Tag Archive | boston

2015 Boston Marathon – as a very wet spectator

Apr23

Just click, it’s a crazy slideshow

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I’ve counted, and I’ve been to the Boston Marathon 5 times, 2 to race and 3 to spectate, including this past Monday. I think I’ll be in the spectating side next year too. As I was busy Sunday pacing the NYRR More Fitness Half Marathon, I didn’t decide to go up to Boston to cheer until the last minute… which means, after running 13.1, I slept a few hours and woke up at 5 to make it to Boston at 11 am. By 11:30 Lauren and I were at Mile 25, where we had planned to watch, and we merely caught the elite women by 2 minutes! Talk about perfect timing!!! Soon enough, we caught up with Daphne and we settled a bit before the Citgo sign, by the water station, it was empty there and we had a great visual, lots of space, and music. We saw the elite men go by and then the rest!!! We saw so many Whippets on the course (lots of them with sub3s), Carolina, who waved her arms telling me WTF, and then I’d get the same confused reaction from everyone on the course looking at me like who the hell are you? well, I was wearing 100 layers so I apologize that I confused you all!!! It was cold and rainy… what could I do?

I have to say, all morning I felt awful about the weather and wondered what would I have done if faced with that weather? It seemed AWFUL. It wasn’t just cold or wet.  It was 40s AND pouring rain, AND wind. WTF!!!!! For what I’ve been hearing since then, “it wasn’t as bad”, “it was better than it looked”, “I am sure it was worse for the spectators than us”, which makes me feel really good. And no, I have no idea what I would have done. Why worry with things I don’t have to deal with? Plus, many many friends had insanely huge PRs so maybe I’ll believe them that it wasn’t so bad…

It was a spectacle to see those runners right at Mile 25. Some looked really bad (HEY, Mile 25!!!!) but some people looked strong and happy. The disparity was insane. I also wondered for hours what would I have worn… why am I overthinking a race I didn’t do?!?!? I am weird. I am sure you’re too, so shut up.

We then walked all the way back to South Station, yes, from mile 25, like 3 miles, because the T was major chaos. I got my little backpack checked 72 times, which was amazing. The finish line area wasn’t crowded at all, it actually seemed really peaceful. The one other thing that I thought about that shocked me was this: every time I go cheer at a race I feel like a stooopid idiot that should have signed up and raced. Always. Always. I always feel race-envy when I am a spectator. I didn’t this time, at all. Maybe I am really over the marathon. Or maybe it was the dreadful weather. Nah.

Good job guys, I am SURE it was tough out there… and no matter what, training through this past winter earns you all the virtual PRs and BQs the course might not have brought, I say! GREAT JOB RUNNERS!!!!! ENJOY THE SPOILS!! (donuts?)

 

 

Guess my Finish at the 2014 NYC Marathon and win a prize

Oct14

Just like we did before every single race I’ve done in the last two years (link to last one, and the NYC Half guess) it’s time to place your bets again… There is always someone who hits it right in the head! (always unbelievable! look at this one: guesses here, winner here)

Rules:

Pick a finish time and write in the comments below. Whoever gets closer, wins, If there’s two identical times, the first poster wins! Make sure if you include seconds in there too, and post before Saturday November 1st at 7 pm EST. 

As usual, there’s gonna be PRIZES… you can 2 pick from these:

  • a clip-on running metronome
  • a  brooks flat vapur water bottle
  • a Garmin FR70 watch
  • BodyGlide minis (set of 5)
  • SLS3 Compression race sleeves, white, S/M
  • Craft Compression socks, white, M
  • Zensah Compression socks, black M
  • Injinji socks, Lightweight ultra thin performance, mini crew, gray, M
  • TCKSports socks, Topo and Talus, grayishs, size M
  • a NYC Marathon rain (knee-length, orange and white) poncho

Ok, the data…

Recent:

Grete’s Great Gallop on October 5th in 1:44. Staten Island Half on October 12th in 1:43.

Marathons:

My PR is from Berlin 2012: 3:27:44, the last marathon I did was Boston 2014 in 3:49 and NYCM 2013 in 3:49.

Running Calculators!

 the jackdaniels calculator says the SI half 1:43:39 gives me a 3:36 marathon
the macmillan calculator says the SI half 1:43:39 gives me a 3:38 marathon
the  runnersworld calculator says the SI half 1:43:39 gives me a 3:36 marathon

I’d add a few minutes to those as those estimates are for a flat marathon.

My guess:

No PR this year! I am guessing between 3:39 (my A Goal and a course PR) and a 3:46, because I did NYCM last year in 3:49 and I am in a bit better shape this year.

GO ON! Place your bets below!!! Good luck to us!!

Prizes shipped only within the US, but you can have me send it to someone in the US.  / Comments with guesses will only count if they are posted here (not on facebook, not on runnersworld.com, HERE) before Saturday Nov 1st 7 pm EST.  / If there are two guesses with the exact same time, the first one wins.

Guess my Finish at the 2014 Boston Marathon and win a prize

Apr15

Just like we did before every single race I’ve done in the last two years (link to last one, and the NYC Half guess) it’s time to place your bets again… There is always someone who hits it right in the head! (always unbelievable! look at this one: guesses here, winner here)

Rules:

Pick a finish time and write in the comments below. Whoever gets closer, wins, If there’s two identical times, the first poster wins! All guesses have to be in this post. Make sure if you include seconds in there too, and post before next Sunday at 7 pm EST. 

