April 25th, 2010
OK, feeling much better, maybe a little embarrassed for that last post, but what the hell, we all go through crappy days so might as well be honest about it.
Moving on, a few things I wasn’t able to fit in my Boston report because it was so long already. Apologies to Facebook friends, you’ve seen these photos, but for those non-socially connected, here are a few more tidbits from the race.
Athletes Village before the race with my arm warmers shoved on for some reason. Nervous disordered dressing, I guess. That’s Jim (blogging pal) in the yellow hat, plus a bit of Steve showing in the corner (he ran a 2:50, so when I say the sub 3:20 crew isn’t about 3:20, that’s what I mean).
Happy me.
This one cracks me up the most, as I mentioned on FB, it’s right at the finish but what I love is the Up With People guy on the left. He looks like he’s in the chorus of Hello Dolly! whereas I look like dead meat. But as was pointed out on FB, his bib# says he was sandbaggin’ (and that I moved up a hell of a lot, hee). I am jealous of his straight back though, something I really need to work on…
Finis!
Dinner after the race. In the middle is fellow blogger and constant commenter Jim (what a joy to finally meet him, he’s as funny and charming as I expected) and at the edge, my other fellow blogging sweetie pal who orchestrated the whole social she-bang, Stevi. Thanks again for doing that, girl – you and Chris are adorable!!
There are over 50 more photos to be seen including some fun with a peanut butter jar intended for emergency peeing (that happily went unused). So if you’re on Facebook, just go to my page, you don’t even have to be my “friend” to see them. You know me…all public all of the time. 
The Train
On the way back to Philly, I sat by a tiny, sweet girl who it turns out came in a minute before me, with a 3:27. When the train started, we heard the conductor say, “if anyone came in at 3:11 or faster at the marathon, come up to the refreshment car”. This totally had us curious about what those lucky people were getting.
So later, when the conductor came by, I asked him what they got but he was all evasive and gave me a look. OK, be that way.
A couple hours later, he came by again and me and my new traveling buddy asked him one more time (we really needed to know!) and he said “water”. My companion thought he was lying, but then a couple minutes later, he came by with 2 water bottles that had the word “Congratulations” written on an Amtrack stub and attached with a rubber band. Aw, we were winners after all.
The cool thing about the girl sitting next to me was
1. She’s done some freelance writing for Runners World, so small world, but also
2. She lives in Arizona and her (free) community running club is coached by 2 guys, one of them…Dr. Jack Daniels. The Jack Daniels! My eyes popped out of my head when she said that and jealousy streamed out of my pores. Can you imagine? So cool.
Back On The Road
I had a good week of recovery, took two days off and then went 4,6,7,7 giving me 50mi for the week. My left quad is a little tight but other than that, I feel amazing and had to consciously slow myself down today from 8:10s (knowing the quad would not thank me if I kept it up).
It was a cool rainy run and I wore my Boston shirt, which got me a couple approving looks and one guy even said something nice to me about it as he passed. I get the point now of why people buy the jacket, lol.
What’s Ahead?
I’m feeling super excited to get going again. My goal race for the fall is in September, so I’ll start training specifically for that around June 1, but in the meantime, there’s a 5K at the end of May it’d be fun to target. That’ll give me something to work on this next month so instead of just fartleking around, I’ll have some 400′s fun and short tempos.
I can’t wait for some speed to return – I know it’s there waiting for me but it might take a little while to pop, so be patient with me. I’m not expecting anything major at the 5K but am hoping to end up in the vicinity of my PR. I haven’t done one since June, so I’ve got some catching up to do. In the meantime, I’m just so happy to be a runner.
Seriously, this morning as I ran through the park in a drizzle, sporting my Boston shirt with my commemorative chip still attached to my shoe, I laughed out loud. Look at me, I am a runner. Who’d of ever thought?
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i absolutely love the picture right before the finish. sure you might think you look like “dead meat” but i think it looks hardcore, like youre fighting hard. i also like the actual finish line one because you do look really happy
congrats again! and cool about the “congrats” water. i wish that had happened to me. then again i got a free ride on the T
hahah
and i think i missed it but what’s your goal race this fall?
Karyn, I forgot to tell you that I am pissed you didn’t say hi!!!
