Dreaming of the Boston Marathon

It never fails. Every third Monday of April comes around and I have regrets about not being in the Boston Marathon. It doesn't matter if I attempted to run a qualifying marathon the previous year or not, some part of me still wants to be running the race.

This past Monday I was on vacation, not due to the race being on television, but it was a rare warm, sunny spring day in Rochester and I wanted to enjoy the weather. After a run on the canal path I got breakfast and began watching the marathon. It was different this year with so many of the faster Americans not being in the race due to the Olympic trials a couple of months ago. The competition at the top quickly became Kenyans and Ethiopians.

While watching the race I realized it has been 20 years since I ran my first, and only, Boston Marathon. During the television broadcast I could still remember running by different spots on the course. I know how I felt at certain locations while running. Back then the race began at noon and we had a long bus drive to the start. It was Boston's 100th anniversary and the field was crowded. I couldn't really eat much and didn't drink enough and ended up with my typical marathon fade beginning by 18 miles.

The crowds were intense and supportive throughout the race. I finished over 30 minutes slower than my qualifying time, but was still happy to finish. After the race I was shivering, had the mylar blanket and tried to drink, but really all I wanted was to find Jan and get back to the hotel. I was pretty much lost and couldn't figure out how to cross the street with so many spectators and runners still finishing. I wandered on Boylston Street until I found a police officer. He just finished telling a family there was no way they were crossing the street. I knew I had to get across somehow. I walked up and asked if I could cross to get to the hotel and my wife. I know I looked pitiful, sweaty, smelly and cramped up. He was a big, burly cop, what you'd expect to see in Boston. He moved the road barrier and said, "you can do anything you want today, go cross the street". I couldn't thank him enough, probably didn't, just mumbled something incoherent. Then the cop closed the barrier and told the family no again. I actually found Jan a few minutes later, or she found me, not sure which.

I was looking at some of the training from 1995-96 we did (yes, I still have all my running log books). Mike, Frank, Augie, Dick, Larry and Rick are names that keep popping up, especially on 20 mile runs and our famous Dump Road 800meter repeats. We built up to 10/800 averaging 2:53-3:03 usually. We were semi-young and of various speeds, but three of us qualified for Boston, Augie, Mike and myself.

Maybe Jan and I should try to qualify? Maybe not, since I said four years ago I had enough of marathons, at least that's what I say until the next Boston, when I'll think I should be in the race.  

Marathon Taper Week

This is it, the last week before the Marine Corps Marathon that Lou, Mike W., Jennifer, Charlie Mullen and I will be running. Jan, Eileen and Joanne will be racing the MCM 10k. There are no special training runs we can do this week that will help us finish our respective races. If our training isn’t satisfactory already, the miles haven’t been put in, Sunday will be a long day in which we can physically suffer while enjoying the sites of D.C.

 

Ten Thoughts on Taper Week

 

1. I like planning out the food to eat, looking over nutrition guidelines, making a menu for each day and meal from Wednesday to Saturday night.

 

2. Today (Tuesday) I noticed walking up the stairs at work doesn’t hurt as it did in many of the last 12 weeks. This is a good sign, no doubt due to running less than usual on Sunday and a complete rest day on Monday.

 

3. Am I getting fat? Really, I feel the need to constantly cram carbs into my mouth. There is a box of Cheerios (20g carbs) in my file cabinet. I eat them dry, no milk, for a mid-morning snack in front of the computer like I’m a two year old getting potty trained and this is my reward. Carbohydrate loading = good, gaining two pounds = bad.

 

4. Last night I woke up in a sweat after dreaming about having to use a bathroom at the start line and thousands of people are around. Once the race begins at 7:55am I will be fine, but leaving the security of the hotel and waiting an hour + beforehand could be a high anxiety time.

 

5. With known gastrointestinal issues on many race mornings the final meal on Saturday night is key. I haven’t found a magic bullet yet that is the proper nutritional balance along with no side effects. The plan now is to have rice flavored with chicken broth, a few vegetables and ???

 

6. Since my daily running miles have decreased but the water intake hasn’t, there is a path worn in the floor from my cubicle desk to the bathroom.

 

7. I have finished the Marine Corps Marathon four times, the 10k once, this entire experience should be a piece of cake. So, why do I fluctuate between excitement and dread?

 

8. The Marines and crowds make this race awesome, especially the Marines.

 

9. Will anyone really care if my finishing time is 3:39:59 (Boston Qualifier) or 4:30 except me?

 

10. It’s good to have a mantra for when the times get tough during the race, this can be a bad patch that pops up at mile 17 but you push through and feel better at 20, or it can be at mile 22 when you don’t know how you can run the last four miles. Borrow mine if you like;

 

• Must beat Mike W, Must beat Mike W.
• Must beat Lou, Must beat Lou.
• Pick a loved one and run a mile for them saying the name over and over.
• A Marine wouldn’t quit (or Navy guy I guess, Lou).
• Jan’s favorite, count your steps. Around 130-140x my right foot hits the ground is ¼ mile.
• Count the number of people you pass in the last few miles, in a large race like MCM maybe just count the men, or women. Make it tougher by subtracting the ones who pass you.