On November 2nd, the New York Road Runner's Organization held their annual induction of elite runners to their Hall of Fame. Since my Coach, Joel Pasternack, was dear friends with Tom Flemming for 48 years, and Tom was being inducted, I was honored when my Coach asked me if I wanted to go. Of course Joel, I would love to go!
I knew Tom from when I was a little girl. My brother Chris ran track for Villanova, and I heard stories of how Tom kicked his but when they went out for a 10 mile run. Back then, I remember Tom was a sixth grade teacher at the local elementary school, where I attended. I remember thinking, 'Wow, that's Tom Fleming - he won the New York City Marathon. He's super fast!' I also remember my dad pushing my brother, "Why don't you call Tom and get a run in." I suspect the fact that Chris, as he put it, had to run a full out sprint to "tag" along on Tom's 10-mile easy run was why he was always a little reluctant to meet up with Tom.
It was a shock to hear when Tom died this past April. I had just run the Boston Marathon, and went with my local running club to see a documentary on the Boston Marathon. When I came out of the movie, I turned my phone on and saw a text from my brother. I immediately called Coach - who was in shock! We all were!
Now, several months later, I was so glad to hear that
NYRR was going to honor Tom and induct him into the
2017 NYRR Hall of Fame!
I have a few funny Tom stories - one that stands out in my head was when I came to the track with calf sleeves on. Coach Joel and Tom were kibitzing, Tom stopped, looked at my calf sleeves and said, "What are those." I explained that I just saw Meb run in Chicago (I had run the Chicago Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon) and saw that Meb was wearing calf sleeves - so I thought I'd try them out. Tom said, in his very dry tone, "Meb gets paid to wear calf sleeves - that's why he was wearing them!" I was so deflated, but knew - that was Tom - he always kept it real when it came to running. In fact he is famous for a few expressions, one being - if you want to be a better runner, run more!
I absolutely love Meb. I have his book, Meb for Mortals - and even an Eliptigo because I saw how much it helped Meb when he was injured. Recently, I tweeted back to one of his tweets:
#Lovemeb
- and you can imagine how happy I was when he liked it! That was so cool! What's even cooler was that I saw Meb at the 2017 NYRR Hall of Fame induction. He received the Abebe Bakila award. He was kind enough to take a photo with me!
#LoveMeb
Meb was presented with this award by Deena Kastor. She had some beautiful words before presenting Meb with this very prestigious award. Deena was also kind, and snapped a pic with Coach and me.
Deena Kastor holds the American Female Record for Fastest Marathon 2:19:36
Coach brought a poster with famous runners - and the elites at this induction would come up to Joel - to see if they were on the board - of course they were! They were honored to sign their names. It was amazing to watch!
Here is Bill Rogers signing Coach's Poster!
And so did 2017 NYRR Hall of Fame Inductee Orlando Pizzolato
Orlando won the NY City Marathon in 1984 and 1985 with a time of 2:11:34 in 1985!
As did Paula Radcliffe! OMG!
Paula Radcliffe! WOW! Love this pic! She's a SouthPaw!
Paula Radcliffe holds the Female World Record for the Fastest Marathon 2:15:25!
Paula introduced Lorna Kiplagat, who was also inducted into the 2017 NYRR Hall of Fame. Lorna also graciously indulged Joel in a poster signing and both of us with a picture
Lornah's Community Outreach and Support for Runner's Worldwide is truly inspiring!
Lornah Kiplagat is the founder of the African inspired Sports brand for active women called "Lornah "www.lornahsports.com. She is also the founder of the famous High Altitude Training Center (HATC) in Iten Kenya, where athletes from all over the World go train..www.lornah.com
But here are two of my favorite photos of the day
Love how Coach is listening to Ryan Hall
This is my other favorite picture - it's of Meb's Dad. He was wiping his eye's and pumping his fist in the air - he is so proud of his son. Meb, we are so proud of you, too!
It was beautiful to watch how proud Meb's family is!
Ryan Hall was also kind and took some time for a Joel/Beth photo!
Ryan Hall holds the American Male Record for Fastest Marathon: 2:04:58 WOW!
Tom's daughter Margot received the award on Tom's behalf. She prepared a beautiful speech sprinkled with her Dad's dry sense of humor. I cried when she cried - and Coach was trying hard to hold it together.
Tom won the NY City Marathon twice, in 1974 and 1975 His best Marathon time is 2:12:05
Congratulations Tom on your induction into the
2017 New York Road Runner's Hall of Fame!
You will be missed, but your spirit remains strong,
I don't know what it's like to run a marathon in my 20's, 30's or 40's - I started running marathons in my 50's. And for me, it takes a lot of planning, and it takes a lot of people - people who support you, believe in you, feel your pain, your sorrow, your passion, your drive to feel empowered, rise above, to show that love is empowering - and that, as crazy as it may seem, support that you have chosen to focus all of this in running a marathon.
