My Boston experience this year was fantastic but not without mixed emotions. First, you couldn't be at the marathon and not remember what took place last year and think about the lives that were forever changed or ended,My heart and prayers go out to these families.
I arrived in Boston Saturday afternoon and quickly made my way to the BB to drop my stuff off and make my way to the expo. I can never fully relax and feel at ease till I'm there and have that bib number in my hand. Now it was time to meet up with Lloyd which I found right across the street outside Trader's Joe's. We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up over pasta and like a couple old men went back to the room for a short afternoon nap which turned out to be all night.
One of the highlights this years was the "Blessing of the Athelete's" at the Old South Church on Easter Sunday. It was nice to meet Preston and his family and JG outside the church as we were coming out of the first service and they were waiting to go in to the next one.I wish we had spent more time together but it seems like things go by so quickly and with so many people there it's really hard to plan things.
After walking around the expo again and taking a walk down Boylston to take in the all the marathon excitement it was time to head back to the room to get off my feet before heading to the marathons Pasta Dinner.
Now, we finally made it to race day morning. After days of checking the weather multiple times each day it was here. A beautiful morning not a cloud in the sky and the temps a little warmer than was expected but all in all a good day for a run. In the back of my mind there was still an uneasy feeling about it being too warm. I seem to have a cramping problem during marathons if gets much above 55-60 degrees. Also the heat we endured at Boston two years ago was still fresh in my mind. But I'd put the training in and had a plan so it was time to run and I was going to run the plan.It went really well till mile 18 when I got the first hint that the legs were going to start cramping so I went in survival mode. The first run stopping cramp hit me about mile 22 and I knew it was going to be a long painful way to the finish line with my hopes of BQ'ing again this year were going to slowly fade away. I did come up short of my goals but I really can't complain. From Hopkinton to the Finish line the crowds were fantastic and my experience when I cross the finish line was very humbling, So many runners hugging, crying and kneeling down to pray in honor of those who were forever changed by the events that took place at that exacted place just a year ago.
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