April 17, 2006 Boston Marathon Race Report

I qualified for Boston at the Chevron Houston Marathon, January 15^th, 2006 with a qualifying time of 3:33:25, roughly an 8:07 pace.

Weight: 147
12^th Marathon since 1999.
Boston Bib#: 11817

April 13, 2006

No running today. I am so anxious about the race that I take the day off to prepare for this evenings trip to Dallas. There is only so much packing I can do, so afterwards I visit the chiropractor followed by one final visit to my massage therapist. I feel better and hope that the hamstring problem does not come back to haunt me.

April 14, 2006

We leave Dallas at 5:30 AM and arrive in Boston at 12:22 PM. I call Sue (nowor) to let her know we have arrived, she is running, so I leave a message. Upon our arrival at the Sheraton Newton and after we get situated, she comes by and offers to take us to Hopkinton to see the race course. What a surprise, I jump at the opportunity. After a quick lunch we are on our way.

Upon our arrival at Hopkinton we take a few pictures and observe them preparing the starting line. The media trucks are already arriving and setting up. Come race day Hopkinton will be packed with enthusiastic runners, media and fans.

As we drive the course I explain that this is hilly compared to southern Oklahoma.

Later that evening Sue, Richard, my wife and I went out for a nice dinner. After a long day I collapsed and fell asleep.

April 15, 2006

Sue and Richard picked us up for breakfast; afterwards they drop us off at the Copley Square “T” station where we head off to the Expo. I have really been looking forward to attending the Expo. Hours later, after picking up my packet and necessary (notice I say necessary) Boston Marathon clothing and a last minute massage, we went back to the Hotel and go out for a nice Pasta meal. It has been another great day in Boston aided by the hospitality of Sue and Richard.

April 16, 2006

Up at 6:00 AM, we are soon out the door and on the 57 bus to Kenmore Square, then Copley, where we get ready for the Freedom Run. It was really nice to meet up with more Coolrunners, Josh (soon to be Boomer), Dave (Divechief) and Amy (Aamos). It was time to run, or what ever you want to call it, man it was slow. Josh and I jogged the entire route, and then spent a good deal of time stretching. The Hamstring was still sore. No time to go back to Newton for a shower as it was time to travel to Henry and Marj’s house in Brookline for a brunch and Coolrunning gathering. And what fun it was to meet more Coolrunners. It was so nice for Henry and Marj to host such an event. The food spread was great. I can’t thank them enough. A few of us left together and talked during the ride back to town. Afterwards, my wife and I went back to the hotel for a long rest.

When my daughter arrived from Brooklyn we left for the Pasta Party. As we lined up, I noticed that we were right behind Dave (Divechief) which made for a nice running discussion. We shared a great pasta meal; afterwards Dave headed back to his Hotel and my family and I went back to the Sheraton where I organized my running stuff and hit the sack for a nice sleep from10:00 PM until my wake up call at 6:00 AM. I slept surprisingly well.

April 17, 2006

It’s Monday, “Are you ready for some …. running”?

Wake up call at 6:00, time for a bagel, water, and a nice hot shower. I was concerned about my morning meal, since I usually don’t eat solid food before a race, but with the 12:30 PM start, I had to try something new. I should have experimented with this on a training run, but as the say, shudda, wudda, cudda.

My chauffeur’s, (hehe) Sue and Richard rounded me up at 7:30 AM for the 8:30 AM shuttle.

They have brought newspapers for the “grass/leaf bag bed” that I will construct at base camp (Wave 2 Athletes Village, don’t you love the sound of base camp?).

I load up the car with my red bag, filled to the gills, and off we go to the races, literally.

When we arrive at the shuttle area, the lines are already long, buses are leaving one after another; it’s like an assembly line, a well greased machine. It reminded me of “Soilant Green” as we loaded up and disembarked for the unknown land of Hopkinton.

As I evaluate my obsessed injuries from ingrown toenail to right hamstring tightness I accept that regardless, the show must go on. The runners on board the bus are filled with energy and our anxious nature fills the air; most of us could probably pop at any moment.

Hopkinton is a small town, population about 14,000, but today with the arrival of 20,000 plus runners, countless volunteers and media, the population soars.

When our bus arrives we are directed to the Second wave Athletes Village, at least that is what we though. After numerous wrong turns at the High School complex we travel down a country road which dead ends. There was another bus that followed us to the same dead end destination and since we are blocked in, the other bus had to attempt a turn around. As the bus is maneuvered into a residential driveway the driver nicks a car bumper in the same driveway. The owner comes outside to check the damages and decides to have the accident investigated. In the mean time our bus driver repositions our bus to prepare for a quick get away, after the investigation.