Look at the people in this photo - they're smiling, thumbs up - I still got all my nutrition pinned on me and in my hands - so I know, this is pre mile 5. The gentleman wearing Bib #57107 is smiling, and the man wearing Bib #61716 is giving the photographer a thumbs up.
Early miles 44th BMW Berlin Marathon
Now take a look at this one - about 3/4 of a mile left to go. The gentleman off to the far left - he's holding his stomach - he looks as if he's going to throw up. Now focus on the far right - there's a man in an orange jacket who is coaching a runner - listen closely, in any language, and you hear, "C'mon, man. You got this. It's just a few 100 kilometers more. You're amazing and you know you are because you've come this far! You got this! You know you can do this!" It's the sound of love - one stranger to another - hope in the human spirit - and it shines so brightly in the marathon. It's beautiful.
Running through the Brandenburg Gate
44th BMW Berlin Marathon
I have to thank my family, friends, and running community for getting me through the first 18 to 19 - even 20 miles. You train, you put the time in - people ask how you're doing.
There's your base layer of professionals, Marathon Tours and their employees who get you enrolled in the Berlin Marathon, and plan a trip around the marathon - Thank you Nicole Langone and Jacqui Kaufman.
And there's the professionals you turn to when your training goes awry and your body doesn't cooperate like my Podiatrist, Dr Jessica Merkel-Levy at Advanced Performance and Rehab, who helped me through a very painful and debilitating bout of Plantar Fasciitis from July to August. And my team at Parabolic Performance and Rehab - my PT, Dr Monica Saenz, who would massage and use the Graston on my Plantar Fascia and Achilles every week, along with my Acupuncturist, Michael Gonzalez who worked on my calves, adductors, psoas, periformis, and hammies. Of course, I have to mention my favorite Chiropractors, Dr Lou and Dr Jayne at Family Chiropractors of Montclair.
A huge thank you, of course, to Coach Joel, who is more than just a professional Running Coach to me - he's family - remember, I adopted him as my 'Track Daddy'!
And there's the local running group(s) whom you meet up with in those early morning hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning - and you hear: "Beth, How's it going? How's your training?" I always love Fidelma's great big hugs. I would be lying if I said I didn't look for one of her big, welcoming hugs.
And training for Berlin, I made a new friend, Francois Prophete - we didn't run many times together - but we probably put in close to 50 miles together. I can't explain the connection you make with someone when you put in all those miles together. It's the simple gestures and words: Are you okay? Okay c'mon, we got this. Do you need to stop? Or the running ahead to make sure it's okay to cross a street. Or when you meet up and say you don't feel like running 16 miles the silly gesture of Francois picking me up and running down the street yelling - It's okay, I'll just carry you today!
And the fact that there's actually someone behind the scenes orchestrating and promoting these runs, Rachel Crampsey and her group: Fueled by Doughnuts. It literally takes a village.
Or how about Jacquie, who the night before I left for Berlin brought me a card that read, "Ignore the Rain, Look at the Rainbow" Did she know that when I first met my late husband, we would go searching for rainbows? Or maybe she knew it would rain the day of the marathon - and I needed to focus on the positives.
All of these people - they get you through those first 18-20 miles.
And then there's another layer - the people who get you through the last six miles.
I knew I would have trouble in Berlin. I kept telling everyone that I hoped I wouldn't crap myself. To manage my Crohn's Disease, I avoid lots of different foods that irritate my stomach. It's the main reason I became a LEAP Therapist - I had to know if it worked before I used it in my private practice, B3yond Nutrition.
But when you eat out in restaurants, are away from home, or are in another country whose culture enjoys foods that you avoid - you have fewer choices. If you notice in the above picture, I am carrying tissues in my right hand. This is because at my 2nd or 3rd run to the bushes in the median divide along the Berlin Marathon, a woman with a strong German accent ran up to me (shorts down and all) and gave me a stack of tissues. She was yelling something in German, but I couldn't understand - it sounded to me like, 'OMG! You poor thing!' I thanked her, apologized - I told her that I have stomach problems. At that point, she reached into her coat pocket and produced another bunch of tissues. After cleaning up, I headed back to the race - and I heard this woman (whom I fondly refer to as my Angel sent from Heaven) yelling, "Good Luck! Good Luck!" I thanked her profusely, signing,
"I love you!"
Thank you! I love you!
My Angel from Heaven - You have no idea how much you helped me!
Of course I packed tissues in my back zipper pocket, silly, I got Crohn's. But I didn't think I'd blow through them and stop 4 times! Thankfully, after my 4th and final stop, my tummy settled down. At that point, I was dehydrated. I actually had cotton mouth I was so dehydrated. Problem - water stops in the Berlin Marathon are like every 3 miles. Each station I made sure I drank a full glass of water - sometimes I drank two glasses of water!