Seriously, that is crazy that you saw me (we all look so different with hair up or down, so you’re surely forgiven). Congrats again to you, too!!
Goal race is this one. They changed the name so Audra and I aren’t sure how to address it anymore, because Philadelphia Half can be confused with the Philadelphia Marathon Half in November, so for now…”this one”, lol.
I thought we decided it was the phillydistancehalfandrollmarasomething
Lol, I couldn’t remember the correct order, but yes, that’s it!
I am so happy that you are a runner also! I am facing an injury right now so I am unhappy about that but at least I know it will be over soon. Then I will be a runner again. Thanks for all the great stories about Boston!
Oh no, hope it’s a short one, sounds like it will be from that wonderful word “soon”. Take care of yourself and heal quickly. What is it, anyway?
Glad to see you got rid of those pesky blues. Heck, one of the reasons I blog is to “get it all out” and not have to bother my “real life” friends with it. I’m sure they sick of my whining. LOL. Those pics are too cute. I can’t wait to meet you in person. (Sooooo close to buying my ticket to Philly.)
Yu-huh, purchase that ticket, Rebecca, we have some fun to take care of!!
I cannot get over that one picture with those guns. You could seriously be on the cover of RW – How can you people look so good after a race!. LOL about the Up with People guy. I spewed wine out my nose reading your blog today. And THE Jack Daniels!
Lol Mary, how I love your sweet compliments, you are always so generous with them. As I’ve mentioned before though, I hide my ugly bits, like batwings, with some thoughtful posing. That’s why you’ll never see me holding my arms up crossing a finish line. (which makes fellow blogger Joe very happy…those damn non-winners, how dare they
)
I love the pic of you smiling and waving. You look so good in the after shot too with your medal, miss I always look like crap
Sounds like you had a great time
Thanks cutie, but yours do NOT always look like crap, your last race finishing photos were adorable so shut yer mouth.
Flo- Fleeting blues oh I am so happy it didn’t last for long (but I know how you feel). You are too kind and I loved every minute of planning your celebration dinner.
Your first picture is awesome and is a must buy at some point.
You called it correctly in the last post, girl, all that good stuff was hard to leave. Wish every day could be a party. Come plan my life, won’t you sweet Stevi?
I get in on Stevi’s plans occasion. It is a good place to be. Ha Ha can’t spell my own name.
No wonder you’re such a smiley guy, Stevi’s taking care of you some. Should of asked her how to spell your name.
And I thought I was being rather dull!
Great pics of you, especially the medal one.
Dull? No, dahling, funny and charming. Thanks on the pics, you did well too, your FB profile pic is great.
lovely photos! putting on a clinic in how to look good at the finish line, I see
Hah, yeah, too bad I missed the first class.
This is silly, but my daughter is happy you run with bangs. She can’t, but hopes to someday when she won’t get busted at track meets for barrettes and headbands.
They don’t let her wear headbands or barrettes?!? That’s crazytalk!
Seriously, I never knew that could be a no-no for track girls.
It’s not a straight back problem, it’s a bent core problem
The shot from above is a good one. Very cool to have a chat with the Jack Daniels girl. Can’t wait to see how the next weeks and months pan out with the shift to the short stuff. Exciting times!
Good point, Ewen! I never do core work and always thought it was my back that was lacking, didn’t figure that was a core thing. Looks like I have some work to do.
I also plan on doing the “phillydistancehalfandrollmarasomething”..That is so great bc I was really confused as well with the name. Ive never run anything longer than the Broad Street 10 miler which I am doing this Sunday. My goal is the 1/2 in September which is an accomplishment since my son just turned 1. I’ll be looking for ya although Ill only see the back of your head as you are a lot faster than me but Im working on it. Seeing all your posts, the ups and downs keeps me motivated on my off days, so thanks!
Good luck this Sunday! That’s a fun race. Cool on you having the phillydistancehalfblahblahblah as your goal race, too. And don’t worry about the distance of a Half, it’s only a little more than Broad Street.
“This one” is a the weekend before St. George. We will have to search around for one we can all run. I love your finish line photos. You look ecstatic. Love ya girl, you know I do!-Jackie
Aw, Jackie, love ya right back and then some.
Pooh on the St. George closeness, but we’ll get it together before too long. We just gotta.