The Marathon

Distance Run: 26.2 miles!!!
Time: 5:02:46
Pace: 11:32 min/mil
Most Challenging Moment: Rain. Cold. WIND.
Most Inspiring Moment: Turning the corner on Bolyston, seeing that Finish line

Well, folks, we did it.

Five months of training, over 400 miles run, 112 inches of snow, and it all brought me to this day. I am exhausted but so so happy--despite the challenging conditions, I had a GREAT run!

It all started the night before, with some spaghetti and meatballs from Salty Pig, my carb-provider of choice. Then I began thinking about my run. I knew from rabidly watching the weather report that it was going to be cold and windy on Monday (I mean, of course--right?), which would make clothing a challenge. I also had to stock my new fanny pack with food, drink tablets, and other essentials. I laid everything out on the table, hoped I wouldn't be too hyped up to fall asleep, and went to bed.

Living so close to the bus pick-up meant I didn't have to leave the house until 8:20, which made my morning easy and relaxing. I fed the baby and hung out in bed for a while, got dressed, had something to eat, painted my name on my shirt. I was feeling nervous but mostly just excited to get out there and start running (hopefully before the rain started).

At the Common, I loaded onto the bus and managed to get a seat for myself, where for the next 45 minutes I basically napped. This was great! I highly recommend pre-race napping.

By the time we got to the Athlete's Village in Hopkinton, it was cold and windy. This was one of the worst parts of the race--the hour or so of standing around in the cold, waiting to start. I spent most of that time in line for the bathroom (so many nervous pee-ers).

TOP TIP!: If I had known, I would have held onto my t-shirt (which I left in the donation bin in the village) until the race started. We spent a long, LONG time walking to the starting line, walking to our corral, waiting to start, and by the time they told us to go, I was totally soaked. I mean, it made me really want to run, but more in a "maybe this will help me feel my feet again" sort of way.

But eventually, we were corralled and ready. One last LET'S DO THIS photo to Dave, and we were off!

Having run most of the course already turned out to be really helpful. I remembered a lot of the hills and landmarks, so even with the mile markers, I felt a lot more prepared. Those first few miles were basically a madhouse of people running, during which I got passed by approximately three thousand people (not an exaggeration). I don't have any pictures because I was worried about my phone + the rain, but just imagine a constantly-bobbing mob of fluorescent backs, and that's basically it. Oh. Also. SO many people peeing. (Correction: so many men peeing. Come on, guys.)

For most of the time, I was so swept up in the giddiness of actually running the Boston Marathon that I was happy to let people pass me, but every now and then some idiot would throw elbows to get ahead. My favorites were the ones who would shout, "Coming through!" as though they were the only ones running and the rest of us were just, like, hanging out. I mean, I see your bib. Forth wave, man. No one's mistaking you for one of the elites (burn).

But really, they were rare, and by the time the crowd thinned out, it was a great run. I was pacing myself at 10 minute miles and feeling great. Most of the time I barely noticed the rain or the cold--I felt worse for the crowds who had to stand on the side and watch us.

Those crowds, by the way, are amazing. Everyone who's run Boston has said the crowds are the best, and I have to agree. There were many, many times I'd have my head down, feeling exhausted, only to hear someone shout, "CODMAN ACADEMY, YOU GOT THIS!" It was like instant pep-up.

The other thing that really helped was something my marathon-running brother-in-law said to me the night before. I'd been pretty nervous coming up to the day. Mentally, emotionally, physically--I was feeling tapped out and dreading having to actually run a marathon. When I sort of alluded to this, he said that the marathon was really the culmination of all that training. The hard, boring part was done. Running the marathon, seeing those crowds--that was the victory lap.

It totally changed my perspective on the day. I'm pretty sure this is the only marathon I'll ever run, and the whole time I was running, I kept thinking, "This is it. Enjoy it. Enjoy all these crowds cheering you on and this feeling of accomplishment."

As a result, this was how I looked pretty much the whole run:

I felt so good! I mean, in a "this is painful and I would like it to be over" sort of way. I was worried about a few things--how the weather would make me feel, if my notoriously diva-like ankle would act up, the dreaded GI distress--but everything worked out great. I was eating and drinking regularly and keeping warm, and seeing folks at regular intervals gave me something to run to.

