Such read the posters near the halfway point of the Boston Marathon. I've let 3 weeks get away from me before the much hyped summary post so maybe it's too late to really get into the race. I can say that the result gives me great hope for a significantly better time down the road. My second half was 4 minutes slower than the first but it wasn't like I hit a wall or anything, I went through some tough patches and then was pissed to not be able to roll downhill after emerging from the Newton Hills mostly unscathed. The biggest excuse I can offer is that I seem to have some worsening exercise induced asthma that may have been exacerbated simply from an allergic reaction that was bothering me (and has continued to do so) for a week before the race. I hope to get that figured out. I'm just going to go ahead and say it- I felt like I was in shape to run 2:25. Did it happen? No. That will be the goal next time (Chicago '08?).
More exciting was the atmosphere of Boston. The race is huge but much of the course is in a suburban setting and so you've got this neighborhood feel with tons of people out cheering, grilling, celebrating. There's little kids with orange slices and Wellesley girls spreading their love.
Also new to me was the whole "athletes village" scene at Boston where everyone makes their way out to the start. (mostly by a massive fleet of yellow school buses) It was chilly that morning, but the village provides a communal feel to the race and I it up chatted with some folks which helped take the edge off. Heading to the start, I headed to my corral which was much larger than I thought it would be and I found myself a few hundred folks back of the front. Just as the race was set to start, the sun broke free of the clouds and I was very glad that I had a hat as it ended up being a warm sunny day.
At the finish I ended up heading to the medical tent and getting to know the albuterol respirator. As you enter the medical support staff all clap for you which is kind of unnerving, it's more like pitty clapping or something and I felt like a chump for heading in their since I probably have been in much worse shape before and done without. I had like a continuous chest spasm and so it was reassuring to be monitored for a bit and grab a seat anyway. LIke I say, everything about this race was first class, the medical support not being excluded.
That night, I had some sea scallops and a solid couple micro brews from Owen O'Learys in Framingham where I was staying. I would have liked to see some of the after race festivities but I was beat so we hopped the train. On Tuesday, we headed back into Boston to see the city. We walked the Freedom Trail and met up with Tommy Manning from Tulsa for lunch and beers before going to a true Irish pub for the Chelsea/Liverpool game and some proper Guinness pints. Dinner was seafood at Ye Olde Oyster House which is touristy but said to be the oldest restaurant in the nation. The next 5 days we made it up to soutern Maine and then doubled back down the Appalachains. Western North Carolina was really cool and we took the Blue Ridge Parkway which displayed the full scenery throughout the area. The trip was a memorable one and I definitely will look forward to returning to further explore several of the spots and drink more of the local beer, which I did my best to sample but was overwhelmed in doing so. I'll probably have to run Boston again too.
More exciting was the atmosphere of Boston. The race is huge but much of the course is in a suburban setting and so you've got this neighborhood feel with tons of people out cheering, grilling, celebrating. There's little kids with orange slices and Wellesley girls spreading their love.
Also new to me was the whole "athletes village" scene at Boston where everyone makes their way out to the start. (mostly by a massive fleet of yellow school buses) It was chilly that morning, but the village provides a communal feel to the race and I it up chatted with some folks which helped take the edge off. Heading to the start, I headed to my corral which was much larger than I thought it would be and I found myself a few hundred folks back of the front. Just as the race was set to start, the sun broke free of the clouds and I was very glad that I had a hat as it ended up being a warm sunny day.
At the finish I ended up heading to the medical tent and getting to know the albuterol respirator. As you enter the medical support staff all clap for you which is kind of unnerving, it's more like pitty clapping or something and I felt like a chump for heading in their since I probably have been in much worse shape before and done without. I had like a continuous chest spasm and so it was reassuring to be monitored for a bit and grab a seat anyway. LIke I say, everything about this race was first class, the medical support not being excluded.
That night, I had some sea scallops and a solid couple micro brews from Owen O'Learys in Framingham where I was staying. I would have liked to see some of the after race festivities but I was beat so we hopped the train. On Tuesday, we headed back into Boston to see the city. We walked the Freedom Trail and met up with Tommy Manning from Tulsa for lunch and beers before going to a true Irish pub for the Chelsea/Liverpool game and some proper Guinness pints. Dinner was seafood at Ye Olde Oyster House which is touristy but said to be the oldest restaurant in the nation. The next 5 days we made it up to soutern Maine and then doubled back down the Appalachains. Western North Carolina was really cool and we took the Blue Ridge Parkway which displayed the full scenery throughout the area. The trip was a memorable one and I definitely will look forward to returning to further explore several of the spots and drink more of the local beer, which I did my best to sample but was overwhelmed in doing so. I'll probably have to run Boston again too.
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