Why I'm not running Boston 2015

This has been such a hard decision for me.  I worked so hard to re-qualify and loved every minute of Boston in 2013.  So why did I decide not to run it this year.  I registered, paid and got in just fine.  I know I could physically do it if I wanted to (even post surgery).  But I don't want to taint the memory I have of Boston by running it again.  It sounds weird but I had the most amazing time running it with family and friends and the thought of going out alone and running it alone doesn't sound appealing at all to me.  So I have decided to just let this one go.  I love everything about the Boston Marathon and I most likely will never run it again and I'm ok with that.  I did it and loved it and then qualified again and now I am going to rest, recover and save my money instead of going out there in 6 weeks. 

2013 in Review

Overall this year of running has to be the best ever.  Running in the Boston Marathon was simply amazing and something I never thought I would do.  To top that off I set PR's for my 5K, 10K, half and full marathon distances.  I can't look back at 2013 and be sad.  However, I also ended the year on a sad note with issues on both of my feet and not being able to run pain-free.  I miss running so much and these injuries have helped me see just how much running means to me.  

Top 10 Running moments of 2013:

1.  Running the Boston Marathon with my brother and sister

 

2.  Wasatch Back with the Housewives

3.  Being a pink emissary

 4.  Setting a new PR for every distance race

 5.  Ragnar Trail - and trail running in general

6.  Running the STG marathon in 3:32:00!!

7.   Running the Disney Cruise 5K

 

8.  Running 16 and 20 miles on the treadmill

 

 9.   Wearing pink for every run in October

10.  Running with my new puppy

My 2013 goals:  
My goals for 2013 seemed simple when I set them in January.  However, I only completed 1 of the 3.  Sad. 

1.  Run 1000 miles.  This one I completed and then some.  I ran 1588.80 miles this year.  This is a big deal for several reasons.  First, it's not an even number.  I'm a bit OCD with stuff so that fact that I didn't force myself to run 1600 miles shows I'm a changed woman.  Second, with my injury I barely ran in Nov and Dec - so to have this many miles is awesome. 

2.  Do a half-ironman.  I didn't do a half-ironman because I signed up for the STG marathon and wanted to focus on that.  I think I made the right decision and I'm glad I did because that race was amazing for me.  

3.  Do 2 unassisted pull-ups.  I still can't do these.  But I'm stronger than I was at the start of the year so I'm still happy with my progress.

2013 Races:
I am so glad this year of races is over.  I did more races this year than ever before.  Here's the list:

April:  Boston Marathon
April: Pink Series 5K (PR)
June: Utah Valley Half Marathon (PR)
June:  Ragnar - Wasatch Back
July:  Freedom Run 10K (PR)
August:  Ragnar Trail Race
September:  Disney 5K
October: St George Marathon (PR)
October:  Pink Series Half Marathon
November: Snow Canyon Half Marathon (new PR)
November:  Courage 4Kuu 

Now onto 2014.....

2014 will be a very different year for me with running.  This is the first time in more than 5 years that I haven't already been signed up for a race before the year starts.  I don't even have any races planned out on my calendar.  I'm going to be out of town during Wasatch Back so I'm not even doing that race (sad, sad, sad).  I'm not sure what I want out of my running this year, except that I want to let my body rest and recover and simply get back to the fun part of running.  I don't want to train as hard as I have the last 2 years - instead I want to try new things and have fun. Wish me luck - this is very hard for me.  :)

My goals for 2014:
1.  Run 1200 miles
2.  Do 2 unassisted pull-ups
3. Compete in a new event (anything I haven't done before - distance or type)

St George Marathon Recap

Let me start this post by saying "AH YEAH!!"  STG 2013 did not disappoint.   I ran my guts out and finished in 3:32:00 a PR by over 8 minutes and another Boston Qualifying time!!!  I am seriously so excited with how the race went.  I think the St George marathon is one of the best.  It's great for me because it's close to home but it is so well run and so beautiful it just can't be beat.  It's hard to get into but I totally know why.  It's a fast, beautiful race. 

Now for the recap....

We drove down Friday afternoon and hit the expo.  The expo was great.  It took a matter of minutes to get my number and shirt and then we walked around for a bit so I could buy random running gear.  Then I got my heel taped up.  I waited in line for like 40 minutes to get taped up but I wanted to be sure my heel wouldn't bother me during the race.  I thought it was hilarious that the only line in the entire expo was getting taped up and some people were getting some serious taping done....makes me wonder if marathoners are hard on themselves :)  ha ha

 

I of course picked pink.

The only problem with the entire race was this years race shirt.  They are HUGE!  Last year I got a women's medium and the arms were a little short so I decided to get a women's large this year.  However - it's more like a men's XL and I will never be able to wear it.  Even though it's one of the cutest bright green shirts ever.  Oh well.  