Like Dave and my baby at 14 miles! And the Codman folks at 20 miles! They were great and even made me a sign:

My parents showed up at the scream tunnel in BC at 21 miles, just after Heartbreak Hill (which I took at a run, thank you very much).

After that, it was basically a straight shot into Boston. This was the toughest/best part of the day. My body was totally spent--my legs felt like sacks of wet flour, and every time I smelled someone barbecuing, I wanted to jump the barrier and ask for a hot dog.

I'd see the signs--five more miles, four more miles, three more miles--and kept telling myself "Just fifty more minutes! Forty more minutes! Thirty more minutes!" It was SO painful. I forced myself to run, not walk, but there was one second where my focus slipped and suddenly I was walking, like my body said "Nope. No thanks."

But at just about two miles, we crossed the "Welcome to Boston" sign, and I knew: this was my city, I was almost done, and I was going to run.

A few minutes later, I got a lovely surprise: Dave and the baby, watching me from the bridge into Kenmore Square!:

Up ahead, I could see it: the Citgo sign, the one-mile marker, and the Pru.

photo from REUTERS

Comm Ave was huge, so wide, and the crowds were amazing. Just as we passed the bridge under Mass Ave, I saw someone holding one of those signs: "Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston." My brother-in-law was waiting for me on Hereford, cheering me on ("I can't stop!" I said. "Gotta keep running!"), and then I turned on Boylston, and there it was: the Finish.

I almost wish I had taken a picture, because it was absolutely amazing. HUGE crowds, everyone cheering, a wide road filled with exhausted, happy runners. I've walked on that street so many times in my life, but I've never seen it like that, and the dark clouds overhead and tall buildings on either side made me feel like I was running in some crazy dream. I sprinted to the end, and then, just like that, it was over--26.2 miles, five hours of running, and I was DONE.

The rain was pouring, the wind was blowing, and all I could think about was getting home (where I discovered that we had no hot water, and so Dave and my parents had to boil up kettles of water, pioneer-style).

I spent all yesterday in a stiff, achy haze, but now I'm pretty much back to normal and can take a second to think about what I really did.

I ran a marathon.

That is crazy.

I also raised over $3000 for an amazing and worthwhile cause (which could still use your support if you're so inclined!).

I trained in terrible weather, when I was sick, when I was tired, when the baby kept me up all night, when Dave had to work all day. I discovered I was capable of a lot more than I would have thought. I had really wonderful moments and really terrible moments, and this has been a journey that I would not have traded for anything.

And to you, who read this blog and supported me in ways small and large, thank you. Your texts, emails, phone calls, and good vibes kept me going when things were tough. I hope reading about my experience as the slowest runner in Boston has inspired you (because if I can run a marathon, literally anyone can).

I don't know when I'll get back to running again, but my whole perspective has totally changed. I'm still sort of in that "I RAN A MARATHON. I CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING!!!!" state of mind, and it's still crazy to think that I just decided one day: hey, I'm going to do this, and hey, I did.

Thank you again.

5 Days Until the Marathon!

Today was my third-to-last training run before the marathon, and I was pumped. It's a beautiful day in Boston, sunny and cool, the kind of weather that has everyone out on the streets, smiling at each other in a very uncharacteristically Boston manner.

I got dressed in my marathon gear: my new Team Codman running shirt, capri pants, headband, socks, sneakers, and I ran out to Bolyston to see the scaffolding in place for the finish line.

It was so cool to see the city getting ready for Monday. Copley square was covered in scaffolding, tents were already up on the Common, and everyone was talking about the race. I had an easy, lovely, effortless three mile run, where I enjoyed the sunshine and good music and didn't even think about time and pace.

This was a good run for me, not just because I felt good and it's a nice day outside, but because there's a part of me that's genuinely nervous about having to run a marathon. The 20-mile dress rehearsal was a great experience, but also really, really tough--mentally, emotionally, and physically--and every time I'd think of it and remind myself that I had to do that plus six-point-two more miles, I would get a little queasy.

