Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Bucket List is Complete!

4:08:16
Now I am DONE - my bucket list is complete! lol!
Tough Course!
Boston is amazing!
Crowd support, race organization, friendly people everywhere.

Heading into the race I had a great feeling.  I was well aware that I had not trained like I normally would, but I did manage to get my mileage up.  I felt that maybe I could pull off a good race, and hoped maybe a really good race.  As the big day arrived I was feeling better and better about the day.  The predicted weather was great.  I was strong and ready!

Monday - 10:30 start
Weather is GREAT!
I am ready to RACE!
I started out in control and determined NOT to go out fast.
Unexpected 1
For me, I was surprised how quickly we made it to the first uphill.  
The uphills kept coming and coming.

Unexpected 2
I had planned to run on the left when I made it to Wellesley.  I was warned it was crazy and hey - I don't need "a kiss from the girls."  As I approached, it was amazing.  I did start toward the left, but before I made it through, I was on the right side,  high-fiving the girls as I passed.  All of the screaming was amazing and it actually gave me chill bumps.  
Wasn't expecting that!
Thanks Wellesley Girls - keep the tradition going.
Also - I thought this section, and the town was the prettiest section of the course.

Unexpected 3
Prior to mile 16 - the uphills are wearing on me.  
Miles 14 and 15 - already falling off the pace a little - 9:13, 9:22
Yikes!

Miles 16 - 21 were tough.  Because I was already getting fatigued, I went into these miles just focusing on the mile at hand.
 16 - 9:00
17 - 9:36
18 - 9:50
19 - 9:20
20 - 9:56
21 - 10:57 come on - that's riduculous!
As I am just about to call it a day (not as in quit, but as in - jog it in, best I can), I finally make it to the top.  I am still feeling like I am done.  At this point someone calls my name. (I had put my name on my race number, but didn't realize it would be so crowded that spectators couldn't see it most of the time because of the runners right in front of me.  I did have a few open areas where people called my name)
So, I am at the top of heartbreak hill, about to call it a day, and I hear Ginny, I kind of glance and wave, and to my surprise it's my pumpkin.
He had said he was not going to try to find his way out on the course to try to find me.

So he takes a few shots of me.
(I'm in yellow with the black visor)


 Unexpected 4
Hello Honey!
So I head down heartbreak hill revived.
As Chad sprinted up ahead to get the next shot, it was great to see him.  It was also great to see that he was working a little, to get ahead of me in time to take another shot.  (he is a "real runner" but hasn't been running recently)
At one point he screams - "you're killing me"
That was FUNNY!
(yes his - less than half mile - run hurt - yea right - lol :)
He also screams the scoop about Ryan Hall coming in 4th place.
So -  the revival - it was short lived - but nice.  
Thanks Chad - love ya!
22 - 9:18
23- 9:50 
24 - 10:06 come on - finish it
25 - 9:56
26 - 10:35 dying :(
.46 4:18 

As I am FINALLY finished and walking on Boylston Street.  I look up at the city buildings, exhausted,  and again I am thinking how happy and thankful I am that I finally made it to Boston.  
I DID IT!   
It was an amazing day.  
Did I run as fast as I wanted - well - 
I came close  - 
and today - that is close enough!


  OK - now - I am slightly mad at all of my local friends and blogger friends who have previously run this marathon.  Uhhhh, you could have warned me!  It's like being pregnant, if woman were told exactly what they will go through during pregnancy - no one would get pregnant.  So it's a dirty little secret that you find out about during the process.  Shame on all of you for leaving me in the dark, to find out during the miles of the Boston marathon.

Seriously, I know some, or most of you, do not consider this a tough course, but I am a wimp, and for me, it was 26.2 miles of hills.  For me the uphills are hard.  Physically and mentally I was prepared for 5 tough miles (16-21), but I was not ready for the toll that the continual uphills would take.   So I will take my 4:08, and call it a day.  I went into this one thinking 4:00 would be my very best, and I hoped 4:10 would be my worst.  I also thought I was running the tangents, although I knew I missed a few because I couldn't see which way the next turn was, and I did divert just a little to "high five" at Wellsley, but I thought I had run a decent tangent run.  Not so much - I ended up at 26.46.  

Be WARNED!  This course is constantly turning - right and left curves, and up and down hills.

Next blog will be about how I was an "air head" all weekend.

28 comments:

Scott McMurtrey said...

Congrats! What a great experience. You earned it!

Marathonman101108 said...

"Air Head:" So sorry I missed meeting you in Boston. I WILL be there watching next year, so even though it's a tough course, run it again! This way we can meet, or at least I can scream and yell "GINNY" like a maniac and wave and jump up and down like a jackass and embarrass both of us!! Anyhow, congrats on the 4:08. If I was running Boston, I'd still be on Heartbreak Hill(s) right now...seriously. :-)

LMC said...

