Non-running related, and more important.  Worth trying to make this go viral.  Someone has to know where this kid is. 

Me and RunningShorts after the Frederick Twilight 5K.  Both of us pretending that we weren’t just beaten by an 11 year old girl. 

(Photo credit: JKorn)

It’s been a little while since I’ve actually posted anything here.  Honestly, nothing much exciting has been going on in my world of running.  Just some random happenings / observations:

• Less than a week after Boston, I ran a 5 miler to wrap up the club’s grand prix series.  My 5 mile time is historically pretty soft, so it was even a PR. 
• I also learned that it’s possible to go from racing to being at a wedding (while reasonably clean) in the span of only a couple of hours.  Congratulations to my cousin Angie and her new husband Brian, by the way. 
• As indicated earlier, I did the Nut Job Challenge as part of the Frederick Running Festival.  It’s humbling to get your ass kicked by a bunch of elementary school kids (including an 11 year old girl) in a 5K.  If I had been in the under 19 age group, I would have come in 7th.  As it was, I took 3rd among the 30-35 set.
• One positive about the 5K was hanging with Running Shorts again.  I managed to hold her off during the race, but she took 3rd overall for women. 
• The Half the day after the 5K was rough.  Coming from Massachusetts, I’m just not acclimated to sticky air yet.  Not a good sign when you wake up on race morning and find out that it’s 95% humidity.
• Mileage overall has been pretty low these days.  Work is pretty nuts (in a good way), so I’ve been limited to 5 runs a week. 
• Trying to ramp up the intensity a bit.  Not doing as many long, slow stuff.  Shorter, faster runs mean that I finish up quicker.  And it’s nice to see fast mile splits on the Garmin.  
• Track starts back up tonight.  I’m optimistic that I’ll be able to make it out of work on time.  I’m less optimistic that I won’t get dropped by my group.  Repeat 400s are going to be a shock to the system.

I may or may not have chosen to race a 5K the night before the half so I could get a medal that says “Nut Job.”

Medal haul from Patriots Day weekend.

Karaoke fail.

After the Expo.

Entering the Expo.

Marathon 8 is now in the books.  Rather than walk through a step-by-step report on the day, I just wanted to share some thoughts:

- This was my second-slowest time ever and slowest of my three Bostons.  I can’t say I’m happy with coming in north of 4 hours, but with the exception of Chicago, I’m the most proud of this one.  I was very close to dropping out at several points and I am so glad I made it to Copley. 

- In the starting corral yesterday morning, I turned to my friend standing next to me and said, “I never thought I would be here right now: getting ready to do Boston from Wave 1 as a qualified runner.”

- I’m not sure if it was the heat or another factor, but something was off from the beginning.  I ate my normal pre-race breakfast and realized that I was hungry in the starting corral.  Weird.  From mile 2 on, I felt like I just didn’t have anything in my legs.  Not good to start bonking before the 5K mark.

- Survival mode started early yesterday.  I walked way more than I would have liked, but the heat made it a necessity.  I still have yet to hit Beacon Street feeling strong.  Maybe next year.

- That said, if the forecast for the race is anything approaching yesterday, I’m not going to run.  It just isn’t worth it.  There were several times when I felt scared during the race.  It just didn’t seem safe.

- Very happy that my streak of people dying in the marathons I ran in ended at 2 (Chicago and Philly last fall).  Big ups to the medical staff out there on the course. 

- I have never been as sore as I am right now.  Walking around last night, my legs felt ok.  Today, it’s hard to even sit at my desk. 

- The week after a marathon is great for being able to live like a non-runner if only briefly.  You know what I don’t have to do tonight?  Run. 

- As much as any race I’ve ever done, yesterday was a team effort.  If not for my family and friends, I don’t think I would have finished.  Gatorade and chia seeds were a huge lift at a time when I was seriously thinking of bagging it.  Iced towels never felt so good.  And seeing my parents at 30K helped me keep going. 

To sum up, I earned my medal and the cool shirts I picked up at the expo.  I’m going to give it a week or so, but I’m thinking I may have even earned one of those Adidas jackets everyone is wearing. 

Congratulations to everyone who ran yesterday.  Thank you to the fans out on the course.  And to anyone who didn’t finish, I don’t blame you.  You probably made the smart decision.