But everyone who's run the Boston Marathon says it's an experience unlike any other. The crowds, adrenaline, and support are amazing. Having been in that crowd before, I know how electrifying it is to just watch something so cool, let alone be right in the middle of.

Last time I watched, I was in Kenmore Square, only a little more than a mile from the finish line. Just about every runner I saw had the hugest grin on their face. Running today, I could feel that excitement. It felt amazing to be out there in my marathon gear, representing Codman and mentally prepping for the last haul.

Only two more runs--two miles tomorrow and two miles on Sunday--before the big one! The city's getting ready and I am too!

Sea Breezes

With last week's 20-miler out of the way, it's smooth sailing until Marathon Monday. My mileage is dropping, the weather is getting warmer (sort of), and I'm feeling mostly ready to do this thing. (Did I have a stress dream last night about running the marathon? Where I was the last person in the entire race? And the course ran through people's living rooms, to the top of the Space Needle, and through muddy streams? And I was so exhausted I bailed two miles from the finish line? No comment.)

For the holiday, my family met up in Martha's Vineyard, which meant this week's long run took place at the beach! I was excited to get back to running on the Vineyard, after an almost 5-month absence.

And?

WIIIIIINNNNNDDDDD!!!!

The weather might have been a little warmer and sunnier than the last time I was there, but it was so windy I felt myself getting blown backward every time both feet were off the ground.

I was a little dubious about how my long run would go, but since the weather report said sunny skies, I decided to pick a route along the water and go for it.

Sunday's Run
Distance: 12 miles
Time: 2:04:54
Pace: 10:25 min/mil
Most Challenging Moment: Trying not to get blown off course
Most Inspiring Moment: Blue skies, blue seas

The run actually got off to a pretty good start! I was feeling good, despite the metric ton of holiday food I'd ingested (a weekend of feasting that included lobster, fetticine alfredo, turkey dinner, chocolate caramel cake, and an assortment of fine cheeses).

I slowed down only long enough to take a picture of the Vineyard wildlife*:

Throughout my run, I'd debated whether I should run 6 miles and turn around, which would keep me mostly inland, relatively sheltered but not very pretty, or if I should just go ahead and do a straight shot out along the beach, which would be very pretty but would mean I'd need someone to pick me up and drive me home.

Six miles was just about at this point:

And it was so lovely I decided to keep going. Damn the wind! I had views to enjoy!!!

For some reason, I didn't realize that this beautiful beach road, nestled between marshy ponds and the open ocean, was, like, the perfect wind tunnel. Also: two miles long. This is the face of regret:

It *was* very pretty, but it was hard to notice the view while bits of sand and trash were flying into my face. For two miles, I struggled headlong into wind so powerful I had to run sideways just to keep going straight.

But look! I'm wearing a tank top! No hat! No gloves! I'll take wind over frozen rain any day.

I ran all the way into town, where I found Dave, ate a cookie, and collapsed into the car in about 8 seconds. And somehow, despite running 26 miles this week, I'm pretty sure I'm coming home three pounds heavier (those Cadbury Creme Eggs, man).

I'm still in New Jersey this week, watching my mileage shrink! One last longish run and then it's MARATHON TIME.


*This is someone's pet llama, who hangs out in a massive front yard with several llama friends and one donkey While we were on the island, we visited its cousins at the alpaca farm, where we learned you can buy an alpaca for the low low price of $500. As alpacas apparently do better in groups, the farm offered to throw in an additional alpaca for free (alpaca must be of equal or lesser value). I was unimpressed, but Dave got bit by the alpaca bug.

"We could have our own farm! We could sell their hair! And their poop! Wait, don't you think this is a good idea?!"

20 Miles! New Sneakers! Snow! And More!

As usual, it's been a busy couple of weeks over here...

I've been keeping up with my running, while the Boston weather tries to decide whether it's November or May. With less than a month until the marathon, I'm mostly focusing on keeping my head down and cranking out those miles. Which brings me to...

3/22
Distance: 12 miles
Time: 2:00:00
Pace: 10:00 min/mil
Most Challenging Moment: Sleeeeepy...
Most Inspiring Moment: New sneakers, new me

I feel like I'm finally at the point where anything less than a half marathon is, like, psh. I get out there, feel great, and come home refreshed and energized. If you had told me in October that my response to running 12 miles would someday be "Oh nice, that'll just take me two hours," I would have laughed and laughed and laughed.

