You guys are a piece of history!
Congrats to Jenn, Caputo and Mary on the PRs and Claudia I saw you rocked out!
You guys are such an inspiration, I wish I was there to watch! But I thought of your hard work and tried to picture you running up Heartbreak Hill and I thought this is the reason Boston is great!
I hope you remember these moments always, what an accomplishment!
Lots of love, Megan
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
You all rocked it, I'm so proud!
A big congrats out to all of those who ran! I hope everyone was happy with their times, effort, and raceday experience. I think that the training leading up to the big show is just as memorable and important as the race itself. So, if you didn't meet your goal I hope you can reflect on how much fun (at times!) training has been for you.
I wish I could've met up with you all pre-race in the village, but the wave 2 buses were uber late.
I had a great time, the crowd support was unbelievable!
Though it was a great experience
, I plan to be in better shape/hopefully injury-free for my next Boston.
Take it easy before the "what will my next marathon be" planning ensues!
-claudc
I wish I could've met up with you all pre-race in the village, but the wave 2 buses were uber late.
I had a great time, the crowd support was unbelievable!
Though it was a great experience
, I plan to be in better shape/hopefully injury-free for my next Boston.Take it easy before the "what will my next marathon be" planning ensues!-claudc
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Absent Spectator
Congratulations to all those who ran! Y'all put up some impressive times. I was quietly cheering at my computer screen, wishing you could hear me, refreshing way more often then you were each going to hit another 5k marker. Quite exciting. I can't wait to read your post race posts ;D The BAA had a great website set up where you could find runners and "track" them (up to 5) through each 5k split. It updated your pace and projected finishing time! I was totally rooting for each of you every mile!
In other spectator news, we did watch the marathon coverage on TV -- the womens race turned into an exciting battle to the finish! We watch as 10 becomes 6... 6 becomes 2... coming down to the wire as the miles are ticking past. The women have been running for 2 hours 20 minutes and the announcer informs us, it could come down to these last 4 minutes (CRAZY AWESOME!), the finish, the kick, who looks stronger, which one will win? 12:00pm sharp, two ladies battling to the finish, rounding the corner at Boylston, we're on the edge of our seats to see who will pull away, who will hang on, and who will win. It's a battle of epic proportions... or, wait, check out this driver, GOLF channel!? what the?! We're sitting there stunned, what just happened? Where did the feed go? Who won? Did she surge, did she come back, did she pull away? My friends, by the time we got the podcast going it was over. We watched the finish of the mens race and the laurel wreaths awarded, even the baseball game when that was all over, but the end of the womens race... NO, that was not to be. We have sent several angry emails to VS, who in the final minutes of the closest womens finish in the history of the Boston Marathon, shut down their feed and put on an infomercial for a pivoting driver that "lets you know" when you've got a bad backswing! Rediculous. Apparently the savvy absent spectator relies on multiple modes of media in case stupid cable channel executives pull the plug on the sporting event you've invested 2.5 hours of your life on watching to the conclusion (including watching their tons of commercials) to put on some random and irrelevant paid advertising. Next time we'll know. Or next time we'll just RUN BOSTON. ha!
Hey ladies, Congratulations again on a great race!
In other spectator news, we did watch the marathon coverage on TV -- the womens race turned into an exciting battle to the finish! We watch as 10 becomes 6... 6 becomes 2... coming down to the wire as the miles are ticking past. The women have been running for 2 hours 20 minutes and the announcer informs us, it could come down to these last 4 minutes (CRAZY AWESOME!), the finish, the kick, who looks stronger, which one will win? 12:00pm sharp, two ladies battling to the finish, rounding the corner at Boylston, we're on the edge of our seats to see who will pull away, who will hang on, and who will win. It's a battle of epic proportions... or, wait, check out this driver, GOLF channel!? what the?! We're sitting there stunned, what just happened? Where did the feed go? Who won? Did she surge, did she come back, did she pull away? My friends, by the time we got the podcast going it was over. We watched the finish of the mens race and the laurel wreaths awarded, even the baseball game when that was all over, but the end of the womens race... NO, that was not to be. We have sent several angry emails to VS, who in the final minutes of the closest womens finish in the history of the Boston Marathon, shut down their feed and put on an infomercial for a pivoting driver that "lets you know" when you've got a bad backswing! Rediculous. Apparently the savvy absent spectator relies on multiple modes of media in case stupid cable channel executives pull the plug on the sporting event you've invested 2.5 hours of your life on watching to the conclusion (including watching their tons of commercials) to put on some random and irrelevant paid advertising. Next time we'll know. Or next time we'll just RUN BOSTON. ha!
