter how hard I work and how well prepared I am, disappointments will happen.  This is a tough lesson and one that I still struggle with daily.  I have to constantly remind myself that finish times are just times. The fact that I started a run or race is the only way that I can ever reach the finish line.  My finishing time does not hold the power over me.  I do.  And if this year's Boston Marathon did anything for me it solidified that the most gratifying experiences in life usually come as a result of enduring the most painful trials.  And that if I can just focus on putting one foot in front of the other, I will eventually make it to the finish line which is an accomplishment to be proud of every time.

Lastly,  I have learned from running that I can do anything I set my mind to.  Over the years I have said, "I can't run that far" or "I can't train like that" only to prove myself wrong.  I now know that I can run new race distances, challenging relays, run faster, and most importantly find ways to actually become a better runner despite my advancing age.  I also have seen how running makes me stronger in all capacities of my life both mentally and physically.  Best of all, I know that I can keep this up for as long as I live.  Being number one is not important to me.  It is more important to know that with practice, patience and persistence, I can achieve what I set out to do whether it is running or in my personal and business life.

As I have said many times before, running is a way of life for me.  It is a huge part of the person I have become since setting out on the road so many years ago.  My running life has allowed me to be part of a beautiful community of people who come together as one because we all love this crazy sport.  I have made so many new friends through running.  They have all had a profound and positive impact on my life.  Each of them has shown me that although I may have not been born a runner, I have built myself into one over time.  And they accept me for who I am and don't care how fast or how far I can run.  They just enjoy the camaraderie that comes with a shared experience.

I know that am a bit of a zealot now.  Some people may even tire of my obsession.  That is o.k.  because running has shown me that  I can have anything I want and that I can be happy reaching for my own goals in life.   I can rest comfortably knowing that there is no finish line in life.  So I will just enjoy the ride while it lasts.  So I encourage you to get on the road because I know you will find similar lessons if you just let running become a part of who you are too.

June 9 – 5.20 miles (47:55, 9:14 pace)

June 10 – 3.10 miles (27:42, 8:55 pace)

June 11 – 5.60 miles (51:35, 9:13 pace)

June 12 – 6.20 miles (59:43, 9:38 pace)

June 13 – 4.20 miles (39:30, 9:23 pace)

June 14 – 8.30 miles (1:18:55, 9:41 pace)

June 15 – 7.20 miles (1:08:28, 9:31 pace)

June 16 – 2.20 miles (20:15, 9:14 pace)

June 17 – 2.40 miles (22:40, 9:27 pace)

June 18 – 2.10 miles (21:55, 10:32 pace)

June 19 – 5.10 miles (46:23, 9:05 pace)

June 20 – 5.20 miles (45:55, 8:49 pace)

June 21 – 9.20 miles (1:24:48, 9:14 pace)

June 22 – 6.20 miles (58:12, 9:23 pace)

Total Miles:  72.2 miles

2014 Total Miles:  1,044.3 miles

Running in the Heat of the Summer

It is that time of year again here in the Valley of the Sun where the temperatures start to soar.  When I get up at 5:00 am to go out for my runs, I am never sure how warm it is going to be.  It can be anywhere from 70 to 85 degrees and the sun will be just cresting the horizon.  I know that by midday I will be enjoying the triple digits when I head out to lunch or errands.  I am not complaining.  As the Valley residents say, "We are just paying back for the beautiful fall, winter and spring weather we enjoy here every year."

But I do know that as I run here in Scottsdale, I have to adjust my expectations for speed and endurance when I plan my daily runs.  The one advantage I have living here in Arizona is that the humidity is usually less than 10%.  While temperature alone can cause your pace to slow down, humidity makes it even harder to run strong.  When I run in high humidity while travelling for work, I find that my legs feel heavier than normal and breathing is harder. For me, taking deep breaths in humid air is nearly impossible.  If I have to run in high temperatures, I would rather it be in a dry climate like Phoenix.

