Boston Strong – Part Deux!

by admin on September 4, 2015

WARNING: The blog you are about to read is another LONG one!  I was asked (again) not to trim it down so consider yourself forewarned.  Hopefully the pictures help break it up! You might want to grab something to eat/drink and settle in.  :)

DreamBelieveAchieveAs you may recall, I surprisingly qualified for Boston again while running the 2014 Boston marathon. It was quite amazing and I was ready to come back and PR the course … after fully recovering from the car accident, of course. 😉 With a training plan in hand, warm destination races scheduled and the hopes the Polar Vortex make a repeat appearance, I kicked off the new year with my goal in mind and my eyes on a great race!  Let’s do this!

My training was going well at the start but as life would have it … things got turned upside down and I hit a bump in the road when my asthma really started kicking in. Even after moving to a stronger inhaler, I struggled for air and energy on my long runs.  I adjusted my pace and expectations and continued my training with the hopes that perhaps it was just the cold weather taking a toll on my lungs.

7b2bb6af99647d855f4419df1f49f1deAs the weeks went on, my asthma continued to get worse so I headed back to the doctor.  There wasn’t much she could do so we came up with options regarding what could be triggering it. I always knew there would come a day when my preventative inhaler wouldn’t work anymore but I wasn’t ready for that day to be now. I’ve had an amazing 10+ years of oxygen and am truly blessed for all that it’s allowed me to do but I wasn’t ready to revert back to the old life of limited air.  My usual “see the positive side / silver lining” view of life was definitely taking a hit.

About a month out from the race, I found myself getting winded walking up the steps in my house and at work. Where I was usually bounding up the staircases, I was now taking a break at the top to catch my breath.  Sheesh! This is crazy! I continued with my training but certainly altered my expectations once again.  My pace slowed quite a bit and I was now walking any kind of incline. On two occasions, my body actually shut down on me and I was stopped on the side of the road just over two miles from home wondering how I was going to get there. My mind said “one foot in front of the other” but the message was somehow getting lost en route to my legs. 😉 I’ll admit, there was a mix of tears and laughter as I sat on the side of the road trying to figure out what was going on and how I was going to get home. After some time, I was able to walk or do the Dan Dewey shuffle back home.keep-moving-forwardThis situation was taking a toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally. I wondered what life would be like long term if we couldn’t find a solution. Don’t get me wrong, I did a lot of things before my miracle inhaler but I was able to do SOOO much more and so effortlessly once I was able to breathe.  If this was my lot in life, I would make the best of it. But if not, I’d prefer to breathe “normally”. 😀

iPhone Pictures 030514 3733

A week before the race, I went out for my last long run and actually had a really great run. I still had to walk the inclines but felt positive about Boston and being able to complete it (the PR was definitely off the table at this point). On this particular run, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself as so many people deal with bigger issues than mine. This life is so much more than me and I was done listening to myself whine about it. That’s right about the time the idea of running the Boston marathon for others came to mind … and my miracle cure was born! Pity party over! 😀

Although I usually keep my Facebook posts about running or adventures or motivational quotes, I opted for a more personal message this time. I explained my current situation and asked for help. I asked my friends and family to dedicate miles in honor and/or memory of someone, to celebration something, for themselves or just because. Whatever it was … dedicate a mile and be part of the Boston marathon with me.  Like I stated … this life is SO much bigger than me! You know what, they came thru and dedicated mile after mile, including the walk to the start all the way thru the last .2 of the race. Woo hoo! I was truly touched and simply overwhelmed by the response. Wow!! Thank You!!!

TogetherThere was a renewed energy and excitement about the race. I’ll admit, I still had a fear of my body shutting down and leaving me unable to move forward on the side of the road but that’s what friends are for … to smack you upside the head, bring you back to reality and remind you of what’s really important. Thanks to my friend, Scott, who put some reality in the situation with “Who cares?!? It’s Boston!!! Do you know how many people would love to just be there … in any capacity?!?” Ok, ok … you’re right! I was determined and willing to walk it, if necessary for as long as I could. And with that, I laminated a card listing all the miles and names on it which would be with me every step of the way on race day and memorized the intentions for each dedication. I was surrounded by the love and support of family and friends and ready for this Boston marathon.

Packed and ready for my adventure, I was excited, hopeful, feeling blessed. Armed with my dedication card, I was grinning ear to ear as I made my way to the airport and thru security. Boston Bound Baby!! That enthusiasm wavered a bit when I reached my gate winded, wiped out and in need of a nap.  Ei-yi-yi … if this is how I feel walking to my gate at the airport, how am I going to be able to do the Boston marathon in three days? I was at a loss and reached out to my family asking for prayers … not to complete the Boston marathon but to find a way to get my breathing back under control and if that wasn’t in the cards, then for renewed strength and guidance to maneuver the next phase of life. They were absolutely incredible and sent me the encouragement, support, prayers, strength I needed.  Thank You!

