Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Boston Marathon 2016:Recap and Final Thoughts

So some final thoughts about the whole process. This experience was one to be remembered, from trying to find new ways to raise money, to figuring out proper ways to rehab my body on my own. To realizing the importance of training wile injured. to how well run team Framingham, and baa are, this was one of those things I will remember for the rest of my life

Race morning.
 I get dropped off by my brother in Framingham, at the bus, got in our last bathroom trip before athletes village. Then we got our police escort and headed to Hopkington. Then when you get to Hopkington, we got onto baa's bus, and when in athlete village they had several tents up for shade. Something I noticed, go to the second area, the first area, tent 3, was packed, lines were ridiculously long, but tent 1 & 2 were maybe 1/4 of the size. Gatorade, and Cliff are sponsors, and had blocks, pouches of mashed food, and Gatorade drinks, as well as poland spring bottles, bananas, apples (might not agree with everybodies system), bagels, ect. Make sure you plan correctly, do not eat too soon before you run, and do not eat food that may not agree. You can bring food and whatever you want, just has to be in a gallon sized clear plastic bag, They even gave them out before you got on the baa bus! Before you even got into athletes village, you could see helicopters in the air, and snipers on roofs, some people were on edge because of it, but it was not too much, I quickly forgot they were there. (With the Brussels problems, they decided to keep security high this year) They called of bibs by color and corrals, it was organized well, and the announcer was awesome! you line up in an area at the edge of athletes village, and then get sent out, and walk .7 miles to the start line. Just before the start line there was a whole bunch of portapotties, no lines, unless you did not want to go to the ones in the back, they also handed out water, it is well done! Also along the walk there were bags for clothes, drop them there, or the volunteers pick them up later, and it minimizes how much clothes the next person has to run over, if you can drop your extra clothes early, and they get donated! The start line this year was over 70 degrees, it was bad! but luckily within the first few miles there were a few trees for shade, about the only time you get it in the race is in the begging miles. A few gentle gusts of wind because I started late in the morning, the early runners had heat problems, and issues with wind, most of the heat problems were people not drinking enough water, and I mean they had water stops, on both sides, staggered at each mile, so that was poor planning on the runners part from what I heard.
some things to keep in mind, BRING SUN SCREEN, a small bottle, as you will not be keeping it, but it is important, as sun screen only lasts so long, and you will be running ,in the sun, minimal coverage, and standing at the start for a bit (one of the charities had free sun screen by newton Wellesley hospital). THANK the volunteers, they have been around for a wile making things ready, the streets shut down at 7am, and the last wave does not go off until 1130 ish, then  they break down and clean. This year, 2016, marks the 120th anniversary of the Boston Marathon! Just as cool as that, it is the 50th anniversary of women being allowed in the Boston Marathon!! When we started, there were just so many people, it was hard to move around, so do not try, use it to your advantage, and use it to force yourself to slow down. You will need the help, the steepest down is right at the start, it is easy to just let the decline take you, but do not fall into the trap, it will sap your legs for later in the race when you need them!
So much fun!

When running, I had my Mother, and a few friends in Natick cheering me on. As well as in Newton, Team RWB was camped out at the mile 17 marker, just before you took the right past the fire station. then maybe a mile later, November Project was out, and more cheers, it really helps make the race. Then in Brookline area, I had 3 friends spaced out, I got a hug and a few high 5's, I felt like crap, but magically it did not show, probably because I was lucky and did not walk when my friends were near!
Some pointers to keep in mind for spectators and racers coordinating what mile area you will be and what side of the street you will be on at that time. it is very hard to cross the street (though they had a few ways of getting people into a star market that was cool and did not interrupt the flow of runners). Also it cuts down on the extra mileage you will run, less wasted energy, and less chance of running into people. Also this makes it better for when you want hugs, it helps with an energy boost! that and all the awesome signs people make, seriously, take a second and google articles of best boaton marathon signs, they were great (the best are in Wellesley I think).
Tanks Jonathan! mile 23
Also, another tip Wellesley college, right in front as you run by is passed with the college students screaming so much, I heard them at least a 1/4 mile away, all holding signs saying kiss me. some where creative, like kiss me I am a french major, I just broke up with my boyfriend.... you get the idea, it was an interesting thing to see, so why not make a pit stop, experience life and all that.
Somewhere in chestnut hill area, I forget, I was told people say 3 miles to beer, they are lying, they have been there every year for a wile, it is 6 miles, they are hashers, they are funny, (look up what a hash is, one day I will have fun with them)
One of the coolest things about the race, the thing that makes Boston an experience like no other, is everybody that comes out and cheers you on. Seriously, the whole 26.2 was covered in people cheering you on. You could tell where the bars were and the colleges, that is where people were the most drunk, and the most happy. Hell most of them were offering you a beer. One dude had a 1/5 of rum he was letting runners drink, in Natick, it was a nice idea, but I was not stopping. People were offering up plastic cups of beer as well, so if you wanted you could have had several wile running. Many spectators, either in front of their house, or camped out somewhere were offering all kinds of things, I grabbed a few twizzlers on course. several business gave out freebies, a coconut water company gave out bottles across from whole foods in wellsley, and several places gave out cups of water. SO MANY kids with water guns or spray bottles helping to cool you off, a few people had hoses they were running. The fire station in Newton had a short tent you could run through that misted water, it was great. and heartbreak hill in newton was one of a few places you got shade, it was great, on those hills where so many had to walk, like me!

