My story...because it is kinda important......

 So I ran the Boston Marathon... wow

On Monday, April 18th I ran the 2022 Boston Marathon. What an AMAZING experience that I will never forget.  While I am still putting my thoughts together around the day and journey, I thought I'd try to write a bit to capture some things while they are still fresh in my head. 

First of all, for those interested  - I received my bib to run the Boston Marathon through my running club - the Greater Lowell Road Runners. There is a process by which they receive bibs from the Boston Athletic Association and they award them to club members through an application/review process. 

 Training Plan: www.marathonrookie.com 

Time to Train: Approximately 16 weeks (buffered in a few weeks for any schedule shifts due to work)

We all trained in the winter for Boston - there really is no getting around that if you live in New England. Sub-zero temperatures, snow, ice, etc. - it all adds to the stress (I mean) strength of you as a runner. 

Our club organizes training runs ON the actual Boston Marathon course. We are SO fortunate and I am personally grateful for this opportunity as it's GREAT to run your long runs on the course you will be running on race day. We ran Heartbreak Hill - 3 weeks in a row.  

There was that one time when they all left without me... but we won't talk about that ;) 

It doesn't prepare you 100% for race day - but it's Boston so you just roll with it! 

Our club offers a bus on race day to transport runners to the start line in Hopkinton and a ride home from Boston - they have hotel rooms available for folks to shower, eat and take advantage of a post-race massage. 

Race Day

The weekend before the marathon, my daughter came home for a visit (it was also Easter weekend). It was great to have her here for the weekend, race, in general. 

On race day morning - my husband drove me to get the GLRR bus in Lowell at 6:30am. On the ride up, I was trying to get down some oatmeal as a primary breakfast - I also had a bag of other food items as the wave we were in didn't take off until 11:15am - so pre-race nutrition was going to be important. 

Note: as someone who has had weight loss surgery - it's IMPORTANT to know that I cannot eat/load up on things like many who eat the night before/morning of race. Small meals over time are key for me and I have learned a lot about how to do that successfully - another benefit to a good training plan and old-fashioned discipline. 

So we pile into the bus and make our way to Hopkinton - the bus is buzzing with quiet anticipation and chatter between runners. Some folks on the bus are seasoned veterans of over 25 years and have so much to share; others (like me) are trying to look cool - but are just wanted to get going to put the nervous energy to good use!

The wave that a group of us were in starts at 11:15am - so around 10:30 we are ready and getting ready to walk to our coral to get going. We step out of the bus and into the athlete's village and a sea of runners. So many people running for charity, their run club, themselves. Everyone there has a story they can share and we are all in it for the same destination - to cross that finish line in Boston!

We head out on the run and we are off like a herd of turtles. Let's face it - even as a slower runner it's still hard to be weaving in and out of people and hoping the guy in front of you doesn't stop short and trip you up - or someone cutting around you doesn't knock you over. Over the course of the 1st 2-3 miles, people start to fan out - but there are still large amounts of runners around me. 

As I see the sign for Ashland State part I remember one important part of the race - SPENCER the Golden Retriever will be there.  OF COURSE, I stopped to see him and I can say with 100% confidence that he IS the best boy (photo below)

Ok, so after I stopped for some puppers time - I was off the run this race - although other dogs along the course did tempt me to stop I knew if I wanted to make it into Boston before evening I needed to get myself going and hope that the doggos all understood. They did. 

At about the halfway point, I'm still not sure if it was mental or real but I started to feel some discomfort in my left hip and/or lower back that was making me feel a bit funny. I had called my husband a few times on my headset to chat and distract me a bit but it was clear that I probably needed some ibuprofen if I could nip into a medical tent I would be fine. 

At mile 15, the GREEN tent of our club the Greater Lowell Road Runnrs was there and it was so great to see so many friends cheering me on as I made my way there and said a quick hello - I filled my water and kept going. 

As I approached the 95 overpass, I met up with a young man named Henry who wasn't feeling so well when I first came upon  him. He and I ran (and walked) a bit together and I think we BOTH helped each other through a very challenging part of the race - the hills of Newton are no joke when you have been running for a few hours already. 

