My Boston Marathon Experience

Before I go forward and describe to everyone my trip and marathon experience to all you readers out there, I personally want to thank those who have read my last blog before I took off for Boston.

http://dmoneystwocents.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-blood-sweat-and-tears-literally.html

I appreciate all of your encouragement and positive thoughts on it. It really meant a lot to me seeing the comments you left here on the blog, texts, face book post, or telling me face to face. I have to admit I was a little bit unsure of posting it thinking how would people judge me for what has happened? But, I remember that everyone of us makes mistakes or says they regret. We just have to move forward and improve that’s how we tend to grow as human beings. Also, the fact that we have our little quirks or ticks that make others tent to judge a little. Like one of my friends has posted none of us are normal, how we handle ourselves and treat others with respect is a great way to be appreciated and loved by those around. They say if everyone were the same it would be a boring world. I’m glad to know and be around those who are different but share the same qualities as myself. I especially notice that meeting with and talking to all sorts of runners either at the airport, the marathon expo, the restaurant the night before, all over during my Boston Marathon experience.

Well, I guess I’ll give you a great detail of my trip to Boston. My flight left for Columbus around 7:20 am to go to Washington D.C. I had to connect there to go to Boston. Luckily, I saw a couple C-Bus Pacers runners at Columbus and they were on the same flight as me. Flying out of Washington to Boston was pretty cool. I had the window seat and saw D.C from the air. I also got to see Baltimore, Philly, and New York also. I’ve been to those cities but seeing them from the air was really cool. We arrived in Boston, and I was able to meet up with my parents. We got our rental car and headed towards the expo. However it took us a little while to figure out the correct street since the Garmin said either Boston or Boston Metro. After going on I-90 for a couple minutes we had to turn back because the convention center was on Boylston Street in Downtown and the garmin took us out towards I-90 for a bit. Ended up taking I-95 south to get back to the Boylston exit to get back there. We got there though.


Inside the convention center it was huge. I’ve been to a couple marathon expos before but this was the biggest as they say. I was able to get my bib number and a couple people commented on how fast I must be. Inside I thought about getting a Boston Marathon Jacket but they didn’t have my size so I’ll get that online. There was a lot to see at the expo. Pretty much any shoe company that was involved with running had booths Adidas (main sponsors), Nike, Mizuno, etc. Ryan Hall’s foundation had a booth that sold his book Running with Joy. It is a great read. A friend let me borrow it and I think I’ll buy now for myself just to have it for future training reference. He also had great bible verses and gives great running advice. His wife Sara Hall, who is a stud track runner, who was there to sign autographs. She gave me one with the verse Colossians 3:23. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Best part was I got to take a picture with her!!



Me and Sara Hall

 Let me say that Ryan Hall is one lucky guy, and not because he is the American Record Holder for the Full Marathon and Half Marathon if you know what I mean. But, she was really nice and I asked her if he was ready for tomorrow and how her training is going.

After we left the expo we went to go to the hotel and I was able to get a picture and see the finish where the runners, wheelchair competitors would finish. Our hotel was located in the south part of the city near U-Mass and Boston. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely, (ha ha Old School quote right there). Got a table real quick by the bar which was a surprise so we were able to eat real quick. There were Boston competitors all around us so it was fun talking to them about how we got here and our guys. One of them suggested taking the subway into town the morning so I can quickly be able to catch the buses out to Hopkinton which is what my CRC people told me to do while there and that was helpful.

The next morning I got up and 4:30 and was able to get my bagels and bananas in my green carry on thing along with my flats, CRC Jersey, wool socks and under armour underwear, water, energy pills to take before and a few other things I can fit. Around 5 I almost missed getting my green tea drink finished since we couldn’t bring any liquids on the shuttle to the subway stop. My folks and I were able to travel with others up to downtown near the Boston Common where they were only a couple of thousand or more people getting ready to line up. That was good since I was able to get in with one of the first length of buses that were headed to Hopkinton.

 My folks said the lines got worse after I left. The bus ride was ok. We traveled on I-90 which seemed like forever until we got to I-495 south to the Hopkinton exit. One the funniest things happened after we exited. One of the runners walked up to the front after we exited and asked the bus driver to pull over to pee real quick. One the Massachusetts State Patrolmen, which they were blocking the exit because of the marathon traffic, got pissed and the runner ran back on the bus. He banged on the bus telling them not to stop and keep going. It was so hilarious, the mood was not tense before but it did lighten everything up all of us on the bus gave that runner an applause.