Packet PickUpPrerace was a lot of fun spending time with friends and even catching a Red Sox game. My energy levels were hit and miss which just meant I had to plan time off my feet.  Sometimes easier said than done but I did a decent job. The energy in the city was incredible and I loved hearing all the stories of how people qualified and their road to Boston. We had a really good shake out run on a beautiful morning along the water with a clear view of the infamous Citgo sign on the other side of the water. I took it as a good sign and couldn’t wait to see it coming around the corner on the course, knowing it marked one mile to go!

Boston Red SoxFinishLineRace morning arrived and I was ready. I teamed up with Paul and we caught the Baumann bus along with a few other friends. The bus was filled with endless chatter and a mix of nervous/excited energy as we made our way to Hopkinton. I was feeling good and ready to hit the course.

After we couldn’t wait any longer, Kevin, and I headed to the start as the sprinkles continued to fall. He joked at our attire as we stopped to get various photos taken in Athletes Village. Not quite the Boston attire or race photos he imagined.  Ha! The forecast predicted cooler temps in the mid 40s, rain (heavy at times) with a 15mph headwind starting around 11am. Our wave went off at 10:50 so there was a chance we would be ahead of the rain, right? Not so much … the downpour started at 10:40 and we were soaked. Donning my fashionable garbage bag, I couldn’t help but laugh. What are you going to do about it anyway? We were 26.2 miles from Boston … might as well get this thing going, right? 😀

StartWith my Boston Strong card attached to my belt, I started the long walk to the start line with my dedications to those who wanted to be part of this section of the race. At the start and each mile after, I thought of each name on the card … how I knew them, what was going on in their life, memories I had of them, etc and then said a prayer for each one. Other people came to mind along the way (squirrel!) and I included them in the dedication as well. The miles simply melted!

The rain and wind continued mile after mile.  There were points where I took the garbage bag off and enjoyed the light sprinkle but the rain would pick up again and the bag went back on. My lungs kicked in around mile 6-7 and I could feel the “weight” of each breath like if I was wearing a weighted vest. Rather than get discouraged, I pulled out my card, looked at the names and declared “What? So the rest of these people don’t get their dedicated miles?” That was the last I recall my lungs coming to my attention. Not to say they weren’t tired, struggling, hurting … just saying I didn’t acknowledge them … if that makes any sense. 😉 The same thing happened around mile 19 when my quads were sore … I simply looked at the card and the remaining names and continued forward!

The crowds were absolutely amazing! I expected a much lighter turnout due to the cold/wind/rain but they were unbelievable and out in true Boston Strong fashion, dressed in their finest winter and rain resistant/water proof gear. Ha! Bill, Kellie and Vic were stationed at mile ten and were a bright spot on a rather gloomy day. It was fantastic to see their frozen smiles for a brief moment before continuing on my journey.  The next big highlight was the girls at Wellesley College who did NOT disappoint. They were lined up, completely drenched, soaked to the bone while screaming, cheering and offering their infamous kisses and high fives to anyone who’d take them up on it. It was a fantastic stretch of the course and incredible energy as we transitioned from the 16 miles of down hills into five miles of climbing! Woo hoo!  We’ve got this!!

CourseI intentionally slowed my pace once I hit the hills (miles 16-21) just to be on the safe side and made it thru with no issues! Woo hoo again as I ran up one after another! This was quite a change from walking the ever-so-slight-inclines back home. 😉 I was sure to jam “Break My Stride” for Erika which brought laughs and smiles as we all climbed Heartbreak Hill. I would never say the Boston Marathon is easy but I can say there wasn’t a single mile on the course where I struggled, including the hills and the quiet stretch around 23-25 where I remember a “lull” last year. Going thru the dedications, stories, memories, prayers while taking in my surroundings and thanking those who stood in the cold/wind/rain to cheer us on just carried me mile after mile.

I had a pretty cool moment around mile 25.5 where a rush of energy came over me and I was grinning ear to ear as the realization hit me that we were going to pull this off. I was focusing on one mile at a time until this point and suddenly I realized we were going to do it! There’s one last “challenge” as we enter into Boston which takes us down under an overpass and then back up to street level. My friend, Bill, reminded me of this stretch and I recall Vic and I running this area last year. At this point of the race, there have been enough ups and downs and people just want flats. Grabbing the one soaked glove I had from Vic, I channeled that energy and charged this section (almost defiantly), climbing back up and knowing we were going to do this. WE were going to do this! Blueberry pancakes!!

I made my way thru the streets of Boston, took one last look at all the names on the card for the final dedications and made the turn on to Boylston Street. I could see the finish line ahead and was just amazed that we were doing this, we were about to cross the finish line. Thinking of the struggles over the past several months, I was simply amazed to see the finish line in front of me … coming closer and closer.  We’ve got this! The noise from the crowds was incredible … the sheer energy along that stretch is amazing! With a huge grin, tears in my eyes and my card in hand, we cruised down the final stretch and across the finish line!  We did it!  We did it!! OMG … by the grace of God WE DID IT!!!

Finish!