What helped enormously was that I finally decided to swap out my much-loved, much-abused sneakers for a fresh pair. I visited my local running store (more on them later) and spent many minutes talking with the amicable and knowledgeable owner (more on him later).

Putting on those new sneakers made me realize just how much I'd worn the old ones into the ground.

Old sneakers:

New sneakers!:

Yes, I was as happy as a fox who's just discovered the ground has turned delightfully springy. I was shocked by the difference, which in retrospect just makes me feel like an idiot. I blamed my decreasing agility on good ole fatigue and getting older, but it turns out it's actually really difficult to run in what are essentially cement blocks.

Hello, new sneakers. We are going to run many miles together.

While shopping for my new shoes, the owner told me about a running club he coached out of the Newbury Nike store. When I said I was doing my 20 miler soon, he invited me out to the Nike-sponsored run that weekend, which included a bus ride out to the marathon start in Hopkinton and a 20-mile course to their other running store location. A free dress rehearsal for the marathon? Sign me up.

And sooooo....

3/28
Distance: 20 miles
Time: 3:36:48
Pace: 10:50 min/mil
Most Challenging Moment: Ugh. Snow.
Most Inspiring Moment: All those happy, inspiring runners all in one place :)

Last Saturday, I woke up bright and early and wandered over to the Nike store with my water bottle, Nuun tablets, and some peanut butter toast. I wasn't totally sure what to expect. Coach Dan, who sold me my shoes and told me about the run, told me there would be free food, drinks, and pacer runners, but when I rolled in, I was a little intimidated by the sheer force of healthy athleticism. I texted Dave in a panic:

By which I meant:

Everyone was sooo nice and sooo serious about running! There were easily a hundred people there, most of whom looked like they were on their third or fourth marathon and were pumped to get out and run. But they were so sweet! When Dan had all the first-timers raise their hands, the crowd let out a YOU CAN DO IT cheer that almost made me teary (possibly I was also just thinking of the sheer number of miles I'd agreed to run).

We loaded onto the buses and headed out to Hopkinton, which is just adorable. Since pretty much everyone in Boston was doing their long run this weekend, the police helped shut down and block different roads along the route. There was also this sort of ominous/ironic/unintentionally funny sign hanging in the town square:

I admit, it was pretty cool getting ready to run. We all huddled together and one of the pacers shouted, "I'm going to ask you three questions and the answer to each question is BOSTON. Ready?!

"Where do you live?"

"BOSTON!"

"Where do you train?"

"BOSTON!"

"What are you running?!"

"BOOOOOOSTOOOOOOON!!!!"

It was very adorable in an adrenaline-pumping way. And with that, we were off!

Nike had a photographer taking photos as we ran, which is how I have this picture of me smiling like a goon:

That white stuff flying through the air would be snow, which was not super awesome to run in. In fact, conditions were pretty miserable--wind, puddles, freezing cold. As a group-running newbie, I thought it would be rude to run with headphones, so I didn't bring them, which meant when the group spread out after mile 10, I had only my own thoughts to keep me company. My ankle started acting up around mile 16, and by mile 18 I would have happily sawn off a leg if it meant I got to finish.

The whole time I also wasn't sure if I was supposed to run 20 miles or 22 miles. Coach Dan told me 20 miles, the online registration just said 22, and no one would tell me where exactly I was supposed to stop. At the 17-mile stop, the nice guy handing out Gatorade said there were only 5 miles left, so I was pretty much resigned to doing 22, but at 20, I saw the beautiful Heartbreak Hill Running Store, complete with tent full of bagels and coffee. The people outside welcomed me over.

"You did it!" they said.

"Wait," I said. "Is this it? Like, can I be done?"

Yes. Yes I could be done. High five, get some bagels.

For the first half of my run, I made amazing time, mostly because I stayed glued to my pacer (the girl in the yellow) like a toddler afraid of losing her mom in a busy department store.

