I Finished!!

The weekend started with the Sports expo where I picked up my bib and official race shirt and of course some memorabilia.  I met some very cool people there including Olympian Meb Keflezighi and the first women to run the Boston Marathon Kathrine Switzer.  The story of Kathrine's first run is awesome, I recommend googling it.  I also jumped in a picture with Dean Karnazes, the "Ultra Marathon Man".

Monday's forecast was not ideal.  The reports called for 70 degrees at the start and 90 at the finish.  I'm not a good runner in the heat.  Sure enough the weather report was correct.  I started the race very conservatively thinking I could pick up the pace after the Newton hills.  That was not exactly what happened.  There was no shade and we were all just cooking on the black pavement.  I decided very early in the race that I will take my time, have fun, and just get back to Boston with a medal on my neck.  I have many wonderful and funny memories from the race.  In Ashland, at about 11am, there was about 100 people dressed in leather completely drunk outside a biker bar cheering us on.  That made me laugh. Along the entire route residents were out with hoses, sprinklers, ice, candy, pretzels, water and gatorade for us.  There were bands playing music all along the way.  The scream tunnel in Wellesley (mile 13) is always one of my favorite moments, this year I filmed it.  The Wellesley girls can be heard from a mile away cheering on the runners, all with signs offering good luck kisses.  Here is the link to my scream tunnel video.  My brother Jim and nephew Hunter jumped in with me at mile 15.  We ran past team Hoyt at about mile 18 which was exciting to see them.  Hunter ran with me almost to mile 20.  That's the furthest he's ever run. It was hilarious approaching Boston College.  A very drunk student was cheering Hunter on calling him the "s*&%!" for being the youngest marathoner ever.  After Jim and Hunter left me I had only 6 miles to go.  A very long 6 miles!  Passing Boston College was fun with them yelling "Go Nancy" and endless high fives.  Then at mile 23.5 I passed Julie's house where Julie, Kashmir, and Emily cheered me on and gave me much needed oranges, salt, and water.  2.5 miles later I crossed the finish line 1 hour, 20 minutes past my target.  Oh well.  Despite the weather and my very long run, it was the most fun I've had in a marathon.  Everyone [runners, volunteers, residents] supported each other.  It wasn't about racing, it was about helping everyone get back to Boston safely.  I ate so many oranges, candy, water and ice from random people, I'm surprised I didn't get a strange illness.  I'm sure next year we'll have better weather and I can run a faster race.  I appreciate all of your support.  Thank you to everyone who has donated, I raised almost $6300 this year alone for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

36 hours and counting

I'm only 36 hours from running my 2nd Boston Marathon, 4th marathon all together.  I'm very excited!  I met some very iconic people today at the expo.  Meb Keflezighi, Olympic silver medalist and also on our 2012 U.S. Olympic team, and Kathrine Switzer, the first registered women to run the Boston Marathon.
I was quite stressed for a few days until today.  The weather they are calling for is exactly what I was praying we would not have.  At the starting line it will be in the high 60's, by the time I get to Boston it will be almost 90 degrees.  Luckily we have 10-20 mph tail winds the entire way.  I am typically not a good runner in the heat.  Since this year I was already expecting to run slower because of a hamstring injury, I'm not as bummed that I'll have to run slower because of the heat.  I'm going to enjoy this race and run it at the pace my body can handle.
 My strategy is, I'm taking a bus to Hopkington and I need to get back to Boston somehow.  Best way for me to get there is to run.  I'm going to look forward to a few points in the race, Kim at mile 6, Wellesley scream tunnel at mile 13, Jim and Hunter at mile 17, Gail at mile 20, the drunks at BC at mile 21, my coworkers geared with water, salt, oranges, sponges, and 5 hour energy at mile 23.5, Jim and Hunter to join me for the last few at mile 24.5, DFMC patients and supports at mile 25, the insane cheering at Kenmore at mile 25.5, and then of course the finish line.  With the warm weather it will bring out even more supporters.  I'm also really looking forward to a glass of wine, a cupcake and a greasy bacon cheese burger at Eastern Standard after the marathon.  I gave up good food and drinks for the last month leading up to the big day so that will be quite the reward!  80% of what gets me to the finish line is mental.  Having mental markers throughout the race will help make 26.2 feel shorter.  If I can spend weeks training doing 20 mile runs around the 1.6 mile per lap Chestnut Hill Reservoir, I can run a 26.2 mile straight line with supporters.
24 more hours of carbo and salt-loading.  That's right, salt-loading.  Salt will help me retain water for a hot marathon and of course the carbs to fuel my muscles with glycogen.  
Time for the fun to begin.  My next post will be post-marathon.  Yippy!


 

Wow am I excited or what?!

Only 10 days until the marathon and I only have a few runs left.  The taper is going well but I always want to run more than I should.  Wednesday I was able to run some bunny hills along the Charles River, I will do the same on Sunday for my 8-10 mile long run.  I can't wait for a cupcake and a glass of wine after the marathon.  I have cut alcohol and junk food out of my diet until the big day.  I have now raised $6000 for the 2012 Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.  Thank you everyone for your support!

Two weeks away

Yesterday I completed my 20 mile run.  That is the furthest I will run before the marathon.  It went very well.  I have been running along the Brighton Reservoir to protect my injured hamstring.  I'm getting very excited and I feel strong and ready to go.  To track me during the marathon text the word "runner" to 345678.  After you receive a text back reply with my bib number 23421.  I am going to be runner slower than originally planned due to my lack of training for the last 5 weeks.  Hopefully I can beat a 4:20 but we'll see.