There will come day when I cannot do this anymore … today was NOT that day!

The volunteers at the finish are a very special bunch!  They were like our personal cheerleaders as they greeted each of us with smiles, high fives and fantastic cheers. One volunteer rushed over to give me a hug and several others came over with high fives all cheering “Congratulations! You did it!” In a rare moment … I was speechless and just smiled as I took it all in. With the temperatures being on the colder side, the volunteers wrapped us in race blankets, gave us post race food/drink and even offered to call or text someone for us as so many fingers were frozen and not operating properly. Thank you guys!

My goal was to meet Vic at the hotel a few blocks away. As I approached the hotel, he saw me and came bounding out into the middle of traffic to pick me up in a very enthusiastic congratulatory hug. It was a flurry of activity as he wanted to know how I was feeling and hear all about the race. I laughed as I was too cold to talk and my goal was to get out of the middle of the street and somewhere warm.

We walked to the front of the hotel under the heat lamps. Ah … heat!! Vic was so excited and so proud! As he gave me a warm up/congratulations hug under the heat lamps, something came over me and I just started crying out of the blue.  Good thing my head was buried in his chest because I’m sure it was an ugly cry. Ha! As we stood under the headlamps, there were all sorts of emotions occurring … finishing the Boston marathon, the struggles and disappointments I encountered on my journey to this moment, the outpouring of support from friends and family, the reality of all that took place and got me to this point.  As the world around me disappeared, it was a moment of letting go, celebrating, just being in the moment and acknowledging the journey of all the ups and downs of life via the Boston marathon course.  I’m a very blessed girl and this was an incredible moment I can’t quite explain but one I will never forget. I thank Vic for sticking it out, staying in the moment and sharing it with me and not getting all weird on me as that memory was the highlight of the day, of the weekend!

I have no idea how long we stood there but recall opening my eyes and seeing the door man grinning ear to ear as he watched us. Then I noticed people in their cars on the street doing the same thing. The best was catching two ladies taking our picture! Haha! Really?!? 😉 We got lost in a Boston Marathon moment and it was one of the coolest memories I have of any race. Thank You!

Although I had a great race and this event was so very memorable, I didn’t requalify for Boston and I’m ok with that. It was a race shared with so many and definitely one for the memory books! I will be back and am going for the “three times a charm” angle. 😉 Thank you all so very much for your support, encouragement and love on this amazing journey of not only the Boston Marathon but life. I wouldn’t have crossed that finish line if not for the grace of God and all of you! I am truly touched and blessed. Just wait until I share what fun we’ll get into next year! Stay tuned …

Boston Creme

 

{ 1 comment }

Boston Strong!

by admin on July 4, 2014

WARNING: The blog you are about to read is LONG!  I was asked by a few people to not trim it down so consider yourself forewarned.  Pictures help, right?  😀 You might want to grab something to eat/drink and settle in.  :)

Bstn Strong

The term ‘Boston Strong’ has been heard many times over the last year since two bombs were placed at the finish line of the 2013 Boston marathon.  There have been many stories from those who were directly and indirectly impacted from that event.  The running community and beyond came together as a sign of solidarity against this “act of terrorism” as Boston Strong running events popped up all over to raise money for those who were injured or killed.  There was an incredible outpouring of emotion and support from all over the world as the stories poured in.  For those who didn’t get to finish their marathon that day, many local friends, family members and even strangers organized a run to simulate the final distance they had to go to reach the finish line. Although it wasn’t the same as the true Boston marathon finish, it was still a momentous occasion.  You couldn’t help but be touched by the stories. It was truly amazing and I was even more excited and determined to not only go to my next race but to make the trip in 2014 to complete the Boston marathon and be part of the Boston Strong!

As I met various people who were headed to Boston, I learned most everyone has a Boston Strong story.  Just as the saying goes “be kind as everyone is fighting some sort of battle”. It seems everyone was able to use the events from the 2013 Boston marathon as a way to persevere through difficulties they experienced on their journey to the 2014 marathon … me included!

Going into 2014, I could hardly contain my excitement about all the good things that were going to happen.  I didn’t know what was coming my way but I had a feeling there were a lot of changes, a lot of positive experiences and potentially life changing adventures about to happen.  Woo hoo!  Talk about enthusiasm … I couldn’t wait to watch it all play out!  The Boston Marathon was my “A” race for the year and I had a fantastic game plan on how I was going to attack my training.  Of course, I wasn’t anticipating having to do it in one of the “worst” winters in 40+ years with record breaking snow fall (over 100” by me), a decent stretch of freezing / below freezing temps, running thru a great deal of deep snow and trying to keep upright on the icy roads.  Getting in miles definitely proved challenging at times … thank God for YakTraks! 😉 I could’ve moved my training indoors but there was no way I was letting Mother Nature keep me from my love of running outside.  And although there were some rather cold training days, I absolutely loved it! I enjoyed the added challenge, the winter wonderland and defying the odds!  Regardless of the weather, my spirit stayed strong and upbeat because I too was Boston Strong!  😉