As runners, we need to alter our actions and expectations as the weather gets hotter. We need to realize and accept that our bodies react differently in hot weather.  As the temperatures rise, so do our heart rates and perceived effort. Therefore, we can’t go out and expect to run at the same paces we have been running consistently during the winter and early spring.  More importantly, we should not press ourselves in the heat from a health and safety standpoint.  This is the time of year that you really need to listen to your body.  It is important to understand that your perceived effort is reality and you need to adjust your pace accordingly.

I have read so many different opinions of how heat will affect your pace.  One opinion states that for every degree of temperature above 65 degrees you should adjust your pace by 2 seconds per mile.  In my case, I was averaging 8:50 per mile consistently during my marathon training.  This would mean that when it is 75 degrees out (like this morning), I should expect to run 20 seconds slower on my morning runs or 9:10 per mile.  I have found that for me this calculation is true.

The second most common opinion states that for every 10-degree increase in air temperature above 55 degrees, there’s a 1.5 percent to 3 percent increase in average finishing time for your run.  The theory is that the slow-down occurs due to heats impact on runners at a physiological level through various means, including dehydration, increased heart rate and reduced blood flow to the muscles used for running.  I find that this one is a little harder to pin down because you could also be having an off day.  Regardless this is another good way to measure how you are doing when it is hot outside.

You also need to monitor your heart rate when running in the heat.  We all know that our heart rate rises when we exercise.  This is to get more oxygen to our muscles. But now we also have to cool our bodies while we are running in the heat.  When it is hot, our bodies push blood nearer the surface of the skin to dissipate heat, which means less blood available to your muscles.  This, of course, puts more pressure on the cardiovascular system making our heart rate rise. Therefore you have to slow down (sometimes drastically) in hot weather to stay within a comfortable exercise zone and not cause your body temperature to rise out of control.  An increase in temperature of about 20 degrees Fahrenheit could cause your heart rate to increase by 10 beats per minute for the same workout as you did on a cooler day.

I  know that we runners don't like to slow down because we see it as weakness.  While I know I shouldn't feel that way, I still do.  I find myself getting frustrated when my pace slows during the summer months even though I know it is temporary.  The key is not letting it shake your confidence.  Stay true to your training and slow it down.  In the end, you will be back to normal as the fall approaches.  You will be glad you got your miles in and be ready for some strong fall and winter training.

Here are a few tips I have found work for me to help when faced with running in the heat.  Please do not take heat lightly and be smart out there.

1.             Reduce your clothing.  Strip down to the fewest clothes you can wear and still remain decent.  I recommend picking light colors.  I prefer loose fitting shirts so that they don't stick to me as I run.  Yes, even wicking shirts will cling to you if you are a heavy sweater like me. (Sorry for that image).
2.       Run as early as you can.  Here in Arizona it is still in the triple digits near and right after sunset.  So, the only time I can run in relatively cool temps is before 7:00 a.m.  You should avoid running at the hottest part of the day which is usually between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
3.       Slow down.   As you know the ideal running temperature is between 50º-55º and overcast.  As I said above, your pace will adjust naturally to compensate for the heat.  Why not just slow down in the first place and run comfortably.  You will not lose any of your fitness level.        
4.       Hydrate.  I carry a water bottle with me when I am going out.  It is a 24 oz bottle and I try to sip off of it at each 1/2 mile.  If you can cache water along the route when you are going out for extended runs that would be ideal.  In some cases, you may be able to create a route that has places you could replenish your water like a local park or shopping center.

To ensure you are hydrating properly, it is a good idea to weigh yourself pre- and post-run to gauge how much liquid you lose during an average run.  This is typically known as your sweat rate.  One pound of weight loss equals 1 pint of water loss. Once you know your sweat rate you can use it to determine your fluid needs during a training run or race. For example, if you lose 2 pounds during an hour run, that's 2 pints or 32 ounces. So, you will need to be able to replace your fluid loss by taking in 8 ounces of water or sports beverage every 15 minutes.