Congratulations! You did it! Enjoy that for as long as you can!! I'm so happy for you and your bucket list!! Have a great and restful week.

Jennifer said...

Look at that smile! That's all I can say. You look happy and not even a smidge tired, (of course considering who was behind the camera!) I'll talk to you soon! Cheers!

Teamarcia said...

CONGRATS on filling your bucket! Great job on a TOUGH course! Anyone who read my 2009 race report would know how freaking tough and hilly even the first half is (but it is like childbirth;))
So bummed I didn't get to meet you!

misszippy said...

Great job--congrats! It IS a tough course. I think you cannot underestimate the toll the front downhills take on your quads and how that affects you in the 2nd half.

Felice Devine said...

Congratulations! THat's a great time!!

Pining for Pinterest said...

Congratulations!!! That is awesome that your husband made it :) Loved the race report and your little rant at the end LOL!

Julie said...

Hi Ginny,
Congrats!! You did it:) Thank you so much for posting those great pictures!! You look fantastic! I am so happy that you had a wonderful experience:) Your hubby is getting bonus points for finding you along the course...this made me smile! I would of stopped at Wellesley too!! Ginny, you did great on a challenging course. Now it is time to rest...you deserve it!

Psyche said...

Congratulations! It's an awesome accomplishment just to be at Boston. You ran a good race on a tough course. Thanks for the race report- love reading them, so one day I can be in your position and complain about the course:)

Have a nice, long recovery now!

Anonymous said...

YEAH!!! Ginny!!! Glad that you completed the race and in good form. Take a well deserved break this week. Congratulations on a great finish.

Evolving Through Running said...

Congratulations!! Sounds like a truly great experience. Glad the Boston weather cooperated for you.

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

Great race recap - esp. because of the hill warning and the story of your husband finding you and running ahead. Gotta share that story with my husband! ; ) Great finish time!

26.2 Princess said...

YAY!! Congrats!! That was a VERY TOUGH course. I still can't walk normally. Loved your race report and hope to get mine up soon.

Kym Klass said...

So proud of you, Ginny :) ... awesome that your husband was able to find you and take photos. What a great experience for you both. Congratulations!

Emz said...

So
so
so
happy for you. love the run down.

You're amazing!!

MCM Mama said...

Congratulations! Great job!

Tara said...

I'm so very happy for you. It sounds like a great experience (despite the hills!). Congratulations!

Running and living said...

Darn, I had no idea you did not know about the course. I had the same issue last year when I ran the first 6 miles of the course the first time. All rolling hills. I think there are maybe 2-3 miles of flats in Natick? Crazy! Great job out there! See ya next year?

Jill said...

I don't know one person who's ever told me that Boston is NOT a tough course, I certainly fall into that catagory, also! It's kinda funny how you forget about all the roller-coaster hills there are in the first half of the race. This year I totally looked up and was surprised at home much more I saw than last year when I raced it and ran internally....what a huge difference. And it's kinda like one of those things where you can tell someone this or that but unless you live it yourself, you never fully understand how difficult it is. I'm so happy for you, Ginny, and proud you never gave up and kept going strong. Even last year when I ran a killer time of 3:51(for me), I wasn't running the hills as strong as you were. You're truly amazing!!!! Another bucket list check mark - that's awesome!! Congratulations!!!!!

Sorry about the after party, I got your email and was soooo sad. No one ever told me you called the hotel, darn it!! We were right at the corner of the restaurant, I am so sorry to not have hooked up. Next time FOR SURE!!!!

Hope you're recovery well and celebrating hard, you so deserved it!!

Tasha said...

What an amazing experience for you! Way to go! You just did something that most people can only imagine! Yay!

Katie said...

Nice job! I want to run Boston so bad! It sounds like so much fun (in a grueling way)!

HappyTrails said...

Yay Ginny! Just remember - those hills will only make you stronger! LOL! Hey, what a fantastic achievement - you should feel proud and glad to mark one off the bucket list. AWESOME job! :-)

RunToTheFinish said...

no one tells a woman how hard it is to give birth, just that it's all worth it ;)

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

Amanda - great point - it's true for the Boston Marathon too.

Lindsay said...

lol-i love the "fine print" at the bottom. i am sooo glad i am not the only one who thought the first 1/2 had hills too!! omg they were deadly. they definitely wiped me out before i got to the newton hills.

congrats on your boston!! :) a 4:08 is nothing to be ashamed of, i hope you only hold your head high and with pride!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Ginny ~ I am finally getting all the Boston recaps read. I couldn't help but giggle at your final notes. I have never run Boston or I would have warned you! Sounds like you did great anyway. Congratulations!

runner26 said...

wow--great race!! sounds like it was a blast! congrats!