Kami (my sis-in-law) and I got on the 4:30 shuttle from our hotel (if you run STG stay at the Marriott they are amazing to the runners).  Then got right on a bus and headed up to the starting line.  We got there with A LOT of time to spare hit the porta potties then sat down to rest and wait for Kelli.  It was cold at the start - in the 20's.  Once we met up with Kelli we hit the potties again and then dropped our extra clothes off and headed over to the starting line.  We crossed the line about 3 minutes after the gun went off.  I was freezing and couldn't feel my feet for about 3 miles and didn't even toss my gloves or jacket for 5 miles.  But the temps were PERFECT for a marathon. 
 

 
The goal was to shoot for a 3:35 time so that all 3 of us would qualify.  I liked knowing I might have a nice big buffer and instead of focusing on myself I could focus on my training partners instead.  It helped me stay mentally tough.  I wore a clif bar pace bracelet to keep track of where we should be.  I didn't watch it too closely but every 5 or so miles I'd double check it and we were ahead of schedule.  The closer we got the happier I got.  

Post race group photo.  I couldn't be happier.  We worked so hard and have trained for so long and it all paid off on race day.  We were strong and made our goal.  

 After stretching and walking around the finishers area for a bit Kami and I headed back to the hotel.  I did a 10 minute ice bath and put on my comfy clothes and compression socks.  Then we headed over to Swig to get a big fat diet coke and cookie.  A very well deserved treat.  We drove home right after and I was home before 6:00 pm and ready to lay down in my bed and not get up again :)

A few more details for me:  I did a caffeinated GU at mile 5, chomps at mile 11, Roctane at mile 17 and chomps at mile 22.  Drank a full glass of water and/or gatorade at all 4 stops and drank one other time.  I didn't cramp up during or after the race so I feel like my nutrition and water were right on. 

Throwback Thursday

Finish line at the UV marathon June 2012

Last year I set the goal to train and qualify for the Boston Marathon.  I had only done 1 marathon in 2009 before.  I found a training program.  Started this blog and made my goal a reality.  In June of 2012 I ran the Utah Valley Marathon and the conditions were horrible - hot and a serious headwind the whole way.  I missed qualifying by a couple of minutes and was heartbroken.  Now I'm almost done training for my 4th marathon in a 16 month period.  I know my body better than ever before and I know how hard to push and train.  But man am I tired and ready for a break.  No matter how tired I am right now I am not going to stop pushing hard and finish my training with a bang so I can race hard in a few weeks at St George - it's 36 days away!!!!

This week's workouts:
Monday:  10 mile run
Tuesday: spin and crossfit
Wednesday: 8 miles total w/ 4 one mile intervals @ 7:20 pace and crossfit
Thursday:  8 mile run 
Friday: rest
Saturday:  22 miles

My friend Kathy

I got another email from BAA about ordering pictures from the race.  Since we took lots of pictures on our own I don't really need any but when I saw the finish lines one I noticed something super awesome.  It made me smile!

 

My friend Kathy who I met around mile 9 of the race finished right behind me.  We ran by each other for about 5 miles during the race - I knew she was there because people were shouting and cheering my name.  Then I lost her....or so I thought.  I guess she was by me the whole time. 

Boston Strong

I'm not sure that I've talked enough about my Boston support group.  These girls ran miles and miles and miles with me training ran marathons with me. And helped me get my goal so there was no way I was going to run Boston without my girls there.  I am so glad I had them there.  On Saturday after we finished the Pink Series 5K we all put on our Boston support shirts.  We weren't together we were all being busy mom's - working in the garden, attending kids sporting events, cleaning, shopping, running errands and much more.  But when I texted the picture of me in my Boston shirt to them I quickly got pictures from them wearing their shirts too.  I love it. Running has always been a bond for us but now we have Boston too and it has tied us closer together as friends, runners and HUGE fans of Boston. We are Boston Strong. I have found that all of this has  made me love running even more than I did before.  I read this article today and absolutely loved it.  Thanks Runner's world for inspiring me daily.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the 4 of us partying it up in Boston. 

Having way too many cannoli's

Waiting for me while I was running - with a few other friends joining the party!

The subway with an awesome photo bomber

At the airport

Running along the Charles river

Today's workout:  6 mile run with 4 at 8:20 pace and crossfit

Boston - After

It's time that I put my thoughts in writing.  I've talked about the event now for over a week non-stop.  Everyone wants to know where I was and how I felt then and how I feel now.  So I'll start from the last part of my race.

 As I came down Boylston I was so excited to see my friends and the finish line.  Nothing feels as good as crossing the finish line after putting in that much effort.  Since I wore bright pink capri's I was easy to spot (plus they knew when to expect me thanks to at&t's awesome tracking app).  I could hear them cheering from the corner so I snapped a pic of them (look for the stripes on the corner).  They were a few blocks before the finish line.  Look at all the people lining the streets - total excitement and total mayhem.  Finding your runner at the end of the race is really hard because it is just so packed. 

After the finish line you go right into the finishers area.  Again it is huge and packed with runners - once we are covered in our warm blankets we all look exactly the same too.  The volunteers take great care of you and just keep funneling you through to the end.  Sarah kept mooing since we felt like cattle.  I lost track of time and what was going on and just kept putting one foot in front of the other drinking my water and trying not to fall over.