By mile 20, I wanted to stop. That's when you think of the other people - like your training partner, Rebecca, who ran a great marathon time after rehabilitating two crushed hips from being hit by a car. C'mon, Beth if Rebecca did this after getting her hips crushed - you can do this! Or your Coach's words, "You can do this. All that training you put in over the summer. Of course you can do this. No Problem." Coach believes in me ...
I can do this!
KEEP RUNNING!
And don't forget - Mom is praying for you, your sister's are praying for you - heck, even Joey is praying for you! You got air cover! Even Steve, the older gentleman you see on the track every week lit a candle at church for you!
I can do this!
KEEP RUNNING!
And then there's yet another layer of people, who get you through the last 5k, like my daughter Juliette - who, I know is struggling because every day she does the same commute her Daddy did - she drives to Harrison, and takes the Path downtown. It's likely a combination of dealing with a new internship, the commute to NYU Grad classes at night - and another point in her life with a different sort of missing. I couldn't stop running. When I got a back spasm around mile 22, and a hammy cramp in mile 23, I yelled at myself: You gotta show Juliette, you just push through. Push through, push through, push through - This is God's Will!
I can do this!
KEEP RUNNING!
And at mile 24, there's my partner - and I hear my name, "Let's Go Davis!" Ron screams, "Let's go B. You're strong. You got this." As he violently points to his head, reminding me to think positively. And you remember all the things he said before you started that day, 'Don't let any negative thoughts enter your head. You trained for this. Trust your training.' And then you hear Stephanie's words, your other training partner, 'You have put in the time, there's nothing else you need to do, trust your training.'
And you start, repeating:
I'm strong, I'm strong. I'm strong.
I can do this. I can do this, I can do this!
I CAN DO THIS!
No negative thoughts - think of what your son Johnny said when you ran Boston: Don't say you're not going to stop. That's negative. Say you're going to ...
KEEP RUNNING!
And then there is always one person, whose strength and resilience pushes you through that last mile and a half. This time, it was Helene. I had the honor and the privilege to run with Helene in her first half marathon after one year of her getting chemotherapy treatments for Ovarian Cancer. When we started that half she warned Rebecca and me that she was going to take walking breaks. Yeah, right! I got a kick out of her "walking breaks" - Helene timed her walk breaks - like 15 seconds, every 3-4 miles! Even I wanted more of a walking break than that!
Nope, not Helene, she pushed through - and I watched.
It was not an easy half - there were several hills in the last 2-miles.
Helene struggled up those hills - and I watched.
At 13.1, Helene ran over that finish line, and did the Runner's Hunch - you know the one - where you lean over, put your hands on your quads, round your shoulders, and just try to breathe.
Helene took a moment, gathered herself, and then smiled - I just watched.
I wanted to cry, but I held back - it was Helene's moment. I was simply there to say, "I believe in you, I feel your pain, your sorrow, your passion, your drive to feel empowered, rise above, to show that love is empowering - and that, as crazy as it may seem, I support that you have chosen to focus all of this in running a half marathon.
I spelled H-E-L-E-N-E's name a thousand times before I crossed the finish line.
Watching Helene finish that half inspired me to
KEEP RUNNING!
And when I crossed the finish line at 3:56:41, I felt someone tug at my arm, he was yelling in an accent (what type, I have no idea), "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You helped me. I just kept watching you for those last few miles. I kept watching you." I was overwhelmed. He was an older gentleman - maybe in his 70's. We embraced. I kissed his face, and said, "God Bless You!"
Running is a funny thing -
you really never know who is watching!
Train Smart: Nutrition, Training, and Recovery Are Key
RunTo Inspire: You Never Know Who Is Watching
Focussing on My "Why": Running to Inspire PEACE
Here, I Point to my Mercy Band inscribed with the words:
John A Candela
WTC
Wow, it's been a long time since I posted. I feel bad. This blog is sort of like my running diary - so no posts might seem as if I haven't been running - not true. Me, not run? Hah!
After the Boston Marathon, I struggled with speed. So, I did a couple of 5K's, like the The Ridgewood Run in which I placed 1st in my age group
Ridgewood Run
23:15:97
and the Milford Run
Essex Running Club: New Milford Run
Wasn't feeling it that day: 23:19, but that's running. Still, I was going to the track a couple of times per week to help maintain pace for when I run the Berlin Marathon. Then came June and July. And life unfolded:
Huge Celebration for my daughter, Juliette,
who graduated from Fordham University with a BS in Psychology:
Congratulations My Beautiful Daughter!