One other thing to note when you are doing high mileage or logging several consecutive days in the heat is to add foods high in potassium to your diet.  Potassium helps you to maintain a healthy fluid balance in your body.  It also plays an important role in making sure our nerves and muscles work effectively. You will find potassium in most fruits and vegetables.  Besides bananas, dried apricots, figs, raisins and prunes are all excellent sources of potassium.  You can also get potassium from tomatoes and tomato products like spaghetti sauce, salsa and ketchup.  So you don't have to gorge yourselves on bananas to increase your potassium levels.

I am by no means an expert and there are numerous articles out there that you can look up for more detailed information regarding running and training in the heat.  I intend to run throughout the summer here in Scottsdale and will do my best to not let the slower paces get me down.  Instead I am going to focus on how amazingly fast I will be when the temperatures start to fall back to that ideal level.

May 26 – 5.10 miles (47:45, 9:14 pace)

May 27 – 6.10 miles (59:53, 9:49 pace)

May 28 – 2.10 miles (20:01, 9:31 pace)

May 29 – 6.10 miles (58:27, 9:31 pace)

May 30 – 5.10 miles (47:36, 9:19 pace)

May 31 – 6.20 miles (55:42, 8:57 pace)

June 1 – 6.20 miles (57:51, 9:23 pace)

June 2 – 5.10 miles (46:42, 9:14 pace)

June 3 – 6.20 miles (58:39, 9:27 pace)

June 4 – 2.10 miles (20:19, 9:38 pace)

June 5 – 6.20 miles (59:21, 9:34 pace)

June 6 – 5.20 miles (49:13, 9:17 pace)

June 7 – 8.30 miles (1:20:56, 9:45 pace)

June 8 – 6.50 miles (1:01:41, 9:31 pace)

Total Miles:  76.5 miles

2014 Total Miles:  972.1 miles

Hamstring Injury and Recovery

As you know, I injured my hamstring during the 2014 Boston Marathon.  The good news is that it was caused by overuse and was not torn.  The best description of my injury according to my physical therapist/masseuse was a pulled hamstring.  It is more commonly referred to as a hamstring strain.  Simply put, it is a tear of the hamstring muscle fibers.  My hamstring strain is rated as somewhere between a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 strain.  The injury has definitely limited my ability to run at all and walk comfortably.  I wanted to discuss with you what a hamstring strain is and how I am rehabbing it so that I can resume my normal running routine.

Let me start by describing what the hamstring is.  The hamstrings are the tendons that attach the large muscles at the back of the thigh to bone. The hamstring muscles are the large muscles that pull on these tendons.  These muscles help us bend our knees, extend our legs, drive us up hills, and power finish-line kicks.  It is important to have strong hamstring muscles. They also attach up onto your pelvis which is why a hamstring strain can cause some pain in the hip and gluteus maximus area.  As a runner, you need to make sure that your quadriceps are not stronger than your hamstring muscles.  If you don't maintain a balance it can lead to hamstring injuries.

Hamstring issues usually arise because your hamstring muscles are weak.  It is believed that very flexible people are prone to hamstring problems because their overly stretched-out muscles are more vulnerable to damage.  I have been really diligent in my stretching over the years and now wonder if it was a partial cause of my injury.  I am not suggesting that you should skip stretching altogether because it is also known that people who can barely touch their toes or who sit for long periods of time (like me at work) are also at risk for this type of injury. As most of you know when you have tight or shortened muscles you are placing them under greater tension during exercise.  And as I alluded to above, runners' with strong quadriceps can overpower their hamstrings, which sets them up for injury.

What I have discovered in speaking with my physical therapist and reading up on the injury is that treatment of a pulled hamstring is dependent on the severity of the injury. But all of the data I have collected says that the best treatment is to simply rest. As a general rule, if you have a hamstring strain, you can do activities that do not aggravate your recent injury. What I needed to do was rest until I was pain free giving time for the injured hamstring muscles to heal.   Allowing time for the muscle to rest is the first step in treatment of most hamstring injuries. Rest allows the swelling to subside and inflammation to settle down.  If I resisted this treatment, I was sure to prolong my recovery time. 