We are all VERY hydrated: I will say that one more time; we are all VERY hydrated, with a one track mind.

During the forty five minute wait, a couple of hydrated desperate runners take to the woods. The first runner returns and about the time the second runner is almost finished the investigation is completed, the bus driver starts the engine, our “almost finished” runner begins to try and make it back to the bus in time; we holler at the driver to wait and he makes it just in the nick of time, all to our illustrious applause.

This time the bus driver takes us to the village where we pile off of the bus and rush to the porta potty lines. We are sincerely thankful for our arrival. Like the old Alka Seltzer advertisement, “…oh what a relief it is”.

The village crowd is huge, music and announcements fill the air, as I stand in the food line for a bagel and Gatorade; nervous energy abounds. After I fill my bottle with Gatorade I begin to search for a nice spot on the ground to build my “Ribs” designed newspaper bed and begin to prepare for a nice long rest. I received a lot of questions from on lookers as to what I was making. One runner said, “You must have done that before”, I said, “No, but it is supposed to be a good idea.” They are impressed, as they should, hehe. Now, on the bus I noticed that many runners were not carrying much; I was loaded down and wondering if I had gone overboard with supplies. But now as I rested comfortably on the ground, I knew better. Even as I used my sun screen I could see that others had not come so prepared. I pinned on a old bib, reversed and marked in red and black with my name, TIM, and Ardmore Oklahoma, one old bib on the front, one on the back of a Boomer Reunion “T” shirt. If only the other runners had a Boomers Boston Marathon Guide they may have been as well prepared.

At 11:00 AM a few of us met at the information booth for our Boomer Coolrunning photo shoot. It was really neat to put some faces with handles. Coolrunners are an impressive looking group if I say so myself.

I don’t think we spoke much, probably attributable to our anxiety. Just being there was good enough.

On return to my newspaper bed, it was time to begin preparations for the long walk to the starting line. I packed my bag, covered myself with a lawn/leaf bag for protection from the elements and most importantly for the use of a “special bottle”, much better than standing in line. As I passed the buses I tossed my bag to the baggage handler (to be picked up at the finish) and proceeded to the starting line.

Wave 1 would start soon, and then it would be our time to head toward Boston.

Noon arrives with the National Anthem and Jets overhead; the first wave is gone; we begin our approach to the starting corrals.

During the walk, I come across an older (I love it when they are older than me, hehe) guy form Oklahoma City; we discussed our strategies and soon lose each other as we make one last port-potty stop at the grocery store parking lot. Gosh, the walk is down hill and then back up. The test to my hamstring is not very comfortable so I am wondering what will happen after the race starts, even so, it really doesn’t matter now, regardless, the race will start and I will run.

As we approach the corrals, I see that I have arrived at the farthest corral and will have to walk all the way to the front, to find corral number 11. The crowd is thick and I have to weave and maneuver around. I position myself so I can see the clear road ahead. Many of us discuss that this must be what it is like for the elite, to see wide open roads ahead, unencumbered with runners. For the front of this pack, there will be no excuses of lost time due the running masses.

The weather was great, 40’s, finish in the 50’s with a slight head wind.

My plan was, 1.) Have Fun, 2.) Hit 3:45, 3.) Come in under 4 hours.

The National Anthem was sung and as I look around (I am standing to the far right, near the barriers) I see the TV cameras pointed in our direction. Later I learn that I made the local TV stations as they panned the line at the start. The sun is creeping out of the sky, so I decide to donate my sweat jacket to the local charity. This old jacket had survived 11 previous marathons but it was time to leave it behind and what a place to let it go, The 2006 Boston Marathon.

For a while I just embrace the fact that I am really here, it is so hard to believe, and words really don’t express how I felt at that very moment.

The large clock which displayed the count down time to the start of the second wave was turned off with 2 minutes to go, probably to keep us from “jumping the gun”. The gun finally sounded off.

Mile 1 Split 7:58

Remember, I train in Southern Oklahoma, basically flat, in comparison to Boston.

The course immediately leads you downhill, not a slight grade, but a real downhill slide for what I recall may be a quarter mile or so. It was daunting to view such a steep decline. The first four miles drop from 500-200 feet above sea level; it is not a straight shot down but more or less a rolling hill decent.

I was told, reminded, more times than I can count, to be careful, don’t go out too fast, remember the field is faster that you are used to, everyone here qualified. I would always say, yeah, yeah, I understand, that makes sense.