Next Stop: Masters at NYU
And in July, I took an amazing trip to Italy with my family. No running for 10+ days! Even though I didn't run, after touring Rome and Venice, we hiked about 10-12 miles per day with Backroads Tours through the Dolomitii in Northeast Italy. So breathtakingly beautiful:
Las Vegas, Altor Badia
From our first Ruffugio
Ron, aka Drone Geek
Il Dolomitii
With the fam
Me and My Gal
Roma, Italy
Mini Man
Me and My Mini Man
Just want to cry looking at these pictures - we had so much fun. Italy is so very beautiful. Ron always says that when he retires, he wants to move to Colorado and become a Ski Ambassador. I am working on him to think maybe San Cassiano or Val Gardena instead. Black Night, Georgio - what do you think? We'd be neighbors.
And through all of this, I studied for two new Dietetics Certifications! I am now LEAP Certified, which means I can order Mediator Release Blood Tests to identify food sensitivities. Based on these results, I work with my clients to develop an Immunocalm Diet. I am seeing amazing results with clients who have IBS, IBD, Chronic Migraines, Arthritis, and Fibromyalgia. It is very satisfying.
I am also now Board Certified Specialist in Sport Dietetics (CSSD). I worked at least five years toward this certification! With these two new certifications, business has boomed!
And training was going well - that is up until a few weeks ago, when I started to have heel pain. I was doing really well. Running somewhere between 7:40 - 8-minute mile splits to break 3:30 in Berlin. This all came to a screaming halt after a 19 mile long run. After that run, I had trouble walking - let alone run. Dx: Plantar Fasciitis (PF).
Everyone told me not to run the Logan View Half Marathon in Fremont, Nebraska. I would have listened, but I saw so many positive signs. Ron and I thought that maybe I should VLOG instead of BLOG. So, we went to Best Buy to buy a shoulder harness to wear his GoPro. When we got to Best Buy, the number on the building was #333 - which if you know me, reminds me of my late husband. I can't make this stuff up.
I prayed, 'Okay, if I find something that works, and fits (I'm a small person), I'll wear it and not run. Well, I did not find anything I thought I could wear comfortably for 13.1 miles. And after facing the heat of the day, I am really glad I didn't even try the shoulder harness. Decision made: I would run this half marathon!
Let's Roll!
Well, as my Coach put it, it was really just "The Survival Shuffle". It was 85 degrees Fahrenheit, No shade, corn fields, cows all around, on a sandy, gravelly dirt road (not good for PF), in which I turned my ankle, not once, but twice - still getting pebbles out of my sneaks! Did I mention that there were more challenging hills in this half than than in the Boston Marathon?
At about mile four, I almost turned around.
Thoughts of DNF ran through my brain.
What? I never did not finish.
I started yelling at myself 'C'mon, you can at least shuffle through. You have less than 9 miles. I made a pact with myself to at least try to make it to the turn around'.
When I got to the turn around I thought, 'Okay, see if you could run a full 90-minutes'. I took it easy when I felt some pain, backed it down, and repeated to myself, 'Berlin is the goal. Berlin is the goal.' I thought of all the suggestions everyone made over the past couple of weeks:
Ron: Just use this as a training run, concentrate on your form
Dr Monica at Parabolic Performance and Rehab: If you have to, walk run. It's Okay. I will pray for you (Thanks Dr Monica!)
Dr Mike at Advanced Performance and Rehab: Berlin is the goal. Don't push.
Sissy: You shouldn't do this. This is bad
Mom: My friend needed surgery for this. You gotta take care of yourself. You're running yourself down.
Jacquie: What would you tell me?
Coach Joel: If it starts to hurt - even if your walking, STOP!
I struggled to find the balance between all of these caring,
and thoughtful suggestions.
I don't know why, but it seems all my common sense
flies out the window when it comes to my running goals.
Why?
I'm glad I wore my headphones and listened to music. I kept one earbud in, so I could listen to how my feet were hitting the gravel. Since it was a small local race, there were stretches of road where no one was around me - it was so quiet, I could hear an echo from my own footsteps.
Don't let this pretty picture fool you -
the hills were pretty intense!
Going up the final hill in mile 12, I thought, I never, ever want to run - ever, ever again. I was very uncomfortable, disgustingly sweaty, covered in sandy dirt from when the wind picked up, and I had tsetse flies flying into my eyes and mouth. But -
You know you are a runner when you can think:
No good decision is ever made going uphill
I suspect that even if I didn't have PF, I likely would not have done that great. It was very hot, and I'm not a good hill runner. I took my time, had a few conversations with the locals at the water stops, tried to encourage others whom I past and who past me. Frankly, I was glad to finish in just under two hours.
No age group classes, but
I actually finished fourth female overall!
