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FLRC Newsletter - May 2004 |
| Boston Marathon | |
Boston was my second marathon. In training, I was hoping to hit 3:45, but when the forecast showed 85, I knew I would be lucky to get under 4 hours. I felt pretty strong training, but had run all my long runs in sub-20 degree weather...85 was certainly going to be a shock to the system.
At Hopkinton, I found a spot under the tent away from the sun and read and chatted with other runners. You could certainly tell who were the weather Boston marathoners...tarps and blow-up mattresses were among the obvious signs. It took me almost 13 minutes to cross the start, and as I hadn't done any warm up, this gave me a bit of time to start moving the legs. My first few miles I ran at around 7:55, which is about what I was aiming for. However, by mile 5 I started to wonder whether I would be able to finish the race. It wasn't the speed, but the intense heat. My chest was tight the whole race. However, the wonderful Wellesley crowd gave me some hope. I was told they weren't as good this year as last, but I thought they were wonderful. Every one was cheering my name and giving me five as I ran by (I had sewn my name onto my shirt). At this point, I had given up any sort of time goals and was just hoping to finish, so I sat back and observed the other runners, appreciated the enthusiastic crowds, and gleaned the streets for a written sign or a clip from the radio that would update the latest redsox score.
I had trained all my long runs on quite hilly terrain and felt decently prepared for what the course had to throw out. A few rolling hills about a third of the way through the race were a bit discouraging, but I didn't find heartbreak all that bad.
I saw my parents around mile 22 at Coolidge corners and gave them a big smile (no reflection of how I was felt, but for the camera). The last four miles were terrible....I think I averaged over 12 minutes a mile, whereas my first 1/2 I was maybe around 8:30s. I thought the mile signs were coming slowly throughout the race, but now I thought that maybe I was missing them because each mile was interminable. I saw a couple of friends at mile 24...they later commented that I didn't seem very happy (I think my smile probably came across as a grimace). Finally, up to the homestretch, I put my head down and plodded to the finish.
As soon as I crossed the line I knew I was going to vomit, despite wearing a fuel belt and filling my bottles every aid station, drinking gatorade and power gels, but I wanted to get my medal first. I then vomited and laid down. Medical staff took me in a wheelchair to the medical tent...all along the way I was still getting sick. My bp was 80/40, I was almost passing out and having excruciating cramps in my legs and back. Finally, after two hours and a liter of IV fluid later I felt well enough to get up and look for my family.
All in all, it was one of the best and one of the worst experiences in my life. But....I crossed the finish line and completed a marathon with 20,000 people and the best runners in the world. I will have to give myself several weeks to recover mentally. I am sore, but not as bad as my last marathon.
Congratulations to every one who ran Boston this year, it took a ton of heart and determination.
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