The Long Cold Run

Race Recap

So I'm going to do a couple of posts today, starting with a general recap of the race.

Race conditions: 55 and overcast at the start but it got warmer and sunny through most of the course. There was a significant headwind for much of the way. At several points, I couldn't hear the music on my IPOD because of the wind!

As for the race itself, once we got moving to line up I removed the sweatshirt I was wearing and felt fine. With the wave start, there wasn't as much excitement and buildup as there is when the entire field starts at once. It lacked the celebratory quality that I felt last year. The upside of the wave start is that we all cleared the starting line VERY quickly!

I had prepared a goo bottle full of honey and attached it to my fuelbelt in place of the goo that I would normally need during the race. Just after crossing the starting line, my fuelbelt came loose and started to fly off. While I caught the belt, my honey was lost -- talk about panic. This left me with only orange juice and oranges passed out by little kids along the way. My major source of energy was gone less than a mile into the race!

At about 5 miles, I miss stepped and had a shooting pain in my right (not surgically repaired knee). This lead to freakout #2 of the race -- do I keep going or stop? I kept going and after about 1/2 a mile it calmed down. This morning it is a little sore but nothing that ice won't cure.

I was slower than I wanted to be for much of the race -- once I lost my honey container, I switch to conserve and finish mode rather than break a PR mode. I had friends planted along the route with orange juice mix in case I needed it. These people also helped break up the race as I focused on running from person to person. Navah was at mile 7 or so with a sign, a smile, and much needed OJ. At Wellesley College I found Lisa and Kerry with bananas and was pleased to have Lisa as a brief running companion. A mile later, Larry met me with a smile and refreshed water bottle.

Speedy Ima and Speedy were at the firehouse turn onto Commonwealth Ave at the base of the Newton Hills. Seeing them really gave me a needed recharge before hitting the hills. I managed to pull of for a quick kiss to both of them before heading up those brutal hills. About a mile later, my legs turned to lead and I had to walk. This is where I started to identify lost training opportunities and had to resist the temptation to beat myself up. This is also where I was sorely tempted to just walk or quit. I had to keep reminding myself that as a full-time student with a full-time job and new baby, that something couldn't be full-time but that does not mean that I don't take my running seriously. This conversation with myself also helped as a reminder that just because I was undertrained didn't mean that I didn't deserve to finish...a break from my normal, do it right or don't do it at all tendancy.

So, I found myself walk/running the hills but was reenergized by seeing David and his camera and Boston College. A couple of miles later, my friends Ben, Ruth, and their son Aaron Solomon were out with a juice cup and bananas. Ben ran along with his camera for a section of the race bringing a smile to my face at a difficult point in the race for me.

Next thing I knew, I was running the last downhill miles into a headwind and smiling again. The Beacon Street section was a little difficult because of potholes and drunk students in the middle of the street for a mile or so. At some point, I remember thinking that I wish these people understood that I could barely hold my arms up to run much less to slap their outstretched arms. One guy was running along drunk and high-fiving runners so hard that he almost knocked a few folks down.

The last mile or so brought a huge DFMC cheering group at Kenmore Square complete with Jan yelling "Go Jesse" on the bullhorn. This was a definate highlight. Seeing all of the kids and their families out was a great reminder that if we run enough miles we can beat this disease. It was also a reminder of the kids that were with us last year and lost their fight against cancer -- making it more clear that we have to raise more money, one step at a time.

Just as I ducked under Mass. Ave, my friend Karla greeted me with waves and smiles -- like many of the folks who came out to support me, Karla has seen the struggle from walking with a cane to health. Because we worked together in a small office, she is perhaps the only person in Boston other than Carolyn who clearly understands how difficult life was during the last year before surgery. She had to watch me struggle to get into the office on cold mornings -- but her family were also some of the first to celebrate the success of my knee surgery. Having her on the course was a real joy.

Once I made the turn onto Boylston St, I could see the banner at the finish line and my legs received the "Back to the barn" message. I ran faster at that point than I had in the whole race. Crossing the finish line last year was never in doubt. To quick would have meant letting Chris down -- and 12 days after his passing, I wasn't about to let that happen. This year, despite having several friends touched by cancer, I did have some doubt but along the way I conjured up their names, the names of Jimmy Fund patient partners, and of those in my family lost or battling cancer. Their strength and a bit of grit and determination on my part got me through to the finish.

Once I got my medal and retrieved my baggage, a wonderful DFMC volunteer escorted me back to the Marriot runner's center. Along the way, someone from the media asked me to pose for a portrait and I should get that via email in a few days. I'll post it here when I do. Once back at the DFMC site, I changed and called SpeedyIma who picked me up and we headed home for a bath, hot chocolate and matzah lasagna. At 10:30, I finally hit the hay and slept like a rock.

Thanks to everyone for the support. I'll be resting for the next month or so with minimal running and some cross training. I'll still be blogging though, there are summer races around the corner with the BAA half-marathon in October. So, stay tuned in -- I may be resting but there is still plenty of life and running to explore!

posted by Jesse @ 10:38 AM