Winter Wonderland II

The weather alone was an unexpected surprise in and of itself in my pursuit of a great Boston marathon performance but it wasn’t the only “bump” in the road along this journey.  As life would have it, the first several months of the year didn’t quite fit to the vision I had for this amazing 2014 and I found the term “Boston Strong” coming to mind time and time again.  In addition to the incredible winter wonderland, my Boston Strong year started with a bit of a health scare (no worries, all is well) … and I ran.  Then I experienced the loss of more than ten people who I had some connection with in a matter of three weeks … and I ran. The biggest blow was the loss of one of my best friends which turned my world upside down and inside out … and I ran.  Then two weeks before the marathon, I was sitting at a light when I was suddenly rear-ended by a vehicle going roughly 50-60 mph.  Ouch!  With the marathon in mind and perhaps the desire to stay mentally strong, I went into denial about any potential effects from the accident and moved forward as if nothing happened … and I ran.

Then out of the blue one evening, the skies suddenly darkened, the wind picked up and we had a very heavy, quick hail storm out of nowhere!  It was unlike anything I’ve witnessed before and many believe it was similar to a tornado.  This storm resulted in a great deal of damage in the area and my power being out for four days. Living by candlelight, out of a cooler and exploring new ways to cook via the grill was entertaining but offered a different stress with Boston in a few days.  During one of my candlelit evenings, reality kicked in after I struggled with our easy four mile run and I had a moment where everything caught up with me. I was in a lot of pain from the accident (hips and lower back) and for the first time, acknowledge it, spoke the words out loud and wondered if I could complete the marathon.

iPhone Pictures 030514 1610

For me, marathon training and the marathon itself has always been a personal journey of some sort. Physically preparing for 26.2 miles is highly recommended but mentally preparing for 26.2 miles (and especially the Boston marathon) is a MUST for me to have a successful run and enjoy the event.  And here I was four days out from race day and doubting my ability to cross that finish line. I acknowledged my fear to a few people but minimized the broadcasting as I didn’t want those thoughts to take root.  After all, just like so many others, I was Boston Strong! Although the last four months didn’t quite play out as I had planned, it all really wasn’t so bad and I just needed to put things in perspective.  I was ready and determined to finish … maybe not in the time I originally had in my mind but I was definitely crossing that finish line … and with a smile!

I’ll admit, there were a lot of emotions once we arrived in Boston and saw Boston Marathon jackets in an array of colors for this and prior years everywhere we looked!  Blueberry Pancakes! Boston Strong shirts were the next crowd favorite … from participants to family / friends to locals to those who traveled to Boston just to be a part of the weekend festivities.  It was incredible! As we walked thru town and the expo, you could hear endless stories about people’s prior experiences at this race, what they encountered / survived last year, where they were when they heard about the bombing, what they did as a result and what they overcame to get here this year (physical, mental, emotional). The determination, drive and perseverance were everywhere. You couldn’t help but feed off the energy and smile at the opportunity to be a part of it.

It starts

Of all the race prep activities, the most beneficial were Luke Humfrey’s YouTube play-by-play review of the course and the race video review at the expo which I watched 1.5 times!  As the video took us thru the rolling adventure and outlined each section, I found myself getting caught up in the feeling of the course … especially coming down the final stretch toward the finish line. All the ups and downs, highs and lows, glory and tough sections of the race seemed to represent the last four months and somehow in the midst of watching the video, I suddenly felt ready! My energy, excitement, confidence and peace were back and I knew all would be well! I couldn’t wait to get on the course with my fellow Boston Strong runners.  It was a tough few months but an amazing journey as well and now it was time to enjoy the experience and take it all in.  My revelation must’ve been apparent as the lady behind me started rubbing my back as she flashed a HUGE supportive smile.  Ha!  Blueberry pancakes!  ;o)

Its Go Time

Race morning arrived and I was surprised by my nerves.  Even with my lower back still bothering me, I felt physically and mentally ready so what was with the nervous stomach and lack of appetite?  Hmm … not sure! After some added stand-around-and-wait time, the buses finally arrived and the mad dash started.  Just before boarding, I got a fantastic hug and an absolutely awesome send off from my partner in crime. In my focused state, I don’t recall everything that was said but the ladies who heard it couldn’t help but smile and comment about it … many times. LOL! Thanks Vic! 😉

This was a private bus and the absolute best way (IMO) to kick off the Boston marathon.  It was stocked with water, Gatorade, sunscreen, toilet paper (you know this comes in handy when dealing with portapotties at a race venue) and all sorts of knowledge and support.  The stories were non-stop the entire time and quite entertaining to listen to as we made our way to the race start.  I was surprised to learn the “slowest” time on my bus was a 3:10 marathon.  Hmm … maybe I was on the wrong bus! 😀