In the last few miles, The Stones came on my iPod: "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you get what you need" It was wisdom to my ears. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep a fast pace, but I came for the finishers medal in State #33: Nebraska, and that's what I got!
Well, it's taken me some time to sit and write my recap of the Boston Marathon. I think I'm still exhausted from all the training, excitement, and ..the hills.
When I say I had fun running the Boston Marathon - it's because I did. It was the first race that I held back, and because of that, I was able to relax and enjoy the race. I held back because I had a lot of concerns training for and anticipating this race:
Would I make it to the start? Last year I got injured and had to pull out of running Boston., and last September, complications form my Crohn's Disease landed me in the emergency room, and I had to withdraw from the Berlin Marathon three days flying to Berlin!
Would that happen again?
Would my stomach blow up on me in the race?
Once I got there, would I finish?
Let's face it, the Boston Marathon is intimidating. Anytime you ask someone how they started running, they tell you their story, and then there's always the 'And then I was accepted into Boston' or 'And then I ran Boston' or likely the most painful "And I tried four times to make it to Boston - the last time, I missed by X seconds'.
Don't get me wrong, I was definitely psyched. During the taper, I was flying. In fact, the last few miles, I ran on the track, and was running 7:40-8:00 minute miles, not even trying - just because I was so pumped up!
Even driving up on Saturday, I was psyched. It was nice spending time in the car with Ron, Jules, and Johnny. We stopped for lunch, and even stopped off at a brand new Ducati Dealership in Medford, Massachusettes so - as Ron put it - he could sit on a new Supersport and make some vroom, vroom noises! Carlo, the owner was so nice. You could see and feel his passion for the bikes he sold! I connected with this passion - as I have the same for running!
Vroom, Vrooom!
Like My 261Fearless Shirt?
The other reason I was so psyched to run Boston 2017 was because I was running in the race that marked Kathrine Switzer's 50th Anniversary as being the first official woman to run the Boston Marathon. Wow!
At 70 years old, she smiled crossing the finish line!
This woman is amazing!
I am not kidding! Kathrine Switzer's Boston Marathon story is the ultimate #runtoinspire. She has done an incredible job of promoting women's running. I didn't know she worked with Avon to promote races for women. I remember the first few races that I ever ran were sponsored by Avon! Who knew, Kathrine's hard work helped me run - giving birth to those bucket list items: I want to run a half marathon one day, I want to win a race one day, I want to run a marathon one day ... I want to run Boston ... one day ....
Kathrine re-enacting her race 50 years ago at
Adidas Base Camp, Boston, Ma
I did not run for 261Fearless. I had a lot keeping me busy this past semester with teaching both Advanced Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, juggling my private B3yond Nutrition Counseling Business, and my clinical work at a Kessler Rehab Hospital, not to mention all the training that goes into preparing for a marathon. Even so everyone was so welcoming. I have great memories of running down Boylston from the Adidas Base Camp!
When I say 261, you say "FEARLESS!"
Thank you Chris Grack-Wilson for organizing everything!
I have a confession to make, though. Even though I thought running down Boylston with Kathrine and the 261Fearless team was super wonderful, I was NOT, NO WAY, NO HOW, going across that finish line area. To me, that was sacred ground - I had to wait until Marathon Monday to have that privilege! Shhh - I snuck around some barriers, and waited for the team to run onto the sidewalk to head back to Adidas Base Camp.
The day before running Boston 2017
With Kathrine Switzer!
What a great Easter!
I felt bad asking Kathrine for a picture - everyone was pulling her in a thousand directions. But my daughter knew how much of a fan I was, and kept coaxing me to wait and get a pic.
Easter morning was wonderful!
Next stop, packet pick-up and the Boston Marathon Expo!
I got some great advice from my son when we were driving up to Boston. He told me,
"Don't say that you're not going to stop on Heartbreak Hill,
instead say you're going to keep running, because
everything you say and think must stay positive!"
I had a few minor lapses of confidence, until seeing the time leaving for packet pick-up: 3:33pm - I knew my late husband was telling me that I would be fine, and that he would be with me! Luvutons! Thank you! I needed to see that!
3:33pm Of Course!
Aaagh - my first Boston Marathon!
Head for the Citgo Sign
And then there's the Boston Marathon Expo - it's like the largest running candy store in the universe!
After the expo, we drove the course. We took the highway out, and race course back. About 3/4 of the way to Hopkinton, my son says OUT LOUD, "Wow, This is really far!" Yeah, thanks, son! You might have thought that, but you didn't have to say it out loud! We all cracked up! It was like the worst thing you could say!