Heart break hill Sucked for me, because most of the race in a net downhill before there, nut just before the course fluctuates a bunch, and then you get the big hills, after about 17 miles of net down, but plenty of rolling hills, it is draining when you come up to a big hill in the course wile running that long that fast. At that point, my hips were screaming at me, I was seriously worried what was gonna happen next, luckily faded after about 3 miles, and then my body kept giving me weird pains all through my legs, kinda to be expected on a marathon. My training suffered due to a few injuries, so I expected to have some fun like this. Luckily this was not obvious, so when I would see friends miles later, and ran to them, I looked better, conditioning helps I guess? So make sure to run these hills, and know how to keep proper posture, as that saved me from being worse off. And knowing how to switch up strides depending on what the course does, like up hill and downhill.

Thanks Ron! Finish line photo
The point that nothing is like Boston comes from the fact that they are everywhere like I said, but when you hit Chestnut hill, they start to get louder and more compact. More dense, and more volume the closer you get to Boston, in each town. When you are just outside of Boston, it is almost deafening, and they just do not stop. When you turn onto Boylston, you have barley anything left, everybody is screaming, and this, and all the people before, they carry you, they really do. I got to the last 2 ish miles left, and I refused to walk again, I kept okay pace, and just took in the crowd, a bridge about a mile out, was just painted with Boston Strong, it was hard not to get choked up. The crowd really inspires you to keep moving, they had a sign with a mile to go, and all the things that keep you going and pushing. You push past the fact that for at least the last 2 miles all the small stabilizing muscles in you legs are killing you. that all kinds of pains are shooting around, you keep moving, it is almost over, and then you do not have to do anything the rest of the day, except get home, and rest, hell sit down on the T back, or anywhere, all the breaks you want are fine, after you are done!
Wear the medal post race, many places give discounts, many people will high 5 and congratulate you. Seriously, it is the nicest experience in Boston I had, with random strangers! I heard free T ride back, try it out, the worst that happens is that they say no.

I am a unicorn!
The people running the course were also amazing, I got passed but some pretty old people, I was amazed they were running so strong, for what I am guessing is 60+ age. There were several athletes tat passed ,e that had amputations. I saw several blind runners, running with a guide, it was amazing to take in, I saw at least 4 blind runners, it is awesome.

I desperately want to be one of the people that runs Boston for like 30 years in a row, I have some work to do, and some speed to gain to make that work.

If you are thinking of doing this, get on it, not fast enough to qualify, don't worry, I am a a year or so away, if I dedicate my time, to qualifying. Be one of the first to request bibs in the fall, or it gets harder to get a bib, less time to fund raise, less odds of a lower required fundraising target etc.
Mile 27 crowded after party, we walked the warning track

A short summery of things to remember if you run for charity. It will be hard, not everybody that says they will donate does, but things, and money changes, it happens. People really do come out of the wood work to donate, Boston is special, you will receive donations from those you would have never expected. A sign up at work with your bib, and all info about your race and info about your charity will go a long way.When you get tired out there on course, remember who and what you are running for, (you will probably tear up) and it will get you going again! Remember you did an awesome thing, for an awesome cause, be happy, it is okay to be proud of this accomplishment!

Also, something I have noticed, with each new thing I do, or try to do.I am slowly realizing that I have an ability to inspire others, which is something I have to get used to, I am just going out and having fun. But one of the cool things about running and fitness in general, if you stick with it long enough, you can help others better themselves. Just share your experience, however you feel most comfortable with. It was absolutely amazing to me, the amount of people that showed love for me in this event. It was kind of overwhelming, I had a very hard time keeping up with everybodies posts on facebook. I was actually paranoid I was going to miss one, or a few. It did not help when I would get a notification and fb would not load my wall. They say anybody who runs a marathon will tell you about it,well that is not a bad thing, it is hard, why not talk about it, you put in months of training, and put it all out there one day. fought demons, and pushed through some hard stuff to go as far as you could, as best as you could. Not many people can do , or would do that. So keep up the good work, you never know who is watching you, seriously, people I did not realize would be excited were very loud cheering squad for me, it felt amazing!

In the end I ran it in 4:53, 5 min slower than Baystate, and with a few injures over my training. Wile I always want to improve I am happy with this race. I am also happy that oh so many friends got the chance to run it as well. And I hope to share the day with even more friends in the future! 


So summery of tips:
write your name on your shirt, or a piece of tape and put it on your shirt, people will cheer for you, and it will be great!

If you have a gps watch that will tell you pace, it is a life saver. I set mine up with current pace, average pace, distance, and time

be extra careful of pacing at the start, you start on a serious downhill, you need your legs for later

coordinate what side you will be on and where for friends

water and Gatorade are on both sides, Gatorade is first, they stagger them, more people run on the right, so go on the left!

take in the course, all the fun stuff, the signs, etc

do not post a picture of your bib before the race, this is how counterfeiters get in, and then you may not be in your own pictures (if you are going to shell out a small fortune for them)

sunscreen for athletes village, and toilet paper, they ran out at a few portapotties, and the ones on course as well!

in long distance races, start hydrating a week before the event, same time as tapering and carbo loading

In the last few days, I ramp up the food, water, and take some electrolyte pills, or anything to increase electrolytes, as too much water flushes the system, better safe than sorry, especially when it is hot out!

Lube is your friend, I usually only use it for my feet, if I do. Wool socks take care of most problems, and a good shirt will prevent nipple chaffing. Inner thighs can also be a common spot where chaffing can occur, watch your stride.

So until next time
Stay Active
Stephen

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