Life's little adventures, accompanied by a running watch

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

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.

28 comments:

  1. Yea!!!! Congratulations!!!! So glad you were able to enjoy yourself despite the less than ideal conditions. Being miserable and enjoying the experience do not have to be mutually exclusive. Way to keep your head in the right place!

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    1. Thank you! I think I started getting my head into this (expecting the worst conditions) days before, so it became "habit" once I got there.

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  2. Congrats on finishing! This was the hardest race of my life. And so many positives!!

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    1. Congratulations to you as well Amanda! What a day, huh? Kind of like the cliche (and recent Kelly Clarkson song)...."what doesn't kill us makes us stronger".

      Amen to that! Happy recovery and can't wait to hear your next adventure....

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  3. Congratulations on getting through the very difficult marathon. I love the part where you said you heard the blind runner mentioning the crowd energy!

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    1. Thanks Abbi! It's amazing what goes on out on the course (on a good or a bad day) and it gave me pause to realize how lucky I am.

      And yes, I totally turn into a mushball on occasion :)

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  4. Those blind runners and their guides were such an inspiration to me on the course. It made what I was doing seem so easy in comparison.

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    1. My thoughts exactly! Kinda put things in perspective.

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  5. Congratulations! If you made it through those conditions I am sure that nothing is impossible for you now! Way to go!!

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    1. You are so right! Sometimes things like Boston 2012 are a step to something else; we just can't see it at the moment. So yeah, I'm more than likely to draw from my Boston '12 experience and maybe even thank it.....(ok, I might be pushing it now)

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  6. congrats again! i second everything you say. i still have a smile ear-to-ear!!!

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  7. You. Are. Awesome. Congrats! What a great attitude and a great race experience! I hope to see you there, maybe in 2013?? :)

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    1. I hope so, though it means I have to get my little 3:55 butt in gear.... :)

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  8. You ARE awesome! Where the "bleep" did you come from????

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  9. Awesome!!! What a great race report, Lisa! Thanks for sharing this! I'm inspired.

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    1. Thanks Angie! I had trouble at first, trying to articulate such a crazy/fantastic day. Glad it came out in some kind of order :)

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  10. Great job, Lisa.....that was one hell of a day!!!!!

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    1. Back at ya! Yes, it sure was "an experience"!

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  11. Absolutely awesome. Congratulations on your experience!

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  12. Lisa, you ran this right. I think this is the happiest report I've read on that race, and the best attitude. I'm just sorry it took me so long to read it. It sounds *awesome.*

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  13. Congrats, it was a tough day for sure, made a lot more easier by the wonderful crowds/volunteers. A day to remember.

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  14. that. is. AWESOME! that is what running is all about :) what a great time - heat and all!!!

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