We all ran for Boston

Words can not adequately describe (at least not my words) the experience that is the Boston Marathon. It is the Mecca for runners all over the world. And this year, all runners were in Boston, if not in person, in spirit. From the moment I arrived in Boston on Sunday, I could feel the energy in the city. Excitement, anxiety, anticipation, sadness, defiance, concern, joy. Each of the two previous times I have run Boston were incredible, but this year was very special. There are so many things that made this race unforgettable. Here are just a few:

MY RACE:
While the course is challenging and known for it's unforgiving 'Heartbreak Hill,' each of the two previous times I ran Boston were Personal Records (PRs) for me. At my last marathon in Hartford in October, I ran a PR 2:53:28. I had trained hard, I was feeling good, and I believed that another PR was a reasonable goal. I planned to run an average 6:36 min./mile pace, which would be a 2:53:00 finish time. I had studied the course elevation, and had a solid strategy that would get me to the finish.

I took the first mile slow according to plan, but soon found myself at a pace that was faster than where I wanted to be. By the half marathon point, I was about 1:30 min. fast. This may not seem like much, but if you have run a marathon, you know that going out too fast can result in burning too much fuel too early, causing you to run out of gas and hit 'the wall' later in the race.

That said, I was feeling good, the pace was comfortable, and I thought I might just be able to hang on to this pace and crush my previous PR. I made it through the legendary hills of Newton, and it was all downhill from there (both literally and figuratively). At mile 22, I knew I was in trouble and I started to struggle to maintain pace. By mile 24 I had slowed to 7:08, and somewhere in mile 25, I hit the wall like never before. My legs felt like cement, I was dizzy, and I was close to passing out. So, I walked. I knew my goal of a PR was now out of reach, and I assumed goal 2, which was to finish under 3 hours, was as well. At this point, I just wanted to finish. I had to finish. I managed to regain some strength and began running again. finally, there it was. Hereford Street. I was almost there. Right on Hereford, and left down Boylston, to the finish. After easily running a few miles at 6:17 early, it took everything I had to run 9:33 in the final mile. Not my smartest race, but I had survived, and surprisingly still managed to finish under 3 hours in 2:59:15. Here are my official splits...

THE RUNNERS:
Boston draws the best runners in the world. The elite of the elite. And, other than the Olympic Trials, it is the only marathon that you have to qualify for just to run it. You don't have to be a great runner to qualify, but you do have to be really, really good. Somewhere between the recreational runner and the elite. But it is not the qualifying runners that impress me most, it is those that have overcome personal challenges or are running for a cause. People like Dick and Rick Hoyt of Team Hoyt. A father & son team that started when Rick, diagnosed at birth as a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, told his father that he wanted to participate in a charity run. Since, Dick has pushed or pulled his son to complete over 1,000 races together, including triathlons, duathlons and marathons. Dick and Rick, now 73 and 52, finished their 32nd and final Boston Marathon in 7 hrs. 37 min. 33 sec. Amazing. There were other teams like Team MR8, running to raise money for a charitable fund created in memory of Martin Richard, the 8 year old boy killed at last year's marathon. I saw so many courageous athletes running (fast!) on one, or sometimes two, artificial legs. And believe it or not, I ran past two runners who were blind. Yes, BLIND! Imagine running 26 miles with 36,000 people, and you can't see! These are the athletes that truly inspire me.

Me and Dick Hoyt of Team Hoyt at the Boston Marathon Expo

THE CROWD:
Every inch along the 26 mile course from Hopkinton to Boston, both sides of the road, were filled with people. Over a million of them. Sometimes 5 or 6 deep. People on rooftops, shoulders and mailboxes. You could high-five people from start to finish. They had come out in force to support the runners, and they were LOUD! When my legs stopped working at mile 25 and I had to walk, they willed me to the finish. Thousands of them chanting my bib number "2-4-1-8! 2-4-1-8!" It was their mission to get me running again, and when I did, they erupted in celebratory cheers. All for a complete stranger. Nothing like it.

THE VOLUNTEERS:
The race organizers did an incredible job, as they do every year working out every detail to make this a safe and enjoyable experience for the 1 million + spectators and 36,000 runners. The logistics and numbers they have to manage are staggering. But without the volunteers, the race couldn't happen. This year 10,000 of them. And they had to turn away 5,000 more. From checking bags at Boston Common and getting soaked with Gatorade and water while offering much needed fluids on the course, to helping runners at the finish and handing out finisher medals and blankets, they were there to help. And remember how I struggled to finish? Well, I must have looked as bad as I felt, as one of these volunteers asked how I was feeling after crossing the finish line. When I couldn't manage to get any words out, they quickly put me in a wheelchair and got me into the medical tent, where I was attended to by medical staff. They checked my vitals, filled me with fluids and had me feeling better in 15 minutes. These are the people that make the race special.

FAMILY & FRIENDS:

The marathon requires hours and hours of training, and I could not do it without the support of my wife and two daughters. They tolerate my long runs, my sweaty smelly running clothes, and my obsessive and constant talking about running. My mom, brother, in-laws, nieces - all my biggest fans. And my friends. From close friends I have had for years, to new friends, some of who I only know through Facebook - all offering encouragement and well wishes. Without the support of everyone I would not have gotten through those difficult final miles.

Screen shot of a video made by one of
my biggest fans, my daughter Lola,
sent to me the night before the race.