Secondly, I was going to have  to stretch.  Stretching can begin soon after an injury.  But you cannot, aggressively stretch the area or you will exacerbate the injury. Stretching should be gentle and not painful. What my physical therapist told me was to use the normal stretches that I have been using for this portion of my legs.  She told me to stretch to the point of discomfort but not pain.  This is a very fine line.  You should never have pain while you are stretching -- even healthy muscles.  If you are experiencing pain you need to back off the stretch before you cause an injury.

If you are a runner like me, you should be seeing a masseuse regularly. I also recommend that you find one who is also trained in physical therapy.  This person can help guide you with appropriate treatments for any number of running maladies.  For this injury my physical therapist has been using ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and therapeutic massage.   After 3 session with her, I have been able to resume my running although at a much slower and less impactful pace.  I intersperse some street running with elliptical machines.  Running a slow, easy pace is usually less bothersome than attempting intervals, speed work or hill repeats. She also recommended that I could bicycle, pool run, or swim as good alternative activities. The good news is that I am feeling much less pain now when I exercise. 

What I am now starting to do is strengthening my hamstrings with one-legged hamstring curls (raise the bar with both legs, then slowly lower it one leg at a time) and one-legged dead lifts. I am also including bridges.  This is where you lie on your back with your feet on a chair or exercise ball. Raise your hips, then lift one leg into the air. Slowly lower your hips back down to the floor, using the supporting leg. Return that leg to the ball. Repeat with the other leg.  I am not very coordinated at these yet.  And I have purchased a  foam roller to alleviate tightness before and after my runs. In addition, I will be seeing my physical therapist at least monthly to have her use active release technique (ART) and deep-tissue massage  to keep me on the roads.

It has been over a month since the marathon.  I am happy to be nearly recovered from the injury.  I will need to be a little careful over the next several weeks to make sure that I don't reinjure the hamstring muscles.  Running has become such a huge part of my life and I don't want to lose the ability to run.  I also have to recognize that I am getting older.  Slowing down is a natural part of this sport as you age.  I am just not ready to give in.

May 5 – 5.20 miles (45:44, 8:49 pace)

May 6 – 6.00 miles (1:00:00, 10:00 pace)

May 8 – 5.70 miles (1:00:00, 10:32 pace)

May 9 – 5.20 miles (45:57, 8:49 pace)

May 10 – 7.10 miles (1:05:33, 9:14 pace)

May 11 – 6.10 miles (1:03:00, 10:20 pace)

May 12 – 5.20 miles (48:11, 9:14 pace)

May 13 – 5.30 miles (1:00:00, 11:20 pace)

May 14 – 6.20 miles (54:02, 8:43 pace)

May 15 – 5.10 miles (58:20, 11:26 pace)

May 16 – 6.10 miles (55:57, 9:10 pace)

May 22 – 5.20 miles (47:55, 9:14 pace)

May 23 – 5.20 miles (49:05, 9:23 pace)

May 24 – 5.50 miles (1:00:00, 10:55 pace)

May 25 – 7.10 miles (1:05:48, 9:14 pace)

Total Miles:  86.2 miles

2014 Total Miles:  895.6 miles

118th Boston Marathon - Perseverence

After training for 18 weeks, the day had finally arrived for the 2014 Boston Marathon.  It was a sunny morning and the temperature was about 65 degrees when I left my friend's house to head down to the starting line.  I wanted to get there early to make sure I could get through the security around the starting line and to have a chance to meet up with some of my Dana Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC) teammates.  My friend  dropped me off and I started to walk towards the starting line area.  The security was very tight and I had to go through a checkpoint, be wanded and then turned loose to head over to the church and DFMC Refuge.  I was a little saddened by the need for such high security as it was an indication that this race has been changed forever by the events of last year. 

At 11:00 am, the DFMC team headed out from the church towards the corrals in the starting area.  We were in Wave 3 and Corral 9.  I was about 1/2 mile from the starting line.  As I stood there amongst about 600 other DFMC teammates, I reflected on how hard I had trained leading up to this day.  I was rested and ready.  Leading up to the race, I had avoided watching any of the TV coverage of the anniversary of the events of 2013 because it was just too difficult to watch.  As a former resident of the Commonwealth and a 2 time finisher of this race, I really wanted to be there just to have the chance to be a part of the celebration of this very historic race and to try and help in my own small way to heal the City.  I was filled with excitement which had replaced the deep sadness I had felt only two days before. 

