Boston 2012 - An Experience

Boston was hard.  It was impossible for many.  It was one of the most grueling tests I’ve experienced - physically and mentally.  But there are a whole bunch of positive “buts” I’ve realized, now that I’m cool to the touch…

• I finished!!!!
• I had my favorite person in the world, Scott, running by my side.  We finished together in a time of 4:30.  Holding hands.  Smiling.
• My splits were remarkably even, including a faster mile at mile 23.  Huh???
• I was fortunate to qualify AND be accepted during the new registration process
• I did not visit any med tents
• My head was clear
• My stomach was iron clad – happily accepting salt tabs & GU like it was its job (when I hadn’t experimented w/ that combo before)
• My shins once again cooperated, after a training cycle filled with shin-whining
• I got to appreciate all the goodness that was the spectator – hoses, ice cubes, popsicles
• My cranky knee that I feared would give up on me between mile 20-21 didn’t – thanks to Scott for reminding me to “increase your pace a little if you can”.  It did the trick.
• I smiled through most of the race. 
• I made spectators laugh.  My personal favorite line came just after I doused my body at a water stop, looked up and asked, “Sexy, huh?” 
• I got my coveted medal
• I only got one calf cramp – AFTER the race
• I was able to chill with Scott for the remainder of the afternoon/evening – no other responsibilities but us.
• We were contacted by one of the local newspapers upon return home.  Always fun to relive such an exciting day at Boston!
• While Scott was firing up the BC crowd (he lost his voice from screaming at them with “let’s go BC!”), I overheard a visually impaired runner w/ his guide runner state, “This is so awesome”.  What he couldn’t see, he sure did hear and feel.  You couldn’t NOT.
• I managed the race; it did NOT manage me

That’s what Boston’s all about.  The spectators will us past what we think is our breaking point.  We runners will each other through the rough miles.  Because of the heat, the BAA began referring to this event as less of a race and more of “an experience”.  They should have done that a long time ago.  It truly is an experience.