April 16th, 2010
I’m leaving tomorrow via an early train for what promises to be a 3-day rolling party. Well, there is that race on Monday morning, but the social schedule is what has me most excited. The only cloud on the horizon is my big toe returning to its under-the-nail shenanigans, but I’m hoping with tomorrow’s day off and tiny runs today and Sunday it’ll chill out for real.
Saturday
First stop is the hotel where I’ll hookup with Audra (my roomie for a couple nights), then on to the Expo. Later that evening a huge-ass Runners World party.
Sunday
A 3-mile shakeout run with Audra, then brunch with the beautiful BQ babes. Incredible to believe that we are embodying what that thread was started for in the first place – to get to Boston. While a few gals won’t be attending this weekend, the majority will be representin’.
Immediately after, thanks to Stevi being an incredible event planner, I’ll meet up with a handful of my Sub 3:20 imaginary friends for a fun limo ride to Ron/ESG’s house for an afternoon of lunch, laughs and love. I’m already grinning ear-to-ear in anticipation of this, it’s been one big belly-laugh with those guys, so I’m dying to finally hug and speak with them for real.
Then back to town to follow Jackie/HikerGirl to the race Pasta Party.
Monday
At 6:15, meet with the Sub 3:20 crew to board a bus for Hopkinton, wait around until 10am and then…begin The Boston Marathon.
Funny, I’ve been so blase about the race from an historical perspective, but now that it’s here, I’ve got this weird sensation of, well, pride! Not for having qualified, but that I’m doing something my non-running friends recognize and understand as something. It’s kind of fun. Hell, I might even buy a jacket. Maybe.
Monday night is another large dinner with the Sub 3:20 crew and their families, then Tuesday morning, train back to Philly. Like I said, one big 3-day party.
Tracking and Corny Sentimentality
If anyone wants to track my ass, my bib# is 13897 and you can do it live online by going to the B.A.A. site or sign up for alerts. Looking for 3:24ish (if the weather is uneventful), but anything around that vicinity will work.
I’ll probably take my laptop so hopefully will check in afterward with a mini update but if not, expect something on Tuesday night.
I want to wish all my fellow racers Good Luck this weekend!! I hope to meet many of you somehow within that mess of humanity but if I don’t, have a strong, beautiful and wonderful race. No regrets, no pain (well, as little as humanly possible) and memories you want to replay for a long, long time. Or if you prefer, have a fabulous drunken weekend!!!
As for you guys and gals who read this blog and have been witness to all the trials, tribulations and whining I’ve managed to produce these last few months on the way to this particular event, I will never be able to thank you enough. You support me, keep me honest, give me something to strive for and something to be afraid of if I fuck up. :-) Love you guys. You’ll be with me on the course.
Peace.
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I wish you the very best Flo. I don’t have anything deep or witty to say, just happy content thoughts that when you finish your last marathon you do so with peace and happiness.
Yay! Can’t wait to “watch” this race on Monday. There will be less work done than during the basketball tourneys!
Flo- I am so crazy excited for you and the amount of fun we are going to have. You have worked your ass off to run the streets of Boston and you deserve to have an insane amount of fun and support. Honored I can be there to add to your cheering crowd.
Stevi
Good luck, you’re going to do great!!
Yeah. To think that you’ll be passing through Westchester en route; in New Rochelle, just two miles from my last where-i-run.
You did seem to skip one thing for Monday. You have “begin The Boston Marathon.”
Lol Joe, I did forget something…the plan is to finish it, too.
Thanks for the good luck, everyone!
safe travels! i hope i get to meet up with you at some point!! i’m going to the expo on saturday too so maybe i’ll see you there? if i remember i’ll email you my cell number.. if that’s cool with you and everything
Wow, I am envious and not just because you get to run Boston. That one goes without saying. I am envious that you get to meet so many of your online blogging buddies. I hope that someday I get to meet you!
Have a great time and enjoy the madness that you have earned!
Jeepers, this is coming up real fast now Flo You’re right about non-running friends knowing it’s what Joe Biden would call a Big F***ing Deal. When I told my office-mates about the tracker, they got all excited. Strange to think they’ll be whoohoing in San Francisco when I run across some mat in Boston. .
Hey Flo, I keep thinking we’ve trained along side one another for a couple of years and now we’re going to all meet in person and run The Boston Marathon! Looking forward to it! See you tomorrow night.
Have fun, Boston as a town is wicked cool;-) You couldnt ask for better weather either
Flo,
Have a great weekend and a fantastic Monday! Can’t wait to hear your perspective of the events. Run strong!
we are SO trashing the hotel room.
I can’t believe the day is so close! I love that your itinerary is all about enjoying the experience. Looks like so much fun. You’ll be fabulous. Can’t wait to read the race report. Have fun!
Good luck girl! You’re going to have an amazing time from the looks of that itinerary. Can’t wait to celebrate with you when you get back. You are so ready – have fun!
xoxo
Best of luck to you, Flo, and all of the RWOL’ers that are running the big race on Monday. It’s hard to put into words how disappointing it is that I am missing the fun this year. I had SO looked forward to meeting you in person. Enjoy every minute, and I look forward to your recap next week!
Tears, tears, tears for not being able to be there. You are going to have SOOOOOOO much fun, and I’m jealous. I will definitely be thinking about all of you guys Monday. I will be sending speedy powers all the way from Alabama! You worked your bootie off for this, now GO GET ‘EM!
Is this going to be on Flocast?
Have fun!
Just wanted to drop by and wish you GOOD LUCK!!! I’ll def be stalking you during your race and tracking your awesomeness
My bf is also running so my teachers will have to excuse my constant checking of the itouch during class on Monday!
Go Flo!I’m so excited for you
Thank you thank you and thank you, sweet peeps.
Packing was a pain in the butt last night, it’s still winter in Boston so I’m having to bring a real coat, warm clothes, plus tons of crap for Athletes Village so I don’t freeze my butt off. Going to leave the laptop behind but will check in on the hotel’s thing if possible. Love!
No need to be afraid of us Flo. You’ll run well… that’s if you survive all the pre-start part-ay-ing. You’ll have to buy a jacket — or at least a T-shirt. They have cheap ones at the PourHouse.
I’ll try and track your ass — will have to figure out what time the race starts in Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Goodluck and go for it!.
Rinus.
Thinking of you . . . . run Flo run!!!!
Get the jacket–you will be forever sorry if you don’t, even if it is one of many–it is your first Boston. You will be glad you have it!
Have a GREAT time!
Flo,
You rocked that thing!! Saw your time and all I can say is, “wow”! Please tell us that you bought a jacket!! Can’t wait to read your race report…I watched online and it looked like a great day to run (although a bit of wind?).
Congratulations! You ran Boston!
OK – we NEED a report or just a little sentence saying you had a great time and were happy with your time. I looked it up and I would be ecstatic . . . you should be more than pleased girl. Come on – we need to hear from you. Waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting . . .
Go Flo Go – you did the Boston marathon!!!!