BOSTON 25908

I've been running for over thirty years, and the Boston Marathon has been on my radar the whole time. For a runner to get to run Boston is like a biker getting to ride the Tour de France. The most prized item in my wardrobe is now my Boston jacket. Eight weeks before the race, Lynn Gray called to say Zika Rea of Zap Fitness Foundation had called to offer a charity entry to a member of Take…the First Step. I was the lucky recipient of that entry, and I am indebted to the club for that precious opportunity; I began training for Boston immediately.

The race has a reputation for being demanding, and I certainly agree. The hills were high, as expected, and my quads definitely were not happy, but I was as ready as I could have been in eight weeks. I had been nursing ankle problems for several months; therefore, I was not able to put in as many training miles or as many hills as I would have liked. I had completed two18 milers and a 20 in training, so I knew I could finish.

For me, it was a balance between getting in enough training to finish while not inflaming my ankles too much. In that sense, the race was a huge success. I am fortunate to have an excellent coach, and with her help, it worked out, and I finished, even ahead of some who qualified, as Lynn, in her coachly wisdom, pointed out. Of course I believe they were in their 80’s, but no matter. I finished and without injury with a time of 5:37.

I was right on target with my half marathon time of 2:26 , and if I could have maintained that pace, I would have been pleased. My goal was to finish around 4:50, a realistic goal, I thought, since I finished my first marathon last December in 4:58:28. I’m anything but disappointed, though.

After all, I ran with Cheruiyot, Tune, and Lance Armstrong. Well, if we loosely define ‘with.’ They were a tad in front of me. And then there was the invaluable camaraderie and collective experience of my Take the First Step buddies. Any experience shared with such good friends is enriched exponentially. Their encouragement, support, and advice carried me over Heartbreak Hill and on to the finish. And the icing on the cake? My daughter Wendy joined me at the finish, a Starbucks Vanilla Latte in hand.

I ran in the race where so many famous runners have made history. I ran in the race that every runner dreams of running. I was there, on the street, from Hopkinton to Boston , shoulder to shoulder with all the other lovers of running and appreciators of the magnificent tradition that is the Boston Marathon.