Hey ladies, Congratulations again on a great race!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Taper Time!
Who is excited for the taper?
Stef and I did our last 20 this past Saturday and it went very well...we ran 7 miles to the start of the DC marathon, then did 10 miles in the race which was great for drinking water/gatorade, and then we veered off course to do the last 3 miles back toward our houses. We were planning on ending at the Memorial Bridge on the Virginia side, and we were literally 100 m from the end of the bridge, when Stef went down....just tripped! She tore up her hands a little bit, but she was ok....talk about ironic! Only a few more steps to go! We walked to the metro from there and took that back the last mile. Thank god for that Metro. And I actually kind of hurt my hip toward the end of the run...I think I strained it a little bit somehow. I took yesterday off and it's feeling much better today and I got new running shoes (gotta break them in before the race!) so I think that will help too.
Did everyone get their race info? My mom called me the other day all excited cause I had it sent to my parents house....she was like, "You got somethin about the marathon!" She checked and I'm in the first wave...I think I'm like 12,000 something. Did you guys get your packets?
I must say I'm pretty excited about the taper! All the really hard work is behind us...now we just need to do our runs, not do anything crazy, and stay healthy :)
Caputo
Stef and I did our last 20 this past Saturday and it went very well...we ran 7 miles to the start of the DC marathon, then did 10 miles in the race which was great for drinking water/gatorade, and then we veered off course to do the last 3 miles back toward our houses. We were planning on ending at the Memorial Bridge on the Virginia side, and we were literally 100 m from the end of the bridge, when Stef went down....just tripped! She tore up her hands a little bit, but she was ok....talk about ironic! Only a few more steps to go! We walked to the metro from there and took that back the last mile. Thank god for that Metro. And I actually kind of hurt my hip toward the end of the run...I think I strained it a little bit somehow. I took yesterday off and it's feeling much better today and I got new running shoes (gotta break them in before the race!) so I think that will help too.
Did everyone get their race info? My mom called me the other day all excited cause I had it sent to my parents house....she was like, "You got somethin about the marathon!" She checked and I'm in the first wave...I think I'm like 12,000 something. Did you guys get your packets?
I must say I'm pretty excited about the taper! All the really hard work is behind us...now we just need to do our runs, not do anything crazy, and stay healthy :)
Caputo
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Caputo Update
Hey guys!
Mary, I love your color-coded map...that was a great story. Thank god you flagged down the minivan mom! And Jenn, that link is pretty hilarious. That's exciting to know the marathon banners are already up and people are training on the course.
My half marathon a week and a half ago went well...I came in 3rd overall and won $50! Woohoo! I ran out way too hard and at the first mile I heard my split and literally said SHIT. But then I slowed way down and managed to maintain a steady pace for the rest of the race. I was running with this one girl for a while which was so helpful cause we were able to work together...and then I passed her on a hill hehe. So overall, very psyched about the half marathon.
This past weekend I did a 16.5 miler with Tocco and Sheeds in and around DC. Part of the run we did through the Smithsonion zoo which is always interesting...a lot of the animals were still inside the buildings cause it was around 8:00 am on a saturday...but we did see an emu and some random pygmy horses that were outside.
So right now, I have this awful cough and have been hacking up a lung all day. I stayed home from work and took the day off from running...so hopefully I am better soon to get back to running! It sucks being sick....I hate not being able to do normal, everyday things. On that note, I am getting my ass to bed, so I can get better soon :)
Happy running!
Caputo :)
Mary, I love your color-coded map...that was a great story. Thank god you flagged down the minivan mom! And Jenn, that link is pretty hilarious. That's exciting to know the marathon banners are already up and people are training on the course.
My half marathon a week and a half ago went well...I came in 3rd overall and won $50! Woohoo! I ran out way too hard and at the first mile I heard my split and literally said SHIT. But then I slowed way down and managed to maintain a steady pace for the rest of the race. I was running with this one girl for a while which was so helpful cause we were able to work together...and then I passed her on a hill hehe. So overall, very psyched about the half marathon.
This past weekend I did a 16.5 miler with Tocco and Sheeds in and around DC. Part of the run we did through the Smithsonion zoo which is always interesting...a lot of the animals were still inside the buildings cause it was around 8:00 am on a saturday...but we did see an emu and some random pygmy horses that were outside.
So right now, I have this awful cough and have been hacking up a lung all day. I stayed home from work and took the day off from running...so hopefully I am better soon to get back to running! It sucks being sick....I hate not being able to do normal, everyday things. On that note, I am getting my ass to bed, so I can get better soon :)
Happy running!