While I was downtown at the race Expo the Friday before the race, it was the first time I had walked around that part of Boston since leaving back in December 2012.  It was a very eerie feeling as it looked like it always does.  The finish line was all set up.  The barricades and bleachers were in place.  It looked exactly like it did on the day of the bombings.  As I walked towards the finish line, I felt an overwhelming sadness take over me.  I was having to hold back tears.  I headed over to the Old South Church right at the finish line to receive the scarf from its members.  They had created the Marathon Scarf project where they collected handmade scarves from all over the country to give to the runners of this year's race.  I collected mine and received a hug and a blessing from the woman.  As I walked away, I had to wipe the tears from my face.  She had told me that they were wrapping me and the other runners with their love and hope for peace in the future.

As I waited for the gun to sound, I also reflected on  the fact that runners have been training for this race for 118 years. This race has been a lifetime goal for some elite and middle of the pack marathoners like myself.  More importantly, this race is and always will be a huge chance for personal victory for everyone who tackles the challenge.  I thought about the fact that a marathon is not just about the runners who participate but it is about the families who sacrifice for their loved ones to train for and run this storied race.  Having run this race twice before, I know that it is mostly about the City of Boston coming together for a celebration of achievement and to show the world what human achievement looks like and showcase what a fabulous place Boston is. 

I didn't actually hear the gun go off.  But I knew it had as the runners started to walk towards the starting line.  I started to walk along with them.  It was good to finally be moving.  As I reached the starting line, I snapped a quick photo and headed off.  The first miles went really well.  I was feeling good and when I checked my pace after the first 5K, I was right on where I wanted to be.  I settled into the pace and figured I had a shot to break 4 hours again.  But I didn't get too excited because I still had 23 miles to go.

By the time I got to mile 10, I was feeling like I could hold the pace for the rest of the race.  I knew I would slow down a little in the Newton Hills.  But at this pace, I would still be able to come in under 4 hours with some time to spare.  My right hamstring was feeling a little sore.  But it was nothing I hadn't experienced in training.  Typically I would feel a dull pain that would subside after a little while.  So I didn't think twice about it and kept going.  I really wanted to get to Wellesley College to see how crazy the co-eds would be this year.

I reached Wellesley College still feeling pretty strong.  My hamstring was still barking a little bit but still nothing major.  So seeing that I was actually ahead of my pace, I decided to wade into the crazy screaming tunnel and get some lovin' from these co-eds.  They did not disappoint.  I high-fived so many girls that my hand hurt.  Several grabbed my shirt and kissed me on the cheek.  I am still not sure why they want to hug and kiss sweaty old guys like me.  But why disappoint, right?  When I got to the end of the college, I looked at my watch to see my current time.  It had taken me 10 minutes to get through that mile.  My pace was still ok and my hamstring seemed to be feeling better.

The next 2 miles went by without an issue.  Unfortunately, the hamstring started to feel sore again as I passed the 14 mile mark.  This time it did not feel normal.  I slowed my pace down a bit to see if it would go away.  I figured if it didn't, I could stop and stretch it out a bit.  I passed the 15 mile mark still not feeling good about my hamstring.  I had 11 miles to go.  I decided to take a 2 minute walk break to let the pain subside and then started to run again.  I wanted to finish this race no matter what.  I started to think that the 4 hour goal was not going to be reached this time.  Regardless, I was going to cross that finish line in whatever time it took.

I could feel my hamstring starting to hurt again as I was approaching the 16 mile mark.  I was hoping that it would go away.  Then I felt a very sharp pain in the upper right rear of my leg.  It felt like someone had taken my hamstring and tied it into a knot.  It was so painful I stopped almost immediately.  I walked a few paces to see if it was going to release.  It became obvious that it was not going to get any better.  I had to make a decision.  Was I going to head to the closest Medical Tent or simply keep going.  I had 10.2 miles to go.  Not being one to accept defeat, I decided to walk for about 5 minutes to see if it would get better.  If it didn't, I was going to run/walk the rest of the way.  I didn't come all this way to take a DNF.  More importantly, I did not want to let down all of my followers and donors.