We arrived in Hopkinton and were routed to a special bus section with porta-potties, yoga warm up sessions and a short cut to the start line … all great pluses! I eventually made my way to the Athlete’s Village and then on to the next holding area as I was in Corral 9 of Wave 2.  This was quite a process just to get to the start line.  Ha! Once we were released, we continued to walk along the streets winding our way to the start and were greeted by supporters who offered cheers, high fives, beer, etc and we hadn’t even started the race yet.  It was fantastic!!! In the midst of taking in all the cheers from our supportive spectators, I recall hearing a horn which probably indicated the start of the race but we were too far back to be sure and still being herded like cattle.  The crowds eventually opened up and we started running … still looking for the start line. 😉

Start Line

The first six miles were mostly big rollers with A LOT of downhill.  I recall my new friend, Bill, telling me “you can’t go too slow at the start” and I kept that in mind as I tried to keep control of my pace and not get caught up in the race start excitement and the amazing downhill experience.  I recalled the comments about how the downhills will take a toll on your quads later in the race and just fell into a comfortable rhythm while people were blowing by me left and right. 😉 The crowds were constant, thick and simply unbelievable as the miles just melted away. I took it all in with a permagrin on my face.  Wow!  Just … WOW!!

Course

The next ten miles were rolling (not sure there is much “flat” at Boston) but to a lesser degree than the beginning which allowed me to switch to autopilot.  I chatted with a few people and tried to recall the “Ten Best Things to See Along the Boston Marathon Course”.  With all the people, signs and excitement, I don’t think I caught any of those “must sees”.  Ha!  This was the time I decided to share this experience with all those who wished me well and wanted to hear all about it.  Yup … I was Facebooking and group text messaging all thru the race and having an absolute ball! Due to the sun, I couldn’t read anything but could feel the vibration each time a message came thru and couldn’t help but smile at what was probably being written.  😀

Janet on Boston Course

My super fantastic support crew (Vic, Eric, Susan and Lauren) was planned to be around mile ten and I couldn’t wait to see them.  The crowds were so thick as I scanned them looking for the familiar faces, not wanting to miss them.  Then I heard the cheers and was SOOO happy to see them along the side!  Wow!!  Talk about an adrenaline rush! We took pictures of each other, exchanged a few words and I was off again.  Woo hoo! That moment was with me the rest of the race and I was SOOO happy and thankful to have them as part of this experience.  Thank You!!

Cheer Team

As I mentioned earlier, there were a ton of Boston Strong stories along the way which made this experience even better.  One particular guy ran last year and was pulled just over a mile from the finish.  This year, he was in an accident which resulted in a broken leg but wasn’t letting that stop him.  There was NO WAY he was missing the race.  So what does he do?  He decides to complete the 26.2 miles … ON CRUTCHES!!! He was in great spirits when I saw him and knew his determination and the crowd support would get him to the finish.  After all … he was Boston Strong!  😉

Crutches

One of the biggest highlights of the race was running with Team Hoyt!  If you’re not familiar with their story, I would recommend checking out their website: http://www.teamhoyt.com/. The father, Dick, is 73 and the son, Rick, is 52 and they have an amazing track record with over 1000 road races, marathons and triathlons completed in the last 37 years, including 32 Boston Marathons.  They are simply amazing!  I have followed this dynamic father-son duo for years, got to meet them at the Expo and now was running part of their Boston marathon farewell tour with them.  Due to a very painful back, Dick has to cut back which is why last year was supposed to be their grand finale at Boston. However, they were part of the 5,000 runners stopped before reaching the finish line.  Team Hoyt opted to come back one more time to honor those who were killed or injured last year and I was so excited to be a part of their farewell tour.  Talk about inspirational and Boston Strong!  Amazing!!

Team Hoyt

Whew!  That was quite an emotional and fun stretch of the race which finished with the “Girls of Wellesley College”.  I have heard about this point of the race time and again and was waiting to see what the hype was all about.  This point marked the end of the “flatter” rolling stretch and the start of the five miles of hill climbs. We could hear these girls from a quarter mile or more away from the college.  It was incredible!!!  They lined the right side of the street and were hanging over the barriers to reach the runners.  Each carried a sign reading “Kiss Me, I’m XXX”.  Some were simple, some were fun and some were down right hilarious.  The girls offered up their hands, cheeks and lips to every runner thru that stretch … all while cheering really, really loudly!  It was incredible and a fantastic send off into the next stretch of the race.  You couldn’t help but carry that energy as we started to climb!