Okay! Marathon Monday Morning:
Didn't really know what to do except eat and drink! My plan: 1g carbohydrate per kg three hours before, 1g carbohydrate per kg two hours before, 1g carbohydrate per kg one hour before. I tried to get in as many carbs to top off liver glycogen stores - of course the last three/four days I "carb" loaded - basically traded up some protein for carbs in my mid morning and mid-afternoon mini-meals. I also Beet loaded all week with 1-2 BEET IT Sports Shots, and took one shot 2 hours before the start of the race. So for the next three hours I ate a few red potatoes (no skins), some of my famous banana nut bread, a banana with Justin's Honey Flavored Almond Butter (I'm addicted to the stuff), and topped off with water and a little Gatorade on the bus over to Hopkinton.
I heard all the stories about the drive on the buses to Hopkinton, and anticipated all the feelings that my runner friends shared. I sat next to a gentleman, John Devries, who was running his 20th Boston Marathon! He was 72 years old! He told me that he didn't started running until he was in his 40's! Just incredible. I can only hope that I'm still running at 70 years old!
John finished in 4:26:10!
Congratulations, John! It was great meeting you!
I started at 10:50am, Wave 3, Coral 1. The next thing I knew I was yelling at myself to slow down, "Easy Peasy Elizabeth, Save it for the End". Well, I told myself that so much, I made a friend, Alexandra (Sondra) Darvish - she was from California. We were in the same age group. Her husband worked in a Rehab Hospital - no coincidences here! She and I planned to run with the same goal - easy enough to BQ!
It was hard holding back - it was scary seeing an 8:40-8:45'/mile pace on my watch in a race. With fresh legs, and all that downhill - it was hard to hold back. But holding back made the race very enjoyable - even at the end when your legs feel disconnected - like tree stumps coming out of your hips!
The Boston Marathon isn't like the Chicago Marathon or The NYC Marathon because the course winds through quaint little New England towns and unlike the big city streets, the little roads keep the runners close to one another. When you look up ahead - you see a mass of runners. It's quite an awesome view. Sondra and I kept taking in all the sights and sounds. For about 10 or so miles all we heard was, "Go Mexico!" We would just laugh! Then, IDK what happened, but we lost Mexico.
The crowds are just like everyone says they are - incredible! Everyone screams for the runners. It's like they get up on Marathon Monday and drink one or two double espresso coffees and then scream non-stop all day! And nowhere were the crowds louder than the screaming girls at Wellesley College.
OMG! My Poor Ears!
Their screams were so loud that I felt a surge of anxiety rush through my body. I looked at my watch, and I was running an 8:10' mile. My new friend, Alexandra yelled out, "A little too fast" I had to slow it down! After that, Sondra and I ran together for about another 3 or 4 miles, then we lost each other.
I took the hills, miles 16-20 pretty comfortably, but when I approached Heartbreak Hill, I was like - okay, Heartbreak - I'm ready for you. Even though Heartbreak isn't the largest of the hills, at that point, you feel it - and at that point, I was also feeling the heat of the day, and started to look forward to the push home. My strategy on each hill was to let the person in front of me do all the work. I always tagged behind someone and told myself that they were doing all the work. But on Heartbreak, my "pacers" were dropping like flies. It was odd - I always chose someone to pace because they looked strong - and then they would stop running.
I refused to stop!
I refused to walk!
I have to admit that I am proud to say, I ran the entire Boston Marathon - even through the water stops - I might have shuffled - but I refused to walk. That was one of my goals - and it was my goal especially up the hills. I promised myself in the beginning of the race that even if I had to slow down, I would continue to run, jog, or shuffle to the end.
Why?
Because I have one sister-in-law who had to have cancerous tumors removed from her lungs this past year - and throughout that entire process I asked her to stay strong, and to have faith. And I have another sister-in-law with metasticised lung cancer - there too - is this unspoken request for her to fight everysingleday, and to not give up - and every day she puts a smile on her face says, "I am so blessed!" and fights an incredible fight.
So you bet your sweet bum,
I was NOT going to stop and walk during my Boston Marathon.
I had to be Fearless! I had to be #261Fearless!
Plus, like family, the crowds push you.
Going up Heartbreak Hill people were just screaming:
"C'mon, you can do this!"
"C'mon, you got this."
"This is it, one more hill and your home!"
"You're almost done!"
"You are near the top!"
and at the top of Heartbreak, they were cheering
"You conquered Heartbreak! You did it! You did it! You did it!"
But I knew, after Heartbreak, I was still far from done. And ouch - those small hills after Heartbreak just chew up your quads. As I ran those last few miles I remember thinking ....
Aaagh, now I get that person's post how you see that "damn" Citgo sign forever!
Where are those the three blue lines? This is new as of last year - starts somewhere around mile 24? IDK I was delirious at that point - But three blue lines are painted on the road for about the last 1-2 miles (?)
Ech, there's still Hereford. Don't forget that person's words of wisdom "At Hereford, you gotta let the crowds push you up the hill."