I trudged on knowing that I had the Newton Hills ahead.  I also knew that with a bad hamstring, I was never going to be able to run uphill.  Without a good hamstring your leg has no power on an uphill incline.  I gingerly ran down the hill to Newton Falls and had the hill up and over I-95/128 ahead.  I struggled up the steep incline.  As I was approaching the halfway point on the hill, I saw Dick Hoyt pushing his son up the hill.  Everyone was cheering him on.  If he could push his adult son up this hill then I could push on as well.  I had to walk the last part of the hill.  As I crested it, I picked up my pace and started to slowly run to the turn at the Newton Firehouse.

As I made the turn the crowds became even thicker and more raucous.  They were cheering us all on with such passion I became energized again.  I tried to run up the first of the 3 Newton Hills.  I just couldn't do it.  My right leg was simply not cooperating and the pain was really strong.  I decided to run for 2 minutes and walk for 2 minutes.  It seemed to work a little as I continued to struggle with the incline.  I reached the base of Heartbreack Hill and it looked like Mount Everest to me.  I started to feel defeated.  Then I heard someone in the crowd shout, "You got this.  Just keep going."  That little encouragement helped me slowly get to the top of Heartbreak Hill and the relief of a flat portion of the course.

I was still having trouble running as the pain was pretty severe.  I found that when I would increase the pace above a walk it would hurt even more.  I would try to run and then would have to walk.  I was visibly limping and the crowds along the course could see it clearly.  I cannot explain how much it meant to me to be given so many shouts of encouragement as I struggled along.  The crowds were so supportive of all of the runners out there.  The heat was causing problems for many of the runners who had been training in very cold winter temperatures.  The heat was not my problem.  But as I struggled down the hill to the turn onto Beacon Street, I could feel the excitement of the crowds increase.  I knew that they would carry me the last 3 miles to the finish.

The last 3 miles up to the turn on to Boylston Street were very painful.  I saw my friend Jenice along the route and she asked if I was OK.  I told her what was going on and that I was going to finish.  She gave me a hug and told me to take it easy.  I had no choice.  I pushed on.  At the 24 mile mark, I came up on another fellow DFMCer who was also struggling.  He said he was suffering from the flu.  He asked me if I wanted to run with him a while.  We would run to a traffic light and then walk to the next light and run again.  I tried to keep up with him but just couldn't.  I thanked him and told him I would see him at the finish line.  He headed off without me.  It was at the recovery zone where I found out that runner was Mike Doherty who I had been corresponding with leading up to the race.  We had never met until that moment. 

At Mile 25 the DFMC cheering section was really going crazy as we approached.  I was really feeling bad and feeling like I was just going to break down and cry.  So I walked over to the barrier and got several hugs from the people and volunteers there.  I thanked them for all the support and then pushed on.  I could see the Citgo sign and knew the turn and "one mile to go" sign was right there. I told myself that all that mattered now was to be able to run across the finish line no matter how much it hurt. I knew I was going to finish which felt good.  The question now was would I come in under 5 hours.  The way I felt, I was not sure.

I made the turn and heard my name.  I turned to my right and saw my friend and fellow Scoutmaster Bill Mills-Curran and his daughter.  I hobbled over to the barricade and he gave me a big bear hug.  I told him what had happened and he told me that he knew I could finish.  I thanked him and told him I would make it.  He gave me  big pat on the back and I headed back onto the course.  The pain was really strong.  I found myself walking more than running at this point.  The crowds were cheering me on.  I could hear them yelling my name and giving me all the encouragement they could muster.