I felt like I reached a new level of running discipline in Houston, so I was confident that I could rein it in and contain my pace. Even so, I was never prepared to see so many runners just whoosh past me in the opening seconds. One after another, after another, after another, whizzing by me like I wasn’t even there, I concentrated and tried to hold back, an 8:35 pace would be nice. I carried a bottle of Gatorade that helped me through mile 3. When I checked my first mile split was 7:58. It could have easily been under 7 minutes. I looked up and some of the runners were almost out of sight. I felt good about the first mile but a bit disturbed that I was already so far behind. I looked around to check the other bib numbers of which most were still in my bib group but the 12,000’s were gaining fast. I knew I needed to stay with my plan but I wasn’t expecting to be swallowed up so fast. However, if all goes well for me, I will catch up to many of them. I also had to remember that I was running a “planned” slower pace than my running mates in the 11^th corral.

Right now my right hamstring is nagging me otherwise all is ok.

Mile 2 Split 8:25

Almost immediately a blister that feels like the size of a half dollar lands itself right below my left big toe, right on the pad of my foot, ouch. I attribute it to my new socks, never worn, ok, big mistake, I know. Soon another one appears on another toe, so I am trying all kinds of maneuvers to relieve the pain.

The crowds were a little light in the first few miles, but the trees cleared around mile 3 at which time the crowd size really picked up in concert with the volume of their cheers. I am running to the far right and “hi-fiving” as many as possible. Some kids are counting the “hi-fives”. I remember one turning to his parents and saying, ”I got 25”. I realized that contact with the crowds would slow me down but the experience would be well worth it today.

Mile 3 Split 8:33

Mile 4 Split 8:58

Runners are still passing me; the typical bib numbers near me are 12,000 to 13,000. The crowd continues to be awesome, I loose my pace band, but really don’t care. Pace is not an issue today, just finishing the race is all that counts.

Mile 5 Split 8:47

As mile 5 approaches the course begins to level off, which in Boston means, continuous rolling hills, and a test for someone like me that trains on “slight grades”. The fans are like the hills in the sense that they never stop. There roars keep me going. I am having a blast and it certainly helps hearing them shout my name.

Sometimes I hold out my hand and “hi-five” 15 to 30 people or more in a row. They seem to love as much as I do.

Mile 6 Split 8:43
Mile 7 Split 8:40
Mile 8 Split 8:42
Mile 9 Split 8:42
Mile 10 Split 8:41
Mile 11 Split 8:42
Mile 12 Split 8:55
Mile 13 Split 8:54
Mile 14 Split 8:52

This phase of the race, miles 6-12, provides more rolling hills. I am finally in a groove as far as my pace is concerned and droves of runners are not passing me as much as before, the typical bib number is 13,000 to 15,000, I see a few 11,000 and 12,000 numbers. It is absolutely amazing how the crowds and their cheers never stop.

Somewhere around mile 8 my right hamstring seems to loosen up and the nagging tightness disappears. It is a good feeling but I know I need to be careful.

At mile 12 the Wellesley signs warn us of what is to come; I know this will be a very powerful crowd but it proved to be more that I could have ever imagined. The girls were 3 to 6 deep on the sides of the roads, holding signs that invited a kiss from the runners, the cheers were deafening; there is no telling how many times they shouted my name. Their attention provided an incredible adrenaline rush as the dreaded Newton Hills were calling.

Mile 15 Split 9:03
Mile 16 Split 9:17
Mile 17 Split 9:17
Mile 18 Split 9:17
Mile 19 Split 9:18

Mile 20 Split 9:12

The Wellesley coeds take you through the midpoint and onto the last downhill push just before the base of the Newton Hills which begin around mile 15. I have been concerned about this stretch not only because of its difficulty and its place in the race, but also due to the problems with my right hamstring. My plan is to climb the hills at a consistent but slower pace than the previous miles. I will continue to run on the right side of the road until mile 19 or so, where I will move to the left side to meet up with the HTH Team where they will hand me my Gatorade. That bottle of Gatorade will carry me all the way to the finish and allow me to skip the remaining aid stations. AT mile 18 the toe blister finally pops; it is very painful for the next 3/4 of a mile.

As I climb the hills I begin to pass other runners that are slowing down and in some cases walking. I am still interacting with the spectators, feeling good with no hamstring problems. The crowds help me loose track of the mile markers and my splits. Nothing else matters now; just making it up the hills while feeling good is all I ask for. I see so many runners in trouble; I can sympathize with their anguish; I have been there before.