THE WINNER:
Every year going into the race, there is hope that it will be the year that an American once again wins the Boston Marathon. A race (and sport) that has been dominated by Kenyans and Ethiopians since the early 90's. The last time an American won was 1985, when Lisa Larsen Weidenbach won the women's race. And you have to go back to 1983 to find an American that won the men's race. There were some strong US contenders this year that had a shot, but they weren't favorites, and would need to run exceptional races to win. With the names of the four people lost last year written on his bib, 38 year old Amercian Meb Keflezighi ran with emotion and won the 118th Boston Marathon! The first to do so in in 31 years, and the oldest in 83 years. It was a special race this year, and an American winner made it that much more so.

Me and 2014 Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi
after the 2009 Falmouth Road Race

There is still healing that needs to happen, and the events of last year will never be forgotten, but once again the BAA, runners, crowds and communities returned to celebrate the 118th running of the Boston Marathon, and took our race back.

Thank you Boston for an incredible experience!


 Have you ever had an experience that was so moving and memorable, you felt like words could not do it justice?

Boston here I come

I was driving home from Albany. A text. Three more. A missed call. My friends and family were trying to get a hold of me. "Are you at the marathon?" "Two explosions reported at the Boston Marathon finish line." What? A transformer? Fireworks? A bomb? It didn't make sense. I quickly turned to a news station. Nobody seemed to know exactly what had transpired, but as the reports came it soon began to look like the explosions were most likely bombs detonated with bad intentions. It wasn't until I had arrived home, turned on CNN, and saw the horrific scene that I realized the magnitude of what had happened. I was sick to my stomach.

I couldn't process what I was seeing, hearing, and feeling. So many emotions, so many questions. How could someone intentionally harm so many innocent people? Why would they target a sport and event as unifying as the Boston Marathon? I felt helpless and confused, so I turned to what has always helped me through difficult times. I laced up my shoes, and I ran. As I ran, I thought about all the victims who may have lost their lives or sustained life-changing injuries. I thought of the runners who had worked so hard to get there, only to have what should have been a celebration of accomplishment stolen from them. I wondered how this would impact a sport that has become a way of life for me, and change future Boston Marathons. I decided that if there was ever to be another Boston Marathon, I had to be there. I needed be a part of it.

In the following days and weeks we learned about the victims and heard incredible stories about the heroic and selfless actions of first responders, runners, and fellow citizens. Following tragedy, a city, nation, and running community began to heal. It was decided that there would be a Boston Marathon in 2014, and I registered at first chance. I ran the Boston Marathon in 2006, and 2011. Both were incredible experiences, but nothing will compare to what is sure to be an amazing and unforgettable day.

I've spent hours on the treadmill through this long, cold winter. I've put in the miles and hard work on the road. I've anticipated this race like no other. And as we get down to these last few days before race day, I can already feel emotions coming to the surface. I get choked up at every related story I see or post I read. I don't know how the race will go for me, but I know that regardless of my time, I will be part of something great on Patriots Day in Boston, and we will take back our sport, our race, the city of Boston, and our nation. We will celebrate.

Perhaps Stephen Colbert said it best: "...But here's what these cowards really don't get. They attacked the Boston Marathon, an event celebrating people who run 26 miles on their day off until their nipples are raw for fun! And they've been holding it in Boston since 1897. And do you know how tough you have to be to run in a whale bone corset? And when those bombs went off there were runners who after finishing a marathon, kept running for another two miles to the hospital to donate blood. So, here's what I know. These maniacs might have tried to make life bad for the people of Boston, but all they can ever do is show just how good those people are."

If you want to break people's spirit and determination, Bostonians and Marathoners are the wrong groups to go after.

Boston here I come.

Do you remember where you were on April 15, 2013? How did the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon affect you?

Hello, my name is Kevin.

Hello, my name is Kevin, and I'm a running addict. From the moment the starting gun went off at my first race 23 years ago, I was hooked. The energy of that event, the enthusiasm of the crowd, and the passion of the runners was contagious. I didn't realize it at the time, but my life would never again be the same. After that first race, I immediately wanted more. I wanted to recreate that experience, that feeling, again and again. I started frequently running 5k's, and dabbled in 10k's. But that was not enough. I soon moved on to the half marathon. I was training longer, running harder, and shaving minutes off my times every race I ran. I craved that feeling of adrenaline, that 'runner's high' when the endorphins kick in and create a sense of euphoria. I needed that fix. I decided to set my sights on the daunting marathon. In 1998 I ran my first marathon, and in 2005 qualified to run my first Boston Marathon. I had developed a serious habit.

That first race I ran was the storied Manchester Road Race in Manchester, CT on Thanksgiving Day. Since then I have run 23 consecutive Manchester Road Races. I have run countless 5k's, 10k's and halfs. I have run 12 marathons including the New York City Marathon and two Bostons. I will be running my third Boston Marathon in less than two weeks, a year after the tragic bombings at the finish line. Through running I have come to know the streets of Paris, Chicago, LA, Montreal, San Francisco, and so many other amazing cities. Admittedly I am obsessed, some might say addicted, but I believe it is a healthy addiction. I have managed to find a balance between my running, my challenging work schedule, and my busy family life. Running has made me a better person and allowed me to achieve goals and experience things I never imagined possible. Running is my way of life. It is part of me. My name is Kevin, and I'm a running addict.

Do you have a healthy obsession? How has it changed you?