I also wondered what young Kathrine Switzer felt like after she made that turn at Brookline 50 years ago?
Another little hill, "Our Father who art in heaven...."
I'm doing it, I'm doing it, I'm doing it!
I am every woman!
I'm doing it!
Fighting to reach the end of a marathon
because it embraces hard work, perseverance, and is empowering
It shows my kids that no matter what,
you push, you strive, you set your sites on a goal, and you fight to reach that goal
I am #261Fearless!
I'm every woman, it's all in me
Anything you want done baby, I do it naturally
I'm every woman!
Somewhere in the last few miles, Sondra past me. She asked me if I were okay. I said, "Yeah, just taking it a little slow." I got really bad GI cramps. They were pretty intense and for a mile I worried that maybe I was actually perforating. More Our Fathers... Which definitely helped because before I knew it, it was a right on Hereford, and left on Boylston.
Alexandra finished 3:50:01!
Congratulations girl!
It was so wonderful meeting you!
I know why you run - you told me your story!
And you are Fearless!
#261Fearless!
Letting the Crowds push me up Hereford!
Secretly wishing that little side street was Boylston!
When I got to Boylston, I had a surge of energy. The crowds were screaming, and I saw that grandiose finish! There was about 1/4 mile left to run. I ran that last stretch at the best pace I could muster, about 8:10'/mile.
Running down Boylston!
Wow! Boston Marathon 2017!
As I approached the finish line, I remember thinking, "Is this real? Will I still hafta keep running, even after I cross that blue mat?"
Boston Marathon 2017
3:51:38
It was real!
I ran the Boston Marathon!
I finished!
I blessed myself, praised God, thanked all my supporters in heaven, grabbed a water, and was crowned with a medal. Literally, a volunteer said, "You - come here, let me crown you!" Next thing I knew, someone was handing me a space blanket.
I couldn't wait to get my bag, and call my family,
"Ron, Juliette, Johnny - I did it! I ran the Boston Marathon. I finished!"
"I love you guys!"
Then, I called my Coach:
"Joel, I did it! I finished! Thank you! You got me to Boston, and you got me through Boston! I BQ'd! I wanted to BQ for you - to show everyone what a wonderful Coach you are."
In spite of this past winter Crohn's problems (Anemic, low albumin, tired, very slow at times), Coach Joel got me through! He told me that I ran a very smart race - especially in spite of the heat. I set out to run an 8:50'-8:59' mile, and my pace wound up 8:51'/mile. It is my slowest marathon!
Then, Coach Joel, in his typical drill sergeant way told me,
"Great race! Rest up! Training for Berlin starts in May!"
Yeay! Just what I wanted to hear!
Then his new softie self came out, and he said,
"Congratulations! You did great! Go celebrate ... I love ya'!
I hung up the phone and cried!
Coach told me he loved me!
... I love you too, Joel!
Proud 2017 Boston Marathon Finisher Momma with Kids!
#Train Smart
#RunToInspire
And then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong
Coach Joel and I have been together now for 7 years!
I believe I'm the runner he has coached for the longest period of time. I fondly refer to him as (whether he knows it or not) my "Track Daddy".
In the early years, Coach was, how can I put this ... ROUGH!
He always seemed to come to the track with a specific agenda. He'd yell out, "Too fast, Too fast!" Or "C'mon, Let's Go!" When I would try to steel some extra time between repeats he'd bark out, "C'mon get to the line! Now - get to the line!" You'd seldom hear a, "Great job, today," and might hear a "Good effort, Good effort" every so often. I never really minded because I had my own agenda: To build running speed and strength.
Well, I guess that's not altogether true, I minded a little. Over the years, I'd come home and tell my better half, "Joel barked out this or that, today." I mimicked his voice and his gruffness, I had Joel's voice and mannerisms down pat. It became funny, and when I'd come home, Ron would ask, "How was Coach Joel today?"
I mean, I was already in my 40's when I started training with Joel,
and it wasn't as if I was trying to make it to the Olympics
- or even to the Boston Marathon for that matter!
And I actually appreciated Joel's intensity about my workouts and level of seriousness he showed to each of my strides and repeats. And whether it was 19*F or 99*F - he was always there. At the end of the workout, I'd get my homework for the week. Always on recycled scrap paper, from whatever paper he had laying around in his house at the time. And, yes, over the years, I began to treasure these homework assignments.
Then something happened to Joel ....about 4 years ago, Joel's daughter and son-in-law started a family. Joel would come to the track with these incredible pictures of him and his grandchildren - holding his grandbabies, on the floor playing with his grandbabies - even in silly poses with his grandbabies ... Yes, Joel! My Track Coach Daddy - aka Drill Sergeant - was becoming a "SOFTY!"