I finally made the turn onto Hereford and knew I had less than 1/2 mile to go.  I was really hurting and the incline up to Boylston was difficult.  I walked up the hill towards the turn.  The crowds were now so thick you could barely see any individuals.  The sound of their cheering was almost deafening.  It was almost as if they were willing us on to that finish line.  When I finally made the turn and could see the finish line about 3/10 of a mile ahead, I started to slowly run to the finish.  I was hurting.  I stopped to walk for a minute and I heard my name again.  There on the left were two of my running friends Josh Martin and Jess Andra.  They called me over.  They were genuinely concerned for me.  Josh gave me a huge hug and told me I was rocking this race.  Then Jess gave me a big kiss on the cheek and told me to get out there and finish this up.  I thanked them and headed off.

Their encouragement and the raucous crowds pumped me up and I slowly ran towards that finish line.  I had taken in all the sights and sounds of the last 10 miles and was so happy to be able to finish the race no matter how much pain I was in.  As many signs along the route said, “This is our f’n City” and “This is our f’n Finish Line”.  All of these thoughts were running through my head as I approached the finish line.  I could hardly breath as I got closer and closer to the finish line.  I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.  In hindsight, I know this was caused by a combination of emotions brought on my all of the memories of what I saw on the news last year and the pain of those last miles.  I crossed the finish line under 5 hours.  My official time was 4:57:09.  I had persevered and somehow still come in under 5 hours.

While there is a small part of me that is disappointed in my race results, I am so proud to have been able to finish the race.  It is most likely my last Boston (unless I qualify). I forced myself to drink in the sights and sounds of those last 10 difficult miles. The Boston crowds were so supportive as they always are but this year was definitely different.  The crowds were thicker and louder.  The shouts of encouragement to me personally were amazing. I can tell you that Boston is definitely back and stronger than ever.  I am so proud of all of those who came back this year to finish the race that they were not allowed to finish last year because of a truly senseless act of violence.  I am also proud to have been able to finish despite the injury. 

Dean Karnazes wrote the following:

The Marathon is not about running, it is about salvation. We spend so much of our lives doubting ourselves, thinking that we’re not good enough, not strong enough, not made of the right stuff. The Marathon is an opportunity for redemption. Opportunity, because the outcome is uncertain. Opportunity, because it is up to you, and only you, to make it happen.

There is no luck involved in finishing the Marathon, the ingredients required to tackle this formidable challenge are straightforward: commitment, sacrifice, grit, and raw determination. Plain and simple.

I as reflect back on my 3 Boston Marathon experiences, I know that I have the right stuff to set a PR, finish on an extremely hot day and persevere after an injury.  Each finish symbolizes the reality that no matter how hard you train or prepare the outcome is uncertain.  No matter what, I know that I am a marathoner.  I will carry each of the 8 marathons finishes with me for the rest of my life.  I also now know that this last race was and hopefully will always be my most difficult.  I also know that I have the raw determination to finish what I start no matter what obstacles may be placed in my way.  I also have the distinct honor to have raised over $37,000 for Dana Farber this year.  And most importantly on April 21st, 2014 I was Boston Strong!

26345	Frumkin, Ted	52	M	Scottsdale	AZ	USA
5k 10k 15k 20k Half 25k 30k 35k 40k 0:28:18 0:55:33 1:22:32 1:51:14 1:58:23 2:22:34 3:01:40 3:45:19 4:34:01 Finish: Pace Proj. Time Offl. Time Overall Gender Division 0:11:20 4:57:09 4:57:09 26930 15201 2175

The DFMC Team

 Apr. 14 – 6.10 miles (52:45, 8:39 pace)

Apr. 15 – 5.10 miles (43:52, 8:36 pace)

Apr. 16 – 6.20 miles (54:02, 8:43 pace)

Apr. 21 – 26.40 miles (4:57:09, 11:10 pace) – 118th Boston Marathon

Apr. 28 – 3.10 miles (28:10, 9:05 pace)

Apr. 29 – 4.20 miles (35:29, 8:27 pace)

May 1 – 5.10 miles (45:15, 8:49 pace)

May 2 – 3.10 miles (28:51, 9:23 pace)

May 4 – 6.20 miles (1:01:02, 9:51 pace)

Total Miles:  65.5 miles

2014 Total Miles:  809.4 miles