At the very end of the chute the buses are lined up and you pick up your bags.  Sherry met me inside and got my bag for me.  The girls were all right outside of the bus and somehow finding each other wasn't really a task at all.  They helped me get out of my wet clothes and into something warm and then minutes after we took this picture the first bomb went off. It sounded like a cannon going off to us and since we were in Boston on a huge holiday and had no idea of what time of the day it really was at this point I didn't really think much of it until the second blast went off.  This is when the sirens started and police ran past us and we heard them say there had been an explosion.

We knew our families would be afraid so started sending texts to let our hubbies know we were safe and together.  None of them had any idea what we were talking about because the news hadn't caught up yet.  My phone was dead so Jill was texting Todd for me until I could get back to the hotel and charge my phone.  The subway was closed down so we walked about a mile back to the hotel. Once we got to the hotel and turned on the news we saw so much more about what was going on.  When I plugged in my phone I had almost 30 text messages and tons of facebook messages.

Watching the coverage changed things quite a bit and it all became more surreal.  I kept seeing this picture that showed 4:09 on the clock and it took me a while to figure out how that was possible since the clock when I crossed said 4:02.  Was I really only 7 minutes past?  As I've looked back they must have changed the clock from the 10:20 start time to the 10:40 wave which would mean 27 minutes past my finish.  Still a little close for comfort

 

Sarah's husband took this picture of us as we were coming to the finish line.  He is standing right where the first bomb went off. 

Then he posted this picture that was on the news - he is in the black visor.  WAY TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT!

I'm not a "what if" girl.  It causes extra stress and it doesn't help me deal at all.  So I haven't spent anytime dwelling on what if situations.  I am so grateful that everyone I was at the race with was next to me or back at the hotel and that I knew where they were when the bombs went off.  I am so glad that I finished before the bombs went off so that I didn't have friends and family worried about my safety.  I hate what happened and I hate that someone would hurt innocent people.  I want to help and be apart of helping those affected.  And more than anything I want to keep running and go back to Boston because I love that city more than ever.  They are strong amazing people and I have no doubt that they will bounce back stronger than ever.

My Boston Gear

I picked up a few things for the little ones while in Boston.  My favorite item has to be the shirts I got Luke and Sophie.  Sophie LOVES her "running mom shirt" - and keeps walking around saying "in your face".  P.S - Sophie is a crazy girl and my kids hair looks awesome after not having me around to comb it for 5 days :)

I got this awesome jacket at the expo and I LOVE it!

 Brand new Kinvara 4's
(you can't even buy these babies yet)

 And I bought this shirt (but the ladies version in yellow) to help support onefundboston.org

  

I am proud to be a part of the Boston family and will wear my gear with pride.  Nothing will ever make me forget what happened on Monday - but this gear will show my support and love for the Boston Marathon. 

Boston Marathon - Before

I wanted to do a full write up of my feelings of the Boston Marathon before the bombs went off.  I'll post another one on that subject later.  But I want to remember the marathon for what it was to me during the race and how it was for me.  I worked so hard to get to this race and refuse to let that be taken away. 

Boston truly is a race unlike any other.  I haven't done that many marathons - this was my 4th but the way the city rallies around the race and those running is amazing.  Everyone I talked to in Boston was happy for me and excited that I was here running. 

We headed for Boston Commons at 6:20 to catch the bus and head up to Athlete's village.  I am amazed at how many people were running this race. 

Me, Jen, Sherry and Danny on the bus

Athlete's village.
There were 3 huge sections with tents, food, first aid, water, & lots and lots of porta potties

My little brother Danny and I before he headed off to run with wave 1.  

Thanks Delta for keeping me warm at the start of the race :)

Running the race with my sister and brother was awesome.  This was pretty much the last time I saw them since they are both very speedy but knowing we were all there was so much fun.

I ran in wave 2 corral 9. 
You leave athlete's village when it's time to head over for your wave start and walk 0.7 mile to the starting line.  There wasn't a gun that went off or anything by my wave and corral.  We just made our way to the front until it was time to start running.  Then we crossed the pad and the marathon started.

I ran the whole race with my friend Sarah

For several miles I could hear people cheering my name and when I looked around I found a friend with my same name.  I loved running with Kathy and we even texted each other after the race to make sure all was well.  I loved how friendly every single runner was and the new friends I made.

 Just running along the course having a good time.  Look at the side lines just packed with people - it was like that for 26.2 miles. 

At the top of heartbreak hill (which really was heartbreaking).  I loved the crowds on the hill - they were so loud and fun.  Boston College knows how to party.

It was a happy time when I saw the Citgo sign.  

Powering thru to the finish line

 Hooray we did it!!  I am now an official Boston Marathon Finisher!!!
I finished in 3:56 - not my best nor my worst time.  But very happy with everything about this race and being a part of something so amazing.

Sarah was smarter than me and had her name on her shirt - if you ever run this race put your name on your shirt big and bright.  You won't regret it!!

My amazing cheer leaders!

My inspiration and I after the race.  I would never have run Boston without her.  I've talked about my big sister so many times on this blog and she really is the reason I started running, set my goal, made my goal and did this race.  Thanks Sherry!!