I mean - he was never a mean person - always Coached kid's running events, always extended himself to the community to inspire people to run, and always looked for ways to promote his beloved sport: Running.
Over the years, not many, but a few women dared to join me and Coach in these track workouts - and to date, only a few have hung in there with me, and Coach Joel.
Coach Joel, Half-Crazed Runner, Rebecca, Sephanie
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when Coach tells us we should run in a local relay race.
Okay! Everyone is in - but I'm skeptical.
My track partners in crime are so much faster than me - Steph's goal is to run a sub 6-minute mile, and Rebecca has this incredible ability to hang back - and power through the last 1/4 mile like everyone else is standing still - all while holding a conversation (no joke!). And Jodi - I'm recently getting to know. For some reason, because I tend to be socially unaware, I thought she was in her late twenty's early thirty's - until we were recently at a local half marathon, and Coach said, "That's Jodi's Daughter" What? She's married and has kids? She's always been such a strong runner - I never thought she was even older than 40!
Okay. So we have a team of four women!
And we call ourselves Joel's Angels.
Turns out Jodi even has a job! She's an artist and is an Art Teacher!
She buys the shirts, designs a logo, and makes iron-on presses:
Joel's Angels
Race day: I just don't want to screw up and slow our time down. Of course, me and my tummy start to act up!
Steph picks us up.
Rebecca's in charge of the directions. She gets us to "A" park - I immediately head toward the port-o-john. When I get out of the port-o-john, I see 3 women running toward me screaming, "Get in the car, Get back in the car, We are at the wrong race!"
Okay back in the car. Jodi's turn at directions.
I start to panic (literally freaking out on the inside). I start my 4-7-8 breathing. Steph rubs my arm, and whispers," It'll be okay, Beth".
Thanks, Jodi, but how did we end up on that dead end street?
I literally grab the race sign up papers out of Jodi's hands, read some cross streets, and talk to my droid for directions. Twenty minutes to the start of the race - and I haven't done my dynamic stretches, warm-up, strides; 4-7-8, 4-7-8, 4-7-8. Breathe Beth, just breathe.
Coach calls: "Where are you guys?"
Me:"We got a little lost, we will be there in 3-minutes."
Steph's still rubbing my arm.
Rebecca and Jodi are singing the Immigrant Song from Led Zeppelin - Don't ask.
We get there, warm up a little.
Steph's first. She kicks unbelievable ass! Coach says we gotta worry about the green team - the women in the tutus.
Okay, Rebecca is next.
Stephanie and Rebecca
We are all screaming. Steph gives us pointers about the course. I start my strides. Coach starts screamin' at me (so used to it), "What are you doing? What are you doing? Get back here! Not 100 meter strides. Get back here. Just do 50 meter strides. Rebecca will be here any second."
OMG! OMG! OMG!
Don't drop the baton, don't drop the baton - OMG!
What a Teammate!
Look at Rebecca's face - she looks totally exhausted ...Yeay, that'll me in a ..."Gooooo, Beth, Run!"
Focus, girl, move your legs
until they feel like they're gonna fall off your body!
Next up, Jodi. I pass the baton off. And we wait. Through some trees, on the other side of the park - you can see the runners as they clear 1.25 miles. I see Jodi, I start screaming, "Go Jodi, Gooo. Ruuuuun!"
Jodi, runs through the home stretch ...
We did it, we did it!
Our 1st Relay!
Jodi Runs It Home!
We placed 3rd Overall - beating out even some men's groups - and took First Place Female Master's Group in the De Novo Harrier's 4X2-mile Relay.
City/Town,State Age Sx U Code Time Pace Place Place PLP
1.Team Dad Bodz , 91 M M 56:14.04 7:01 1/13 M91-91:1/3 0.00
2.Team Touch Of Grey , 91 M M 56:20.03 7:02 2/13 M91-91:2/3 0.00
3.Team Joel's Angels , 94 F B 58:58.51 7:22 1/12 F94-94:1/4 0.00 4.Team Va Rove Lightni , 95 M X 1:00:59.57 7:37 3/13 M95-95:1/7 0.00
I turn toward my teammates and say jokingly, "And we were worried about the tutus?" They actually did an awesome job! They took 2nd Master's Female. Congratulations Ladies!
First Place Female Master's
DeNovo Harriers 4X 2mile Relay
And Coach Joel - my Drill Sergeant Coach - who when I started to cry a few weeks ago because he told me was taking his Granddughters to Disney World in the middle of my training for Boston (yes, he got me to Boston!) kissed and wiped my tears away, hugged me, and told me not worry b/c everything would be okay - couldn't have been more proud. He, my transformed Coach, now a Grandpa and a real softy, was hugging and kissing my teammates, telling them all what a great job we did, and shaking his head like we just landed on Mars!