College Girls

The next section of the course (miles 16-21) represented the “toughest” part of the race as we had to climb out of the valley which required switching major muscle groups at a part of the race when many people “hit the wall”.  I love running hills, was fired up, had a game plan and was ready to take on whatever was to come.  As I was walking thru the aid station at mile 19, I noticed my quads were sore … not hurting but definitely sore which was a new experience.  I gave them a few pounds with my fist to “loosen” them up and shake them out and I swear they instantly threatened to drop me to the ground if I pounded on them one more time.  Fair enough!  I didn’t pound anymore but did state (yes … outloud) “That’s fine but we have seven more miles and we’re not slowing our pace!” Yup … I may have gotten a strange stare or two but I didn’t care.  I came to an understanding with my legs and we pushed forward … Boston Strong.  😉

For the most part, I don’t recall this section being overly hilly with the exception of the hill before Heartbreak Hill.  That one seemed to catch my attention a bit but I focused on my stride and cheering on my fellow runners as we climbed.  The hill was behind us in no time.  Another mile done! As I climbed yet another hill and noticed the mile markers, I turned to the guy next to me and asked “Is this Heartbreak Hill?” I asked because it didn’t seem as daunting as everyone indicated and definitely didn’t seem as taxing as the one before it. I’m not sure how to explain the look on his face but he confirmed it was.  That was my sign to queue up “I’m On Top of the World” which I loudly sang along to as we crested the top of the hill!  I even got a few people to yell “Hey” as we conquered Heartbreak Hill and this “tough” stretch together!  Yes!!  We did it!!  We did it!!  Boston Strong, my friends!  Boston Strong!!

Mile 21

After a not-so-quick photo opp, I headed down the hill to complete the final stretch of the marathon.  This was supposed to be “all downhill to the finish”.  Whoever tells you this is lying!!  😉 It may be a net downhill but there are definitely some rollers to remind you of all the up and down miles you put in so far.  Ha!  There was one stretch around miles 23-24 where the crowds seemed to thin, the sun was hidden by buildings and the number of runners walking increased. I still felt fantastic but was eager to get back to the crowds, the sunshine and the finish line.  For the first time, I had to focus and “dig deep” thru this quiet stretch.  I opted to cheer on fellow runners, recall my mantras and go thru my 31 declarations over and over until we popped back into the light. Worked like a charm!

Next thing I knew, I could see the infamous Citgo sign up ahead and knew I was just over a mile from the finish.  It’s amazing how many runners look (and long) for that sign! Ha! You could see smiles and feel a sense of relief as they suddenly got an extra hop in their step knowing this journey was about to be over in a few turns. I sent / posted my last picture of the race and pushed forward.  My body and spirit were strong and I really wanted to negative split not only the last mile but the last three miles of this race!  However, I opted for the steady effort approach, not knowing what impact the previous miles had on my legs and back.  That was fine!  No need to push … just enjoy this experience as it was about to be over!

Final Stretch

The crowds were unbelievable as we worked our way thru the winding streets of Boston and finally on to the infamous Boylston Street.  There were people everywhere … cheering, holding signs, waving, high-fiving … not just for “their” runner but for all of us.  I recall getting chills as I made that final turn … embracing the experience, feeling the energy, recalling all the stories and sharing this final stretch with some amazing people.  It was unlike any race I’ve done to date.  I scanned the crowd looking for my new friend, Bill, and slowed my pace a bit as I took it all in.  Wow!  Again … just WOW!!

With raised arms, happy tears in my eyes and a huge smile, I crossed the finish line Boston Strong!!!  I was immediately greeted by several volunteers who gave me super tight Congratulations! hugs … as if they were my personal cheer section.  As I continued walking for blocks upon blocks, the volunteers were amazing and so many offered their personal Congratulations while asking how the race went … and actually listening.  They were so cool!

We did it!

We did it!  We did it!!  We did it!!!  Although much of the last four months were a solo personal journey, I was SOO exciting to share the Boston Marathon experience with so many … whether they were participating or supporting in person, via texts, Facebook, phone calls or emails.  It was amazing to have my personal cheer team with me for this event and it made the memory better than I ever imagined.  Thanks to Vic, Eric, Susan, Lauren and Bill for sharing this special weekend with me and thanks to my family and friends who were with my every step of the way.  It’s been a bit of a rough year but together we were Boston Strong!  Thank You!  Thank You!!  Thank You!!! This was definitely one for the memory books!

Boston Celebration Celebration

Sidenote … in the midst of all the rolling hills, crowds, picture taking, texting and Facebooking, we somehow managed to run a 3:40:50 which qualified us for Boston … again!  Who’s with me for another Boston adventure?!?  Stay tuned …  😉Jacket

{ 0 comments }

A New Milestone: Steelhead Half Ironman

by admin on February 22, 2014

Over a year ago, Vic threw out the idea of doing a Half Ironman (HIM).  I always had it in the back of my mind so after thinking about it for maybe a minute or so, I hopped on board and suddenly we were dropping over $200 to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles … all in one day!  It seemed crazy but I was super excited about it! The excitement, enthusiasm and crazy bug must have been contagious because Eric and Cindy signed up shortly thereafter and our ever-supportive family was making plans to come cheer us on that weekend.  Woo hoo! It was official, all four of us would be doing our first Half Ironman together! Yes!! C’mon … it just doesn’t get much better than that!

