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.
As 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.
As 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.This 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”. 😀
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!!!
There 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!
Prerace 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!
Race 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? 😀
With 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!!
I 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!!!
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 …
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