Even when the pacer peaced at 10 miles, I still kept a pretty decent pace for me. Between the weather, the achiness, and the sheer ridiculousness of the distance, my 10:50 pace has me pretty happy, especially considering I beat my 19-mile time by a good half hour.

Look at the pretty picture I made!

All those little towns were sooo cute! Although, we're looking at houses in some of them, and it occurred to me that we'd described them as "too far to commute to." To far to commute to, but I was running through them.

And, oh! Coming home was so amazing. Hot shower, long nap, delicious calzone... I slept like a champion and woke up ready to enjoy my 29th birthday.

From now on, I'm winding down my mileage in preparation for the marathon, but if the 20-miler was any indication, the real thing will go great.

I'm even starting to make post-marathon plans! For example, getting my running partner back out there:

Channeling Abby's determination: last three weeks, let's do this.

The Last Few Weeks in Running

This is how nutso life has been, that I 100% thought I'd just updated the blog, only to look at the date and realize it's been two weeks.

These last two weeks have been full of running, and with the marathon barely a month away, things are getting serious.

I'll skip the short runs except to say that I went for a run last week during Boston's first taste of warm weather and it was amazing. I was wearing a tank top! I put on sun block! Everyone was creeping out of their doors like cautious Munchkins, only to burst into song as soon as they realized the Wicked Witch of Winter was dead (sort of).

The other notable thing about being able to run outside again was discovering the Shake Shack on Newbury finally opened its doors. A Shack burger and fries never tastes so good as when you eat it immediately following a 5-mile run (pacifier not included):

Onto the weekend runs!

3/7
Distance: 13 miles
Time: 2:10:00
Pace: 10:00 min/mil
Most Challenging Moment: Uncertain ankle
Most Inspiring Moment: Hitting perfect 10-minute miles!


3/15
Distance: 19 miles
Time: ???? Tracking app went bust, around 4 hours
Pace: ??????
Most Challenging Moment: 19 miles is very long
Most Inspiring Moment: But not too long!


Two very different long runs! The 13-miler was in Boston, and it was a breeze and a half. Sunny, not too windy, a great distance--I felt good the whole time (and my ankle turned out to be okay!). I churned that sucker out with perfect pacing and came home with enough energy to tour five different apartments around Boston (are you looking to sell a beautiful charming home with period details, good bones, and an exclusive yard, in a great location surrounded by the best schools the state has to offer? Give me a call).

I think 13 miles might be my distance. It's long enough to be a challenge, but not so long that I wake up dreading the idea. By the end, I was feeling pretty tired, but not the "I hate life" tired that comes with my longer runs. And speaking of...

That 19-mile run...

Phew, that was a biggie. I was in New Jersey for the weekend with the kid (I spoke to my old high school about the glamorous life of a YA author), so I got to experience New Jersey's finest hills.

I decided instead of running 9 1/2 miles in one direction, turning around, and running home (like I do in Boston), I would do three 6 1/3-mile loops, with my parents' house as my starting and ending point. This gave me a place to stash my water, Nuun tablets, and brick of protein (flavor of the day: peanut butter chocolate), while also giving me access to a bathroom every hour or so.

For 19 miles on super hilly terrain, I actually thought I did okay. I went slo-o-o-ow, as usual, and the weather was not terrific--windy, cold, and, toward the end, a lovely wintery mix that was so irritating I actually said out loud "What is this bs coming from the sky?"

But, other than two short walking breaks to eat and drink, I ran the whole time and felt pretty good. Every time I crawled up a hill wanting to stop, I told myself "This is the most you've ever run! You're setting a new record for yourself!" and it kept me going. And there was something pretty cool when I collapsed inside and thought to myself that I'd never done anything like this before.

I have one more major run--20 miles, in two weeks, on my birthday (yaay)--before things start winding down in preparation for the marathon. I can't believe it! On the agenda this week: three easy runs (5, 8, and 5 miles) and a 12-miler on the weekend. Plus, with over 400 miles (!!!) logged, it's finally time to retire my faithful running shoes and switch them out for new shoes for the marathon (!!!!). Any color suggestions?

Ain't No Spring Chicken

Distance: 18 miles
Time: 3:13:39 (plus a few minutes for my water/eat/pee break)
Pace: 12:08 min/mil
Most Challenging Moment: ankle :(
Most Inspiring Moment: Suuuuunny daaaaay!

