Goal #1 - sub 3:50 to qualify for Boston 2003.

Goal #2 - sub 3:40 because...it didn't feel quite possible, so a good challenge.

My taper was perfect. I felt better than I had in months. I'd been fighting some intense shin pain that really dictated my training schedule for the last 2-3 months. Just as I am trying to get back my long forgotten marathon base, my shins are forcing me to have numerous rest days. So I made those shorter runs count and took the rest days required. 1 week before the marathon and the left shin was still bothering me a lot. The taper, the hot tub, the massages and the chiropractor all seemed to begin working right on time though - the week preceding the marathon. Raced a 10k on the previous Sunday (44:51), ran 4 miles on Wednesday, and then another good 4 miles on Friday. The Friday 4 miler was at a good comfortable pace. It proved to me I was doing much better. I was ready. And I relaxed.

My running buddy, Steve Austin, his wife Karen, and I all went to the shore on Saturday to 'be there' with no last minute stress. We shopped a bit (a bit, right!) at the expo, drove the course and went to our 6pm sitting at the pasta dinner. I went to my room to relax about 8:30pm and slept very well that night. (very unusual the night before a marathon!)

Race morning. As predicted, the weather certainly wasn't the best. Pouring rain for hours before the start. 19 MPH head winds. Ugh. About 52 degrees. That was good, at least.

Steve, who was also hoping to qualify for Boston with a sub 3:30, ended up with some strange pain in his stomach/bladder area and wisely decided not to run. He and Karen therefore drove me to the race and parked in the appropriate lot to hang out for an hour. After 3 trips to the nice indoor bathrooms, I cut my drivers loose (they wanted breakfast!) and went to the other parking lot to drop off my warm clothes.

Started out in shorts, rain/wind vest, long sleeve throw-away cotton shirt, hat, gloves, and the required plastic dress, that looks amazingly like a trash bag! Tore off the plastic dress a mile or so into the race. Tossed the cotton shirt about 5 miles into the race. (Found a truck to donate it to.) The rain had subsided a bit, so at least it wasn't pouring anymore.

The cotton shirt would have gone sooner if it was still pouring. We came out of The Hook at 10.5, going over the only hill on the course. Saw Steve and Karen just after the 1/2 (which I did in 1:49:24, by my watch) and gave him my vest. It was chaffing my arm to bits and it was sticking to me anyway, so away it went. At this point, I'm running very comfortably in jog bra and shorts, running hat and gloves. I didn't really need the gloves, but I kept spilling the Ultima, which I had started drinking fairly early and continued with throughout the run. I definitely didn't want the distraction of sticky fingers, so I kept the gloves on the whole race. I tested the hat a few times to see if I could get rid of it, but rain spitting in my eyes was more bothersome, so it stayed put too.

Any time I took GU, I walked briefly through the next water stop to make sure I got enough water in me, rather than just on me. My first GU was at mile 8, then 15, then 1/2 of one before 19, 1/2 during 22 and 1/2 during 24. I get tired of them, so I give myself smaller, more frequent doses at the end. I also stepped behind a truck just before 17 miles - ahhh, finally! I'd had to pee since the race began. All time well spent. I had pre-arranged with Steve to meet me when we came out of the Promenade area onto Ocean, with fresh socks and shoes, in case I wanted to change and I had the time to do it and still qualify. That was to be about 18.6. I had considered doing this rain or shine because during all my previous marathons, my feet began to kill me around this time and my lower legs start to feel like dead weight. I thought a pair of marathon-weight racing shoes would be a nice boost. I'd prepped the shoes with lace locks to make it quick. With all the rain, every step spit water out the toes of my heavy training shoes, and my feet and legs were bothering me as predicted, so I decided I would definitely change the hoes. And once decided, I was really looking forward to those fresh shoes! We came off the Promenade and the side roads were all barricaded off. I was deflated. I was sure he wouldn't be able to get through to me. I was already down to a 9 minute mile (17 with the pee stop, 18 and 19) and didn't feel like I could pick it up. Then, just before 20 miles, I see him! I yelled down the street - I need my shoes! He and Karen had camped out right at a light pole - boy was that handy to lean on! Off went the wet shoes and socks, on went some wild and dry Gizmo socks and dry racing flats. 1 minute later - back on the street and feeling great!!! I went from 9 minute miles to an 8:26. I did another 9 minute mile for 22 to get water, then back down to 8:23, 8:38 (more water), 8:28 and 8:04 for 26. Final .2 was in 1:40.

I was comfortable and feeling happy most of the way, except during times of really heavy head winds and miles 17-19.8, (which also had their share of head winds). I was talking to people - other runners, course monitors, course timers ("here (20 miles) is where the 2nd 1/2 of the marathon begins", I told him), spectators, volunteers. Cheered for another runner I knew twice on the course. Cheered for Janet Polizois, though I am not sure she recognized me, and later (about 23 I think) passed Leo Yanas. I was generally pumped up. The change of shoes helped a great deal. Although my feet still hurt a lot, at least my legs had relief from the weight of the old shoes and I finished very strong.

After the finish on the track, I stood in line for my warm clothes, then in another for the best post-marathon massage I have ever gotten, and then found some food. Two cups of nuts and cereal mix. YUM!!

Back to the hotel to shower, take a 45 minute nap, and then out to dinner. Mostly margaritas actually. My post-race drink of choice. I learned how to do this properly with the Wimpies Runners in Texas, after all!

Oh yes - and best of all - I made Goal #1!!!! Boston 2003, here I come! It's been a few years since I've run enough to qualify again, but I finally made it! 3:44:13. 5th master, 3rd AG (after 1st overall gets bumped up out of the age group, which they said she will). I averaged 8:33 per mile.

I have all my splits and heart rates, except mile 4, if anyone (except Steve Fisher!) wants to analyze them to make me faster!

Wineglass - October 6th, 2002 will be marathon #25.

Goal #1 - sub 3:40.

Goal #2 - sub 3:35.

I've only broken 3:30 once (Boston '95 in 3:26) so I am keeping that goal for later, when I know my base is really back.

If you made it through this, thanks for reading! I hope to see you at the

races this summer!

Carpe Viam,

Pam