I do believe people are brought into your life for a reason - and Henry and I met to support each other through the Boston Marathon. With him not feeling so well for a bit and my own discomfort - looking after him made me forget of my own pain and we made it together!  Oh - and during our run, I learn his father lives a mile from me in Ayer? Yep - I don't make these things up. 

Running clubs and charity tents like the road between Wellesley to Boston - we saw folks from GLRR, Somerville RR, Big Heart, etc. - it was great to have people yelling and cheering for Greater Lowell and of course, Henry running for Boston Children's Hospital was awesome to hear cheers of support. 

Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston

As we would our way through Cleveland Circle, we knew that we were close to finishing the race. AS we entered the final mile of the marathon - I knew that there would be a sign for Hereford and that's where you feel the most amazing thing as a runner. 

As we took the right onto Hereford - you can see the left turn coming upon onto Boylston- moreover, you could HEAR it coming... and that's where the feels started to happen. 

When I have related on this race to anyone in the last week I have said this and I will say it again and again for the rest of my life - I NEVER want to forget the way I felt taking the left onto Boylston Street. It's changed everything about me as a runner. As you take that left, the crowd is 100% cheering for YOU. Even as one of the thousands of runners - it doesn't matter. THEY ARE THERE TO CHEER FOR YOU! My emotions got the better of me for a bit as I wiped the tears away from my eyes - after all, I didn't need an 'ugly cry' photo as I cruised toward the finish line.  Even though it would have been a great ugly cry - haha! 

Crossing the finish line, I feel like I left it all there. I felt good - I felt really happy and I was someone who had just finished the 2022 Boston Marathon. 

The amazing volunteers were there with water and our medals - and a goodie bag filled with Wise chips, Pirate's Bootie, Famous Amos cookies, and a blue Gatorade (I often say that where else can you eat like a kid but after a race!) 

Finding my way through the finish line chute, there were opportunities to get photos and of course, I did. The medical staff was there to make sure no one needed help (did I mention I felt great - what hip pain?).

My husband Earl was there to greet me first - he is at the finish line for me no matter what. He is the President of my fan club and I wouldn't have it any other way. Seeing him makes it THAT MUCH BETTER.  

Members of my club were assigned to find us after the race to make sure we were ok and get us to the hotel. Joe and Miguel were there and both were SO HAPPY to see me and I gave them both the biggest hugs ever. 

Jimmy Shelton did some fun post-race interviews with many of us. Forever the cameraman. 

After a hot shower, another bottle of water and a homemade chocolate chip cookie - I was feeling pretty good. Admission: I could have eaten about 10 of those cookies, thank you to whoever made them. 

While the bus was available for the ride back to Lowell, I hopped into the car with Eark and we drove home together. Leaving the city of Boston after completing the Boston Marathon - I was really emotional.  My emotions were a culmination of the physical challenge that I have put before myself and also the journey my life has taken so far (read past blogs for all of that). 

... what lay ahead of me and what I am about to take on was about to become known to everyone. 

We are moving to Colorado.

Summer, 2022. Stay tuned. 

Thank you portion of the blog:  

Greater Lowell Road Runners - for the opportunity to run the Boston Marathon

Scott Casper and Tara Rossetti - for coordinating the Marathon Course training runs (and making sure no one left without me after that first week - haha!)

Town of Ayer (as a collective) - for keeping the streets clear, safe, and for all of the beeps and waves; even though some of you may not love seeing us out there running; I know I made you all proud running on Monday! 

Earl Hasz - for putting up with my shit for the last 16 weeks

Abbey Marceau - for not eye-rolling everytime I mentioned I was running the Boston Marathon and for the AMAZING sign and balloons you had ready for me when I got home from the race. 

Joe  Lance - for being the most amazing cheerleader! 

Friends - for understanding that I couldn't go out on Friday nights ahead of the long run on Saturday and then being too tired to go out on Saturday AFTER the long run. 

Family near and Far: wow - you are all stalkers on the BAA App and I got all of your messages! 

My DriveWorks Peeps - you are all simply brilliant and I appreciate every one of you. 

Ex-friends - for seeing yourselves out