I made it home alive from last weekend's long run, the ever-daunting 18 miler! This time, I took my rest days seriously, carbed up the night before, and fueled myself with my new Nuun water tablets and a literal brick of protein.

It was sunny, relatively warm,* and aside from the ice skating rink that is the Cambridge river run, the sidewalks were in pretty good condition. I had Sleater-Kinney's new album playing on Spotify and I was feelin' fine.

Around halfway through, I stopped to have a bottle of water and bought a protein bar. It was, like, as thick as my arm. I looked at it and started laughing. It was also covered in chocolate, and I got a lot of satisfaction from stopping my run to eat candy. "I'm being so healthy!"

The only potential problem, which I'm hoping will be resolved soon, is that my notoriously terrible left foot is acting up again. I actually had to have foot surgery on this foot several years ago, when a tricky extra bone was messing up the muscles and tendons and causing around-the-clock pain. Since then, my foot's always been a bit of a diva. I have to wrap it up for ballet class, and I somehow twisted it walking up a gentle slope when I was eight months pregnant (real great).

I wrapped it up during my run, and it felt okay when I got home. Now I'm keeping it wrapped and respecting my rest days by actually resting and not, like, taking the kid for a three-mile walk in snow boots. Fingers crossed it takes the hint and heals up so I can tackle this week's mileage (that would be 31 miles...).

Some fun deliveries arrived! First, this t-shirt and sweet note from the folks at Codman Academy! This is my "warrior face."

And look what showed up in the mail!

My hats, which I'd left behind in Bretton Woods, finally made it home. This is actually the second time the white hat has been lost and found. The first time I left it behind going through security at JFK airport and only realized when I arrived in Boston. But in a weird travel fluke, Dave, flying from Chicago, missed his original flight, took another one routed through New York, and managed to rescue it from TSA's clutches. I promise I'm responsible.

Welcome back, guys!


*It was 19 degrees. "Relatively warm."

It's Called the "Get the Baby and the Groceries Home from the Store" Work Out

Tuesday's Run
Distance: 5 miles
Most Challenging Moment: So. Cold.
Most Inspiring Moment: Finished my book!

Wednesday's Run
Distance: 8 miles
Most Challenging Moment: Looooong day
Most Inspiring Moment: Bye, bye Lil' Sebastian

Thursday's Run
Distance: 5 miles
Most Challenging Moment: Getting out of bed
Most Inspiring Moment: Conan on Grindr

Whatta week! I'm guessing all of Boston is feeling about the same: cold, tired, stressed-out, and dreaming of spring. Between marathon training, Dave's workload, puppy classes, and the baby bein' a baby, I'm feeling pretty exhausted. But! I'm still getting my miles in! (sort of. On the really tough days I've been walking with the babe instead of running BUT STILL)

The worst part was earlier in the week, when I took the kid on a walk to run some errands and went to the grocery store. I thought I was smart in bringing a tote bag with me for the groceries but instead the bagger seemed to see it as a challenge and managed to tetris-stack every one of my groceries in this poor bag. I only realized when I dropped off the cart that this thing was at least 30lbs, and since Dave was at work, I had to carry this stupid thing, plus the baby, plus the diaper bag, plus the bags from the other stuff we picked up. By the time I got home, I was sweating, swearing, and aching. Who needs a gym when you have no car and a desire to eat?

Earlier this week I talked with my marathon-running brother-in-law about nutrition and learned about what I should be eating and drinking (hint: not just water). I also learned that "GI distress" is the polite term for "needing to poop immediately." His advice led me to go out and pick up some fancy carbonated tablets that the lady at the running store said was like all the good stuff of Gatorade, minus the 21 grams of sugar.

I'm looking forward to trying it out this Saturday, with my next 18 miler (!!!).

Other fun things this week:

We celebrated Abby's adoption-versary! As a gift, I let Abby come up on the couch. She immediately draped herself over my lap and was snoring within 5 minutes.

The baby tried applesauce! It did not go well.

More successful: the ball pit at baby class.

Have a great weekend!