But today, I can’t believe how good I feel. Upon reaching the HTH Team I begin waving to get their attention, they pass me my bottle and say “Where have you been, we almost gave up on you”, I am behind about 4 to 5 minutes so tell them I was taking the hills easy and that I feel awesome.

Now I grab the Gatorade and begin to continue up the last stretch to Heartbreak while looking around, left and right with no idea which side of the road will hold my wife, daughter, Sue and Richard. I am looking forward to our meeting. As I look to the left and at the top of Heartbreak, I find them; I show a big grin so that they know I am feeling great. I have conquered the hills; it is literally all downhill from here. To say that I feel incredible is by far an understatement.

At this point I knew that I had made it. I knew I would finish.

Mile 21 Split 9:12
Mile 22 Split 8:19
Mile 23 Split 9:02
Mile 24 Split 8:38

Mile 25 Split 9:08

I have only felt this good once before and it is when I finally broke the 4 hour barrier with a 15 minute PR. I remember charging toward the finish line in the last few miles.

Today, from mile 20.5 and on, I would pick up the pace, while passing runners one at a time.

I can’t express the charge I felt as I “hi-fived” 23, 30, 40 people in a row, all hollering my name. I knew I had to be careful not to run too fast. It was like the first mile, except this time I wanted to forge forward and catch up with those that had previously passed me.

I am oblivious of my splits. As I approach the final dip in the road, I wonder briefly if it would trigger a quad or hamstring problem.

Most runners prefer not to converse at this stage of a race, but I had to say something to the girl running next to me, I said, “just what we needed, another bump in the road to test our legs”, she just groaned. I understood, I really should have not bothered her. I guess I felt too good, as the last 1.2 mile split demonstrates. I never noticed the CITGO sign as I was too engrossed in the crowd and not sure what mile marker I had just passed. I just know that I picked it up one more notch and began passing runners left and right. Off to the sidelines I grab a plastic lay necklace from a little girl desperately trying to get a runners attention, I see finish line, I am finally there racing down the side lines to the 2006 Boston Finish Line. Incredible, awesome, fantastic, out of this world, use any such adjective you desire and you still can’t explain the emotions; you just have to experience it.

Mile 26.2 Split 10:12

Afterwards, I was so excited I passed the section where they handout the finisher ribbons, so I had to come all the way back from the busses to get my ribbon, which is where I saw Amie who had also had a great running experience today. It was fun to have an opportunity to share our excitement with each other.

Within about an hour I caught up with my family, called some relatives and then headed back to the Sheraton Newton. While walking to the Bus stop, (the race was basically over), we saw a few stragglers, whom I am sure have stories of their own, and the Military running with backpacks. Few spectators were around so we clapped as loud as we could to help them along.

When we arrive at the Hotel, I remove my shoes and socks; the blisters look bad and apparently have bleed. But it is a minor prince to pay.          

Summary

The Boston Marathon, through its 110 year History, epitomizes the ultimate in road racing. There is no other distance race that garners such awe and respect in the running world. And, in my experience, there is no other town or spectators that truly understand the marathon as well as Boston.

When I am asked, “Why run Boston”, the answer for me is obvious. There are marathons all over the country and the world. Most are well organized and fun to attend. Many have very special meanings behind them, for instance, The OKC Memorial Marathon, is there a better reason the run a Marathon than for those who died?, The Marine Corp. Marathon, The NYC Marathon, wow, need I say more?

But from a pure running standpoint, the qualification standards, the knowledge of the fans, the history, a place where world records are made, where Olympians compete, there is no other marathon race that carries such emphasis and status as the Boston Marathon.

So when I am asked, “Why run Boston”, the obvious answer for me is, it is an HONOR and privilege to run where History was made and still continues. It is an HONOR to step into a Corral with those that have worked so hard to be here. It is an HONOR just to participate.

And for those who desire to run Boston, but success has eluded you, I can testify that your dreams can come true as they have for me. Don’t give up, don’t stop trying, you can do it if you persevere; you will stand here if it is your dream.

I want thank everyone that has helped me along the way, especially my family, and most recently Sue, Richard, Henry, Marj, the HTH Team, for all their hospitality and the rest of the Coolrunning gang, for it has been an HONOR to stand amongst you and share in your dreams and glories at the 2006 Boston Marathon.

Splits: 5K 0:25:53
          10K 0:53:18
          15K 1:20:14
          20K 1:47:44
          Half 1:53:41
          25K 2:15:28
          30K 2:44:33
          35K 3:12:24
          40K 3:40:07
          Finish 3:51:35
          Pace    8:50
          Overall 11367
          Gender 8020
          Div.       1405