CrazyThe four of us did a lot of training and racing “together” over several months in preparation for this great feat … some in person and some via e-mail/facebook/text. Vic and I put together a tentative training plan so we could prepare “together” while in two different states.  We kicked off this training with the New Year’s Eve run thru Central Park and followed it with a swim / bike / run training in Orlando, FL in January.  February was on our own and then we kicked it up a notch with trips to MI and NY in March, DC and FL in April, MI in May, NC and MI in June, MI in July and then race day was upon us in August.  You can believe frequent flyer miles were acquired and used a great deal during those months but it was well worth it. ;o)

The big weekend was upon us! Vic came up early so we had plenty of time to head over to Benton Harbor, get settled and check out the area.  First up was the swim exit / transition area. We found our numbers in transition and met some fellow participants.  After taking in the area, we hit the road to drive the bike course and see what we were in for come race day. Driving 56 miles was a race against daylight but definitely worth the time and helped ease a little anxiety. I was ready but also a little nervous.  There were a lot of miles to cover and I was anticipating over six hours to complete this event.  That’s a LONG time to actively be doing something! Ha! 

Prep2

Saturday included an easy shake down swim in the morning.  The water seemed fairly calm.  Steelhead is known for cancelling the swim every so many years due to choppy waters.  We were thrown around a bit but nothing worth cancellation, in my opinion.  After, we listened to the race review – first time for me.  These two things, along with driving the course, allowed me to “walk” myself thru the race, break it down into three simple events and suddenly I felt race ready.  Feeling settled, calm and ready, I was happy to greet our family and friends as they started to arrive.  We enjoyed visiting with them a while, including our private pasta party at Cravings, which quickly became our go-to place for food … three days in a row! Ha!

We planned out our race strategy and probably could’ve incorporated a little extra time as the mile walk along the sandy beach to the race start took longer than anticipated.  I literally put my wetsuit on, yelled a quick “good luck” to Vic and ran thru the chute (thanks Cindy) with a minute or so to spare before my wave start.  Great way to get the adrenaline flowing! 😉SwimAfter the initial craziness of a triathlon start, I fell into a groove and settled into the swim, finding a good rhythm with the waves.  My mind kicked in as I rehashed the last minute excitement getting to the start, my quick ‘hello’ to Susan who couldn’t believe I wasn’t lined up already, my quick ‘good luck’ to Vic and I have no idea what I said to Cindy other than ‘thanks’ for reminding me to enter the chute the right way to activate my timing chip.  Did I even wish her ‘good luck”?  And where were Eric, Leann and Mom?  I didn’t even get a chance to wish him well or thank them for coming out! Ei-yi-yi! In the meantime, it was one buoy at a time as I made my way along the beach, trying to recall the race review … how many yellow and how many orange buoys did he say there were? Was it eight yellow and ten orange or ten yellow and eight orange?  Was it even eight and ten? In the midst of all this playing out, I found myself making the final turn and heading toward the shore.  Wow … that went fast!!!   

I saw a familiar face as I ran up the beach … grinning ear to ear.  One down, two to go.  I chatted it up with anyone who would listen in the transition area (obviously not concerned with my time).  That was quite a rocky swim and we did it!  After a quick bite to eat and application of sunscreen, I was headed out of T1 and on to the bike portion.  Since I started in an early wave, there weren’t many people on the course.  The ones I did see were usually zipping past me at the speed of light so no time for chatting / casual conversation to help kill some time. ;o)BikeNot to worry though as I found the song “Smile” by Uncle Kracker playing in my head.  It was the last thing I heard on the beach before the swim and apparently it stuck.  It was obvious I didn’t know all the words so I made some up and smiled at how easily I’m amused.  Ha!  That only lasted for so long and then I decided to play a game of Six Degrees of Separation from that song which led me to Kid Rock, Cheryl Crow, Travis Tritt, and so on and so on until I worked my way back to Uncle Kracker.  Hey … whatever it takes to get thru 56 miles and almost three hours, right?  I made two stops along the course … one for water (and to chat with the volunteer) and the other for the rest room.  I was definitely well hydrated on the bike!  Ha!  The course was rolling but at least it looked familiar from our drive on Friday and I knew the last ten miles would be a nice, fast rolling downhill.

I made a friend along this final stretch as we played leap frog with each other.  She had a goal of riding down one of her competitors and we eventually caught her with five miles to go.  This was when my friend dropped the hammer. I kept up with her for a little bit but eventually let her go.  ;o)  I finished the bike portion and was sooo pumped to hear my family hootin’ and hollerin’ along the boardwalk stretch. It’s amazing the energy you can pull from the crowd and seeing a friendly face along the course! Thank you guys!!! I entered T2 with a huge grin!  Two down, one to go!  Huge exhale! I chatted with my friend, Nancy, for a bit and got a nice spray down from a volunteer before heading out on the run … pumped!!!RunI reminded myself to keep my stride short and my pace easy until I could feel my legs again.   This worked well until I hit the first hill. Really?!? Who put that there?  Goodness! Since it was early in the run, I chose to shuffle and walk the hill rather than push.  That’s when I felt my hamstring “lock” for a brief moment. I instantly pulled over to the side and gave my hammies a good stretch before continuing on.  No point in pushing thru if they needed a little love and attention this early in the run.  The stop to stretch paid off as they were ready to rock and roll for the miles ahead. 

