Race Day Disaster

I've been overwhelmed with so many emotions over the last 10 days; fear of the heat, adrenaline and excitement, pain and nausea, disappointment, and SO MUCH GRATITUDE for all of your endless support and encouragement. Really, thank you, thank you, thank you!

While I am fortunate to have recovered from the knee injury (my tape came off at mile 4 and I ran a pain-free 22.2 miles without it), and for my luck-entry into Boston this year, and even for the good health to be able to run a marathon, I was of course hopeful for an excellent day as well. Marine Corps Marathon went so well and I loved how it felt like such a culmination of the work I'd put in-- and there is nothing that compares to the feeling that your effort has been effective, especially when there's been A LOT of effort!

I am having a hard time getting over the fact that Boston wasn't so magical.

With high expectations and having been spoiled by perfect conditions for Marine Corps, I hadn't mentally prepared for how I would handle a "race day disaster," as Runner's World calls it. I had trained for 6 months with a track club, spent oodles of dollars on doctors, and was so excited to run one of the best marathons in the world in your home city! But that was followed by the disaster that is 87 degrees, and it was a bit of a let down. I was so sick post-race that I couldn't eat or drink for 8 hours, I puked in front of my house (putting on a show for a few commuters who were walking from the train), and I cried-- I cried from utter exhaustion, severe nausea, and the disappointment that I was utterly exhausted and severely nauseated.


The pictures from the race are so confusing. I wanted to be happy, and was (I swear!) happy to be participating in the Boston Marathon. At one point I actually thought, "I'm kind of sad it's almost over!" -- But, I felt so sick after mile 17. Maybe if I'd finished and instantly felt better, I'd have a different opinion? But it only got worse from there.

Somehow I made it out of the crowds and found a spot in the shade where my mom, Jon, and Mike & Siobhan came to meet me. I swore I'd never run Boston again and was even beginning to swear off marathons.


I still can't decide how I feel about marathons. (I've deleted and retyped that sentence about 87 times because I really can't make a decision.) On one hand, I can't wait to sign up for another one. On the other hand, marathons are stupid.


Who signs up for marathons? People who love running.
Well, the week before a marathon, you basically can't run.
The week after a marathon, you really shouldn't run.
Also the week after a marathon, you are very likely to get sick. (Gee, I wonder why?) I am battling a cold now-- further pushing back the return to running.

While I fantasize about having a love affair with another marathon and having everything go beautifully, a big part of me also feels like I don't want to have to give up 2-3 weeks of running for a potential disaster. What is it they say? It's better to have loved and lost? YUH.

Let's be honest. I will eventually err on the side of crazy and sign up for more marathons. In the meantime, I plan to:
a. improve my speed in shorter distances. I've already signed up for the Marblehead Beach to Beach 5k on May 12, and will be signing up for the Portsmouth MSD 10K in June.
b. develop good habits in cross training and strength training.
c. remember not to do spring marathons due to the potential for training in 30 degrees and racing in 80 degrees.

But probably I can't wait to do Boston again and make up for this disaster :o)

Happy running. I mean it!

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

It's August. The unmistakable drone of air conditioners can be heard up and down the street. Oppressive heat slows you down, and you sweat just standing still. Your thermometer reads 87 degrees.

Except that I was just kidding. It's not August; it's Boston's Marathon Monday!

Suddenly, the whole outlook on the marathon experience has to change. People have been training for months, and visualizing how awesome this race would be, for much of their lives. Marathoners often hope to set a PR, but the bottom line for many is to have FUN.

When the weather forecast is 50 degrees higher than you've been training at (and 70 degrees higher than the coldest training day, at that), the marathon looks a bit less fun. It becomes less about a PR, and more about finishing. It's about survival.

(Seriously, please pray for the runners on Monday. Let's all hope that nobody drinks too much water/ not enough electrolytes and dies from hyponatremia, and nobody dies from heat exhaustion. If you're spectating, please also remember to be smart. It's April, but spending all day outside in 87 degrees will be taxing.)

I'd looked up last year's Boston results and knew that I'd be about in the middle-50% of finishers. (I don't remember if that's overall, or just for women; but anyway, somewhere in the middle.) I found this cool site that graphs analyses of finishers. Sure enough, last year in average temps of 50 degrees, with a steady tailwind, I'd fall right in the middle of the 23,879 finishers;

However, 2004 also boasted dangerous temperatures hovering around 85 degrees. A Boston.com article posted today described how 10% of runners received aid from medical tents, instead of the typical 2-4%. 185 runners went to the hospital, compared to the usual 15. I also remember that's the year my friend Kacie worked as an EMT and she described how many people had to drop out. Compare the graph above, to the same analysis of 2004:

Now, I'm curious about the number of finishers? There are 27,000 race entrants this year. There were 24,000 finishers in 2011 and only 17,000 in 2004. Did 7000 people really not start and/or finish? Or were there fewer entries? I can't find it easily online.

Anyway, I'm not really worried about finishing. I'm a little bummed that it won't be a super magical experience. I am thankful for the 85 degree day we had a few weeks ago when I had to do an 8 miler, and I survived that, without water. I am also thankful for the predicted southwest winds at 20 mph on Monday. Hooray sweat evaporation... and a little boost from behind! I will finish, but it will not be pretty. This morning, I played dress up:

a. Normally I would not run the race with the belt, as there are water/gatorade stops at every mile. But why risk it this time?
b. BIB NUMBER 23589. Text "Runner" to 345678 (and follow the prompts) to track my progress!
c. Note the goody bag in the back from a new buddy at school!!! YAY

On another note, we went to the expo last night. I'm SO GLAD we went last night because it was crazy busy, and surely Saturday/Sunday will be that much busier. Jon bought me some SWAG, and we watched a video that describes the course. I did not realize that 20% of the course is made up of the "Newton Hills." Did you know the Heartbreak Hill is actually the fourth and final beastly hill in Newton? Wikipedia says it is 0.4 miles long. But enough with the stats; I'm just going to freak myself out. But really, check out the elevation map:

(Hill 1 from 16-17, Hill 2 from 17.5-18, Hill 3 from 19-19.5, and Heartbreak from 20-21.)

So, we are looking forward to Monday-- with a new perspective towards completing an entirely different type of accomplishment. YEAH BOSTON. BRING IT.

Happy carbo-loading and hydrating to all!