Viva Boston!

  What an experience!  I'm trying to get my achy muscles to move enough to type a few thoughts this morning, and this may be on the short side, but I want to at least share some thoughts of the Boston marathon.  I'll probably do something a little more extensive in a day or two.  It may take that long for it all to sink in, and gain some perspective on it. 

The first thought before the race was the weather, which had consumed the news here for days leading up to the race.  The were doing stories about the high tides, and the heavy winds and rain and the effect the 'nor'easter' was having on everything.  This picture was taken before I went to the bus outside our hotel at about 6:30 in the morning.  My wife and I are dressed for rain, as you can see.  I was fully expecting the worst rain, wind, and cold I had ever run it.  I was dressed for it. 

And then it never really happened.  The rain was probably the heaviest in the hour before the 10am starting time, and once we got running, it virtually disappeared.  And the wind, which was supposed to be in our faces the whole time, with gusts of up to 40mph, rarely was a factor.  I barely notice it.  What I did notice what that I was really warm.  I overdressed!  The cold temperatures weren't really cold, and the wind chill never arrived because the wind never really arrived. 

I know the weather was a factor in the race, especially for the elite athletes.  The winner was some seven minutes slower this year than last.  But it wasn't nearly as bad as it was supposed to be, and it was really not much of an excuse for me.  Which brings me to the time I ran.  At first glance, it was terribly slow.  At second and third glances it was terribly slow too for that matter.  All right, it was slow! 

This is what I learned about marathon running in this race:  Without motivation, I tend not to push myself.  I had no motivation to push myself at all.  I told myself all along that I just wanted to enjoy the Boston marathon experience without the pressure of trying to run fast.  And the weather forecast before the race really put me in the mindset of just trying to get through it in one piece.  So when we got rolling, a few miles in, and I started getting warm, my head just wasn't in it.  I walked through many of the water stops, enjoying the breaks, and I consciously slowed my pace several times early in the race. 

I know from years of experience, that I tend to run well by making deals with myself as I go along.  It helps me to run through the painful spots of the race.  I have done that in every marathon I have run up to now.  This race however, I had no deals to make, because my main goal was just to finish it.  The only time I made sure to push myself was with two miles left, I wanted to make sure I broke 4 hours.  That sounds strange to say because it's an incredibly modest goal considering my finishing time was nearly 40 minutes slower than my Chicago marathon qualifying time. 

The strange part about it is that my training was generally pretty good.  I put in the work necessary to run much faster than that, but when it came down to race day, I wasn't thinking about running fast.  I was trying to make mental notes of the whole experience, to soak up the history, and remember as much as possible.  So it was slow, but it really was a great experience.

The crowds were incredibly supportive, if thinner than normal because of the weather.  The city and towns along the way make this an event, not just a race.

My wife said after the race that she knows me well enough to know that I will now want to come back and run fast.  She is probably right.  But right now, I am happy with the experience.  And the thought of running another marathon is the furthest thing from my  mind!

See you on the roads back in Chicago!

Comments

[Mike Hutton]

Great job John! I watched with great enthusiasm from Chicago yesterday and was truly inspired by all who braved the elements.

I will never be fast enough to run Boston but I will always enjoy marathoning.

[Amy]

Slow is a relative thing, really. In my book, you were fast! Great job! I've been following along and was wishing you well. Thanks for the inspiration!