We arrived at Athletes Village around 7:15 with a whole bunch of other buses. The Athletes Village was the main athletic fields of Hopkinton Junior High and High School. I even took a picture of the famous sign.

I mostly just chilled listen to music. I just listened to my I-Pod since the music they played there didn’t play any AC/DC, Van Halen (with David Lee Roth, Not Sammy Hagar), Ozzy, or Guns N’ Roses which I had on my I-Pod and try not be to anxious. When I walked around a little I was hoping to catch a few of the C-Bus Pacers/CRC peeps to see if they were here or arrived as more buses were coming in but to no avail. So, I just relaxed and kept my mind on the task at hand. After changing into my racing gear around 9:00 along with my flats, stretched my hamstring and did all other things to get ready I was off at around 9:15 when the First wave people had to bring their stuff in the green bags to the buses which had their races numbers. For example my bus had race numbers 100-500 so I gave my stuff to them. I had a trash bag to keep a little bit warm from the wind as I walked/jogged 7/10 mile to the starting line up on Copley Square. I had a bottle of water with me to throw out. I did a couple strides and pee again near some trees where I couldn’t be seen but all other runners had the same idea. I also said my prayers 15 minutes beforehand. Almost every single race I would say the 23^rd Psalm plus the Our Father Prayer which I what I prayed since college before every race.

After, a little bit more stretching I got rid of my trash bag and enter my corral which was # 1 right behind the elites. The elites came out from the Korean Presbyterian Church of Greater Boston to an applause from the people and other runners. They included Ryan Hall, Robert Cheruiyot (last years winner and course record holder at 2:05:52 and 5 time Boston Champ), and the man who would win this race with a course and world record time of 2:03:02, Geoffrey Mutai. It was awesome being right behind them. Main street was lined up with a least 9000 people and that was just the first wave that was about to take off. After the national anthem, the crowd wished us good luck as 10:00 approached. Then, we were off!

It was pretty crowded at first. I was just trying to get a little bit of breathing room the first ½ mile. I think that I got a little bit too comfortable the first mile. Since the first 5k would be downhill it makes you feel a little bit too comfortable to go a little faster than you want to. I hit the first 5k in 17: 12 which in High school I didn’t hit until my junior year of cross country. After that we ran right through Ashland, then a little up hill as we ran into Framingham in which I hit the 10k mark in 34:44 which was 16 sec faster than I wanted to hit the 10k mark but still felt good. I hit 35:16 in Cleveland last year. Those towns had kids pulling out there hands for me to slap which was great motivation to start off with. Next couple of miles were pretty flat. I wanted to stride it out to keep a good but steady pace since I knew I went out to fast. Hit the 15K mark at 52:17 and was running with a good group that wanted to hit low 2:30’s as well.

Almost every town we went through had great support. I took advantage of almost every Gatorade and water stop along the course. I hit 10 miles at around 56:10 still feeling well. After passing through Natick still a little flat not too rolling kind of wished I had an extra gel with me. I took one before the race thinking that could hold me and I would just use Gatorade at every stop until 16.5 miles. Before the 12 mile mark I began to hear the screams of the students of Wellesley College. Now this is the fun mile as they say even before you get to the 20K mark (12.4 miles) you can hear the screams of Wellesley from a ½ mile or more away. This is what it was like around there

They make signs of that you can post on a face book page that shows your number and they have kiss me signs. Going through that mile was a thrill and a big boost I must say. As soon as I crossed the 20k mark in 1:10:08 I threw was arms up in the air kind of motion as a sign to scream louder. I slapped a couple of their hands and in the moment I got kind of caught up while I was running and along the cheering section I stopped real quick to give 2 pretty good looking girls a kiss. I just gave one of them a pep on the cheek and the other on the lips as I continued. I figured it couldn’t hurt my momentum if I did it and I figured why not since I’m here running I might be able to do it again and besides I’m dating anyone right so it wouldn’t hurt. That had to be the funniest mile on the course.

However, I had to regain my focus I hit the half way point at 1:14:00, it was exactly 1 minute and 29 seconds faster than what I hit at Cleveland where I PR’d in 2:34. I slowed a little bit but I was going ok so far. Then, we hit Newton and the famous hills. After I got the gel at 16.5 it felt pretty good going down but I kind of filled my body and I almost didn’t take any more Gatorade on the next few stops just water since the temperature was beginning to rise. I hit 30k (18.6 miles) at 1:47:40 still seconds ahead of my PR pace where I hit at Cleveland and then came Heartbreak Hill.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon#Heartbreak_Hill


I was able to get up those hills ok but I felt my glycogen levels being depleted my over the course of the race. The downhills from 21-24 made my legs feel like Jell-O. Which is why for first timers to this race that this course can humble you. The back part of my right leg behind my knee began to get sticky from the Gatorade accumulating from the rising temperature. I had to stop at the water stop around 24 miles and take the cup and dump it on my leg to wipe it up. I almost felt like stopping to puke at one point during the last miles but I kept going as the crowd was a little bit encouraging despite at the point of the race where the cheers of their voices felt like jackhammers pounding at my head. I really slowed down the last 5-6 miles but I pressed on thinking that I have come this far and that my family waiting for me at the finish.