As usual, there’s gonna be PRIZES… you can pick from:

  • a biomechanics session (in NYC)
  • a clip-on running metronome
  • a  brooks flat vapur water bottle
  • a NYC Marathon rain (knee-length, orange and white) poncho
  • a Garmin FR70 watch
  • SLS3 Compression race sleeves, white, S/M
  • Craft Compression socks, white, M
  • Zensah Compression socks, black M
  • Injinji socks, Lightweight ultra thin performance, mini crew, gray, M
  • TCKSports socks, Topo and Talus, grayishs, size M

Ok, the data…

Recent:

NYC Half, 13.1, March 2014, in 1:50:10, average pace: 8:25

Scotland 10K, April 2014, in 47:41, average pace of 7:42

Marathons:

My PR is from Berlin 2012: 3:27:44, the last marathon I did was NYCM 2013 in 3:49:34. My last Boston was in 2010: 3:51: 21

Running Calculators!

  • Mc Millan says… Based on the 1:50:10 half: 3:51 – 8:51 pace. Based on the Scotland 10k: 3:43 – 8:32 pace
  • RunnersWorld says… based on the 1:50:10 half: 3:49 – 8:44 – . Based on the Scotland 10k: 3:39 – 8:22 pace

My guess:

I am sure I won’t PR, get that out of your heads!! Goal A is to stay under 4 hours (never gone over 4 hours and don’t want to start now!) or, Goal B, break the course PR (3:51). I would love to shoot for 3:50 but I did 3:49 in NYCM and I was better trained there. I am just hoping I can stay within 4: anything between 3:50 and 3:59 is more realistic if the weather cooperates!

GO ON! Place your bets below!!! Good luck to us!!

Prizes shipped only within the US, but you can have me send it to someone in the US.  / Comments with guesses will only count if they are posted here (not on facebook, not on runnersworld.com, HERE) before Sunday 7 pm EST.  / If there are two guesses with the exact same time, the first one wins.

After this post:

We are shipping up to Boston…!!! 
2014 Boston Marathon Pictures – Saturday! 
2014 Boston Marathon Pictures – Sunday
The day before the Boston Marathon…
2014 Boston Marathon: in the books! 
2014 Boston Marathon Race Report: The Best and the Worst of Times  
Boston Marathon Notes: what to do/not do next time 

Boston! + Boston?

Sep12

Well, so I am leaving right now, right now, for Boston. This weekend is the All State 13.1 Boston Full and Half and we have a big team participating with Autism Speaks. Very exciting. (Anyone of you around Boston? I am sure I will go for a few runs…) I’ll be there Thursday through Sunday and we have a few exciting things planned for the team, including a reception with running legends Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. Whaaaat? YES. Seriously Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. I am  SO freaking excited!

Last time I saw Billy was in 2010 for the BAA Boston Marathon, when he told me "Go get your Boston"... awwww

Last time I saw Billy was in 2010 for the BAA Boston Marathon, when he told me “Go get your Boston”… awwww

Anyway, will share more soon…

The other thing is… I wasn’t sure if I should sign up for Boston…

I got all temperamental back in April/May and wanted to do it. just because, you know. But I never had intended to go back to run Boston since I had already done it… Anyway, I debated, thought, slept over it, and mostly, friends convinced me on Facebook, and here’s the result…

photo

Now, I wait for confirmation… I’d like to find a FAST marathon to do before Boston. Mid February to mid March, to be recovered for Boston, but we shall see about that… lots to plan. To start, I have to START RUNNING, and I am signed up to two marathons in the next two months… First I gotta build some endurance!

No Fear

Apr16

Don’t let the terrorists win is something I say way too often. And for any reason. But just don’t.

For the first time in a while I wasn’t going to run or spectate in Boston and I was a bit upset about it. I had, quite frankly, gotten used to this tradition. And I love traditions.

When I read of the bombings I just couldn’t believe it, but I had to calm myself down and do a lot of anxiety management. I had people calling me, texting me, and emailing me from all over the world to see that I was ok. It was a lot of messages, a lot. The boyfriend called me right away to tell me how happy he was we didn’t go and that he’d be picking me up from work. I said “I need to go for a run”.

I spent the next few hours in shock, checking for all my Boston-running friends to pop up somewhere, and replying to a million people in all languages, that I was in NYC and not in Boston. Why someone would do this is something I will never understand, but I never thought I’d see police tape at a finish line. I never thought my sport would mix with terrorism, if that is what this was. And after the drama filled NYC marathon, I was happy to have a major marathon happen, but never never ever imagined anything like this could be. And, oh what this will do for London this weekend and NYCM this Fall. We’ll probably need 3 pieces of ID and being naked (just like in my pre-marathon nightmares!) to get into the Athletes Village. Oh well.

Still, one of my first thoughts was that this would NOT change a runner’s wish to run a marathon, QUITE THE OPPOSITE. I understand a few people might be scared to race, but then, you let the terrorists win. Don’t let this one act of horror, by one or a few people, change how you see the rest of the world. Everyone in Boston was helping and grieving. If you look at the videos of the explosions, people run towards it to help, not away from it. Runners went straight to donate blood, after completing a marathon for Pre’s sake. People set up a site to offer housing to people stranded in Boston… Bad stuff will always happen, anywhere, don’t let it scare you. Don’t let them win. Go for a run and let’s see what we can do for the people affected. I am sure there are runs to be set up to fundraise, blood to be donated, and many things we can all do to help.

Me, I hadn’t run more than one 7 mile run in around 10 days but had to go out. I was sad, furious, upset, spent, but I needed to get to the park, as unsafe as that could sound. Of course, the bf came with me but I felt that putting my Boston Finisher shirt and going for a run was an act of rebellion and trust and love and the same time. It made me feel a bit  better, even if I still will never understand. (I might actually sign up for Boston for next year).

—

If you are racing (or running) this weekend, here is a bib you can print and wear to support Boston

bb