Plans for the rest of 2009

The rest of the year looks to be a busy one. A trail race in June, the San Francisco Marathon (half for me) in July, another trail race in August and the San Jose Half Marathon in September. The biggest race will be the New York Marathon on November 1, 2009. I am thinking that the focus in 2010 will be trail races and budget permitting, a race in Japan or Italy.

Recovering from Boston

A week since the race the effects are wearing off slowly. The post race euphoria is gone, replace by thoughts of summer trail races and a chance for redemption at the New York Marathon in the fall. The back is still pretty tight. On Monday (4/27) ran a very slow 7 miles. Tuesday, I swam during the day and did some light weight lifting at night. Going for another run today.

Read Scott Dunlap blog (one of my favorites) and discovered that I finished just in front of Scott and his father. It is so great that he was able to experience Boston with his father. Kudos to the both of them!!

Already, my geeky side is returning. Writing down training schedules, reviewing the Brad Hudson book and doing a lot of thinking about what I can do better for my next race.

2/22/09 Still Sore and Tired in Queens, but on the way home

Woke up sore but rested. Walked with Mallory to the train station and we rode together until 59th street when I got off. I spent the morning wandering around the Upper East Side, checking out bookstores, running stores and having breakfast at the Yorkville Diner which was very good and only 10 bucks. Walked past Mal’s new apartment and took a photo. Had to walk into Hunter College to find a bathroom, lots of young students wondering who the hell was this old guy wandering the halls. Took me a while to find it.
Took the train to 34th street and walked around, looking at a golf shop until it was time to meet Mal. We ate at a place called Macaroon, having sandwiches and one coke for 17 bucks. Even for New York, that’s steep. Also bought macaroons for Marian and Cookie. Total cost, 50 bucks! Whew! Then it was back on the train to Mal’s place. Walked to the stations and an hour later, arrived at JFK. Then a quiet beer while I type this.

2/21/09 Sore and Tired in Queens

Back in New York. Had to crawl on my hands and knees from the bed to the door so I could pull myself up. Aching all over, I managed to clean up and get out the door at the crack of 11:30. A very slow walk to the 30th ave. station, coffee and Daily News in hand. Met up with Mal and we ate some pizza that was fine, nothing special. Then I spent most of the afternoon wandering around Chelsea, checking out stores, stopping for coffee and reading.
Picked up Mal and we took the train back to Queens. We ate at a place called Picolo Vencenzia or Little Venice. A pure white table place. The waiter was not happy when we ordered soup and a half an order of ravioli. But, that’s what we felt like eating/ Total bill, including tip, was 40 bucks. Read a bit before hitting the sack. Still sore and tired.

2/20/09 The Big Event-The Boston Maration

Because I am always early, I got up at 4:30 a.m. and caught the 5:00 shuttle to the subway station, me and 8 other impulsive compulsives. We got to the station and got on the train. Getting off the station, myself and a few thousand other runners walked up to some school buses lined up along the street. There must have been a hundred buses. The ride up to Hopkinton was quiet, some runners sleeping or at least pretending to sleep. Others eating and drinking. Still others like myself, got to know our neighbors. I met a guy from Reno Nevada and another from Texas. Both likeable guys, we had a lot to talk about.
Arriving at Hopkinton, we wandered onto a big grassy field, about half of which was covered with a tarp overhead. The man from Texas had thought ahead and hard a poncho that was big enough for the three of to sit on. We spent the next three hours chatting and drinking coffee as we shivered and waited for the start. Being smart for once, I hit the porta potties earlier and only had to wait a few minutes in line. Soon the lines were an hour long or so I was told.
Herded into our corrals, I kept my sweats on until the actual start because I still had time to take them off before the crowd started moving. Careful not to go too fast at the start, I saw that I had done the first mile in 8:15. Not exactly a stellar beginning.

The course was as tough as advertised. I had managed to get back at my goal pace by miles 12-13. There were lots of little hills. Easy by themselves, but after awhile, they took their toll so that by the time I reached Heartbreak Hill, my pace slowed down. The weather was windy and cold the entire race. Not as tough as the 2007 San Francisco Half Marathon, but it had an effect on my pace. I also had to take two bathroom stops because I had hydrated too well. I probably should have drank less. The jelly bellies seemed to help keep my glucose level up and I did sip Gatorade as well.
My unofficial watch time was 3:44. Not great, but not my worst e ther. Overall, it was a great experience, something I’ll never forget.
After the race, I limped to a Sporting Goods store and bought a sweat shirt because I was freezing!. Then a slow walk to the subway. Once at the station by the hotel, I thought I was set, but noooooo I had a 40 minute wait in the cold before the bus showed up. Back at the hotel, I changed in the bathroom and caught a shuttle to the airport. I tried to check into my Jet Blue flight and was told with a smile-“your flight’s been cancelled, maybe you can catch one tomorrow.” I remained calm and she told me my only recourse was to get a refund from jet blue and book a flight with Delta.
40 minutes later, after a bus ride to another terminal and a long walk, I arrived at the Delta counter. I was told that I could get a flight to JFK after paying an additional 35 bucks for buying the ticket at the airport. Jeez I walked to the gate and was told my flight had been cancelled and directed to another gate at the other end of the terminal. Arriving at this gate, I was told that the flight was delayed and there was a possibility that this flight would also be cancelled. A easy two hour wait, I was listening to my ipod and reading while the other passengers screamed, and we were loaded on the plane. We sat for an half an hour before taking off. Easy flight to Jfk.
Arriving at JFK, I was tired but on familiar ground. I take the usual train to Forrest Hills and wait for an W or N train. No such trains arrive, but plenty of E trains arrive. I got on the 4th E train and discovered that tonight, it was stopping at Steinway where I had to get off. Climbing up Steinway, I see it is raining hard. I flag a cab and pay 10 bucks for a 5 block ride. I don’t care, I am too tired. I let myself in. I take a quick shower and pass out on the bed.

The Epic Day is Over!

The Road to Boston-Day 2 (4/19/09)

Couldn't get more boring. Read, watch tv, nap. Walk to the fridge and get something to eat, repeat. Dinner was Italian-chicken parm and spaghetti. Try to go to sleep a little after 9. Nervous because back still hurts.

I decide that I would make race day my greatest day. The sore back is an opportunity to overcome an obstacle and make the race more memorable. A chance to prove once again that I am no quitter. I sleep well after making this decision.

The Road to Boston-Day 3 (4/18/09)

Up at 4:30, ouch! More pain as the back is still sore, but a little less than yesterday. Take the train out to JFK, read the papers and catch the flight to Beantown. The flight is smooth and short. I call the hotel and 15 minutes later, the shuttle shows up. It's 9:00 a.m., I am hoping that they will let me drop off my bags. But, they do better than that. They let me check in! I unpack and then catch the bus to the T which is what the locals in Boston call the Subway. I ride it in and go to the Convention Center.

Thousands of thin, high strung runners. All jabbering away about carbo loading, depletion, new shoes etc. I stand in line with the rest, get my number and tee shirt. Then I wander around the expo and watch people buy stuff. I settle for one tee shirt, a coffee cup and a pull over. Then I walk to Newberry Street and have a hamburger, read the paper and go to Trader Joes for supplies. Take the train and the bus back and chill out for the rest of the day and night. Read a lot and napped.

As long as I am walking the back and hamstrings are tight but don't hurt much. If I sit down, then getting back up is a slow and painful process. The first 20 minutes of walking aren't much fun either. Oh well.