I saw the Citgo sign around mile 25 and it was a great way of hope that I was almost done so I picked it up a little. After running on Beacon Street for a long 3 miles we made a right turn at Commonwealth Ave then a left on Boylston Street towards the finish. I was able to gather what I had left and finished with a kick and passed the last 6 guys towards the finish. I pulled a “Ryan Hall” and pointed to the sky as a way of thanking God for pulling me through to the finish in 2 hours 38 minutes and 32 seconds. I finished 189^th overall, 168^th male, and 143^rd in my age division 18-34 which was the toughest age division to compete in.

I had to be helped by medical volunteers as they walked me through to get some fluids and after I told them I can walk towards the waiting area they let me go and I got the wind cover and my medal. A lot of the volunteers congratulated me and others while we walked towards the finish with clapping. I have to admit I got a little emotion about it. It would have been better if my parents were close by but they saw me finish around the finish line and had to go around a couple streets to meet in the meeting area near your letter. After I got my green bag with my warm up clothes I slowly put them on along with my regular trainers. It seemed like I waited forever for my folks until them showed up and after hugs and pictures we were able to find the building for massages and I went down to get one from the chiropractor since my lower back began to stiffing up in the late miles and afterwards mostly. It felt much better.



My mom and I after the race


After that, I at least wanted to walk over to the Boston Common and look around and I wanted to get my picture in front of Cheers Beacon Hill. It was crowded but got a quick drink. Oh well, we got back to the Subway to ride back to the hotel, still talking to other runners that also had finished. Saw the ladies that were at the Olive Garden on our train that were from North Carolina, talked to a woman from Montana, and a couple that ran up here from Australia. It was pretty cool. Here a little bit of numbers. Every state in the United States was represented and people from over 66 countries of residence and 82 that are citizens were represented in this race. It is amazing what the Boston Marathon was able to bring.

Getting back to the hotel I went across the street and got some ice and drink for an ice bath which I sat in the ice bath for 18 minutes. When I got out I was so cold my arms were literally shaking. After that I refilled the tub with hot water and that felt so good. I tell you it was the best feeling in the world. My Parents and I went to this harbor side tavern just up the road for dinner to get some food in my stomach. I had a few beers and was debating on whenever to go back into town but I didn’t feel like it. I have saw enough of Boston and I was a little bit tired after today and being up at 4:30 in the morning. So we drove back to the airport the next morning. Talked to other runners that had completed, and flew to Washington D.C. and back to Columbus. First thing I did when I got back to Columbus was go to Five Guys Burgers and Fries and get a bacon cheeseburger and fries to celebrate my accomplishment.

The Boston experience was quite like any other race I have ever done. I feel fortunate that the men’s world record was broken at this race and an American woman Desiree Davila, almost pulled off the win at Boston but ran a great time. My PR’s are better than hers except for the Marathon which unbelievable but amazing at the same time. I looked on an article from the Columbus Dispatch and it showed that I was the top Central Ohio Area guy to finish there.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/04/19/runx19-gg4ccfr3-1.html

I also was the 3^rd Ohio guy to place there training Kam Lee, who I was with throughout the first half marathon of the race until he pulled away, and Matt Folk who ran with the elites. 2 other CRC/C-bus Pacers were in the top 5 in the area that finished and they ran their PR’s. I may have not PR’d like I wanted to but I was able to finish in the 99.2 percentage of those who finished. But, I respect anyone who was able to have competed in that Marathon on Monday. Everyone had there own story or experience of how they got there and finished. It was an experience of a lifetime. Will I go back next year? I don’t know? Right now I’m probably going to relax and let my body recover for a bit until my next conquest. This has taken a toll physically, mentally, and emotionally out of me. When I feel a little better I’ll definitely be back. And I want to thank everyone who has encourage me on the way there and to let my readers know there is still more to come. I’m Dustin Whitehair(D-Money, D-Shady, Tenacious D, Diesel, DW-40 or whatever nickname I’m given but thankful for) and this is my two cents!!!