Pictures can't describe the slow hot march of pain I dragged myself through this past Monday. The road between Hopkinton and Boston is hilly. Maybe you've heard about it? Well I've run it before, once in cold temps, once in moderate temps. So perhaps it is fitting that I had "the opportunity" to take part in a truly historic run, one that grinded me down to the slowest pace I'd ever run at any point during a marathon.
The people in Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, and Newton got us through the race. The cups and bottles of water(colder than what the aid stations offered), ice cubes, soaked sponges and paper towels, and orange slices, are what sustained us all through the race. Let's not forget the fire fighters in Natick and Newton who set up a cooling tunnel with sprayers and some sort of canopy. Thanks to those people, including the little kids; they stood there waiting to relieve us, waiting with outstretched fingers for a chance at touching speed and determination, aspiring to the bravery they were witnessing. That those people care so much that we run through their town, made all the training and all the torture through the oppressive heat worth every moment. After all, what good is joy and pleasure without pain to make it feel right? Last night, the first night back in my own bed since Saturday, I slept well, and woke up, thankful to be alive.
Can I say I am disappointed with my time? Yes, I can say that. What I am really disappointed about is just how hard it can be to figure how much to adjust one's pace when facing high temperatures. I wasn't staring into, the sun was staring into me.
So this was my slowest marathon, definitely very sobering in regards to one's mortality. But knowing that people care, believe in you, love you, and are waiting for you at the finish gets you through.
To my Mom, Ilene-has always been proud of my accomplishments as a runner.
To my girlfriend, Trudy-Dropped me off at for a shuttle to the start, ventured solo in a city she'd never been to before, and waited for me for 3hrs in the heat, and endured my state of medical-misery for several hours after the race until we finally were able to get lunch.
To all of my teammates and Coaches in Garden State Track Club- We are all kindred in the spirit of competition. Shawn D'Andrea, Alex Fowlie, Pat LeStrange, a group of tough distance runners who have all trained and raced with me, and we all learned a valuable lesson on Monday, that running 26.2miles in extreme heat and finishing is a tough deal. I'm proud of you guys! Rob Decarlo for being a 2nd brain for my training plan leading up to this race, we got a damn good 20k out of it! Chuck Schneekloth and Ken Goglas for checking up with me often while I struggled with a bad Achilles tendon, their encouragements and concern helped bring balance and sanity to a scary situation.
To Mike Dixon(aka the MD in MDMA)-We've been teammates for more than 10yrs, because no matter who we represent or who sponsors us, there is always "our team". In the sea of runners, we made our way to the starting line together, I've run more miles and had more post race beers with him than any other person I know. Without each other, I don't think either of us would ever had done as much, or been as great as we are at running.
To the Raritan Valley Road Runners who ran the 116th Boston Marathon and the club at large-Lesley Wassef, Laura Swift, Nova Roman, Lianne Price, Nick Birosik, Joanna Stevens, you all are incredible. Resting out of the sun before heading to the start with you all was a nice way to spend some time and commiserate with the challenge we all were about to face. For the rest of you, thanks being my friend in running.
To Saucony and its Representatives, Dan Suher, Jess Cohen, and Tom Hylan-the sponsorship as part of the Hurricanes program has set me up nicely with some great shoes and gear to train and race in. Also, to all the Hurricanes I met before and during the race, who encouraged me to keep pushing as I was slowing down.
The people along the course, the residents, volunteers, police and medical personnel-You kept us alive.
3:00:26.-not great.
514th male finisher-have done much better.
Red badge of courage-couldn't have earned one on any other day.
Memories for a lifetime-yes.
The people in Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, and Newton got us through the race. The cups and bottles of water(colder than what the aid stations offered), ice cubes, soaked sponges and paper towels, and orange slices, are what sustained us all through the race. Let's not forget the fire fighters in Natick and Newton who set up a cooling tunnel with sprayers and some sort of canopy. Thanks to those people, including the little kids; they stood there waiting to relieve us, waiting with outstretched fingers for a chance at touching speed and determination, aspiring to the bravery they were witnessing. That those people care so much that we run through their town, made all the training and all the torture through the oppressive heat worth every moment. After all, what good is joy and pleasure without pain to make it feel right? Last night, the first night back in my own bed since Saturday, I slept well, and woke up, thankful to be alive.
Can I say I am disappointed with my time? Yes, I can say that. What I am really disappointed about is just how hard it can be to figure how much to adjust one's pace when facing high temperatures. I wasn't staring into, the sun was staring into me.
So this was my slowest marathon, definitely very sobering in regards to one's mortality. But knowing that people care, believe in you, love you, and are waiting for you at the finish gets you through.
To my Mom, Ilene-has always been proud of my accomplishments as a runner.
To my girlfriend, Trudy-Dropped me off at for a shuttle to the start, ventured solo in a city she'd never been to before, and waited for me for 3hrs in the heat, and endured my state of medical-misery for several hours after the race until we finally were able to get lunch.
To all of my teammates and Coaches in Garden State Track Club- We are all kindred in the spirit of competition. Shawn D'Andrea, Alex Fowlie, Pat LeStrange, a group of tough distance runners who have all trained and raced with me, and we all learned a valuable lesson on Monday, that running 26.2miles in extreme heat and finishing is a tough deal. I'm proud of you guys! Rob Decarlo for being a 2nd brain for my training plan leading up to this race, we got a damn good 20k out of it! Chuck Schneekloth and Ken Goglas for checking up with me often while I struggled with a bad Achilles tendon, their encouragements and concern helped bring balance and sanity to a scary situation.
To Mike Dixon(aka the MD in MDMA)-We've been teammates for more than 10yrs, because no matter who we represent or who sponsors us, there is always "our team". In the sea of runners, we made our way to the starting line together, I've run more miles and had more post race beers with him than any other person I know. Without each other, I don't think either of us would ever had done as much, or been as great as we are at running.
To the Raritan Valley Road Runners who ran the 116th Boston Marathon and the club at large-Lesley Wassef, Laura Swift, Nova Roman, Lianne Price, Nick Birosik, Joanna Stevens, you all are incredible. Resting out of the sun before heading to the start with you all was a nice way to spend some time and commiserate with the challenge we all were about to face. For the rest of you, thanks being my friend in running.
To Saucony and its Representatives, Dan Suher, Jess Cohen, and Tom Hylan-the sponsorship as part of the Hurricanes program has set me up nicely with some great shoes and gear to train and race in. Also, to all the Hurricanes I met before and during the race, who encouraged me to keep pushing as I was slowing down.
The people along the course, the residents, volunteers, police and medical personnel-You kept us alive.
3:00:26.-not great.
514th male finisher-have done much better.
Red badge of courage-couldn't have earned one on any other day.
Memories for a lifetime-yes.