Caputo :)
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!
hello my marathon running buddies!
happy easter! but more importantly - happy 'one more hard long run till taper time'!
i assume most of you are running your last 20ish run next weekend....and let's be honest...is that not the best news ever?!? :)
i'm pumped.
this weekend i ran 18 on the course again.....and at this point, i think i've memorized every nook and cranny on heartbreak hill (by the way, check out this piece on heartbreak...it will make you laugh....http://www.lava.net/~marathon/H_Hill.html.) it was nice to finally not run in rain or hurricane force wind gusts...though it was still a bit more windy than i would have liked....but i suppose the elements make us stronger runners, right? anyways, the course was packed with people training for boston, so that was fun and motivating.
today i ran an easy 8 along the charles....and finally switched to my race-day shoes. have you guys started breaking those in yet?
how is everyone feeling in general? hopefully no one is suffering from any major aches/pains/injuries.
also wanted to report that while walking around downtown boston today, i noticed that the marathon banners are now up on the lamp posts in the city!!!! yay...that's exciting. race day is almost upon us.
well....i will leave you with some images to get you psyched up.
enjoy this last week before taper time!!!
jenn
ps - mary, my FRIEND adam has done some more runs with me....and we've hung out a few times with other people....but nothing more than that. i'm still just trying to get to know him....will keep you posted.
happy easter! but more importantly - happy 'one more hard long run till taper time'!
i assume most of you are running your last 20ish run next weekend....and let's be honest...is that not the best news ever?!? :)
i'm pumped.
this weekend i ran 18 on the course again.....and at this point, i think i've memorized every nook and cranny on heartbreak hill (by the way, check out this piece on heartbreak...it will make you laugh....http://www.lava.net/~marathon/H_Hill.html.) it was nice to finally not run in rain or hurricane force wind gusts...though it was still a bit more windy than i would have liked....but i suppose the elements make us stronger runners, right? anyways, the course was packed with people training for boston, so that was fun and motivating.
today i ran an easy 8 along the charles....and finally switched to my race-day shoes. have you guys started breaking those in yet?
how is everyone feeling in general? hopefully no one is suffering from any major aches/pains/injuries.
also wanted to report that while walking around downtown boston today, i noticed that the marathon banners are now up on the lamp posts in the city!!!! yay...that's exciting. race day is almost upon us.
well....i will leave you with some images to get you psyched up.
enjoy this last week before taper time!!!
jenn
ps - mary, my FRIEND adam has done some more runs with me....and we've hung out a few times with other people....but nothing more than that. i'm still just trying to get to know him....will keep you posted.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Mary and John's Long Run Adventure
On Saturday John and I went for a long run. I think I've mentioned that he is running a marathon in Denver about a month after Boston....so we had a great plan. We parked the car a few miles from our house, a little outside of town where you can get to all these lovely farm roads, some dirt and some paved, very scenic, very hilly. John wanted to run 15 miles, so we mapped it all out so that he would do a loop ending at the car and run 15, and I would run back home, doing 20. Well, the problem was, we planned this all via the trusty internet and never actually drove our route to make sure it actually made sense....and, well, I will tell the rest of my story via a color coded map:
Here's the key:
Start at the yellow star and follow the route counterclockwise (i.e. go south first)
Purple line = Our planned route (about 16 miles, after which I was to run home)
Red dotted line = Route we actually ran. We missed our turn, whatever, we'll just take the next left, it will still go the same place, right? Hmm, this is getting long, Sorry John, you might end up running a little more than 15, but no problem, we can't be that far away.
Red frowny face = Point at which we saw our other route come in....and noted that we had been running for 2 hours and 55 minutes and we still had about 8 miles to go!
Blue line = Portion of route that we walked, after having run for about 3:25
Green line = Portion of the route that we hitchhiked, in a soccer mom's minivan, at my insistence....I was hungry and was NOT walking the five miles back to our car! And boy, was it a great decision.
And the final red-dotted portion: The soccer mom dropped us off to head up to town, I ran the last mile or so to the car (painfully) and John walked and I picked him up. I think I totaled about 21.5 miles, which really isn't anything crazy, but it felt long with all the adventure. Then we went home and watched our Netflicks DVD of Freaks and Geeks which I thought would be stupid and then found myself vegging out on the couch in front of it for three hours...it's so funny!
What a great way to spend a Saturday. I can't believe it's Friday again....and one month till the Marathon. I'm doing 12 miles this weekend, then one more 20+ next weekend, then it's taper time. Hope training and work and life are going well for everyone. Post away!
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