Surprisingly, the miles melted as I made my way along the course, cheering on fellow runners and thanking the supporters and volunteers. It was a beautiful day and I was feeling fantastic! There was a great vibe on the course as I moved thru the miles.  I hit the next “huge” hill and instantly brought it to a walk to save my legs.  This seemed to work well as I fell back into stride at the top. One loop down, one to go.  I saw Eric on my second loop and got an instant boost of energy.  Yeah!!!  So happy to see him!  That moment carried me the rest of the way!

One of my friends from our triathlon group had been teasing me about a goal time of 5:30 for my first HIM.  I would just laugh because breaking down each segment, there was no way I could hit that time.  I didn’t give his goal time much thought … until mile 11 on race day.  I hit this point of the race and saw my total race time.  Before this moment, I was only concerned with 45 minute increments to ensure I kept nutrition going in.  But at this moment, I noticed my pace, the fact I had just over two miles to go and realized there was a good chance I was going to beat his goal time he had for me.  Really?!?

I tried not to let the thought get the best of me and held my pace.  I finished the second loop and headed toward the finish when it finally hit me … “Oh my God, I’m going to do this! I’m really going to do this!” I had to fight back the excitement and emotion as that lump in my throat made it really hard to breathe and run at the same time! 😉 I made the final turn, saw the finish line ahead and my family along the sidelines.  Whoa! What an overwhelming moment!!  I’m not sure I can convey how incredibly awesome it felt to complete the HIM and have my family there, competing and supporting.  Susan ran over to greet me at the finish and with huge smiles, we both just hugged and shed some tears.  Wow!!  Amazing day! I did it!  I did it!!  I did it!!!

Finishers3

The best part … I got to relive that moment three more times as Eric, Vic and Cindy came down the final stretch and officially became a Half Ironman as well.  I was SOOO proud of each of them and so grateful for my family who spent a long day in the sun to cheer us all on.  It meant SO much!  Of all the events I’ve done, this one might rank at the top! 😀 It was a personal journey I was lucky and grateful to share with the most important people in my life.  Doesn’t get much better than that!

Finish Line2

Sidenote: News of my HIM completion along with my organizing of the Continental relay teams for the Free Press Marathon each year made its way overseas.  As a result, I was asked to write a blog to help attract people to the company. One thing led to another and the next thing I know, this article was published in our worldwide magazine.  I wasn’t overly excited at first (could the picture be any bigger?) but then I started to receive e-mails from people all over the world who were inspired by the article!  How cool is that?  You never know the impact you have on other people!  All this as a result of a crazy idea from my partner in crime!  It’s amazing how things work out.  TY!

Conti Intern

{ 0 comments }

PoHo Blue Water Half Marathon

December 23, 2013

Earlier this year, my friend Tim told me about a half marathon his brother-in-law was putting on in June in Port Huron (a city I was familiar with from my younger years).  It included running along the water with a great view of the bridge so it immediately went on my race calendar and I […]

Read the full article →

Two for Tuesday Flashback – 2012 Chicago Marathon

October 29, 2013

The Chicago marathon … just over a year ago but seems like it was only yesterday! Coming off a pretty good high from the NYC marathon, the lingering goal of qualifying for Boston came front and center.  This was a personal goal I’ve had in the back of my mind for a long time but […]

Read the full article →

Two for Tuesday Flashback – Who would’ve thunk?!?

October 29, 2013

We’re going back!  Way back! Super flashback for this one! Ok … it’s really not THAT long ago but you might want to grab some coffee and crumpets for this one!  😉  As requested, it’s the story of my partner in crime and the road to the 2011 NYC Marathon! Once upon a time in […]

Read the full article →

An EPIC Day!

July 11, 2013

My friend, David, approached me late last year to talk about a new adventure he was taking on: organizing a half marathon and 5K thru the city of Pontiac.  I have to admit, the location caught me by surprise at first as a quick mental picture of the area flashed thru my head but I […]

Read the full article →

Lookout!

July 8, 2013

Various criteria may come into play when selecting a half marathon … it’s for a good cause, in a location I want to visit, has a goofy name and/or theme, friends/family are doing it, has an interesting course, intriguing area, etc.  There are so many great races to choose from which is what led me […]

Read the full article →

“Flashback” Friday – Bayshore Half Marathon

July 5, 2013

Flashback to 2012 … What more could a girl ask for when celebrating the beginning of her “Fun and Fabulous 40s” than to have her family and friends do a half marathon with her?!?  That included four first timers … Arianne, Marilyn, Tony and Cindy!  I mean come on … that’s a pretty fantastic birthday […]

Read the full article →

St. Anthony’s Triathlon – “The Last Hurrah!”

May 14, 2013

The “final hurrah” at St. A’s was definitely one for the memory books and exceeded even my lofty expectations.  I mean, how can you go wrong with a weekend of family and friends in a warm, sunny location, especially after a never ending winter?  ;o) The long weekend was fast and furious but one I […]

Read the full article →