About a year ago, I was making fun of the Boston Marathon's reputation as a "hard" course, even though I had not even qualified for it, let alone run it. So I got this anonymous comment:
You're foolish to blow off Boston like you did, which is why it turns "tough" course runners into mints meat EVERY year-don't be fooled by it's profle! Even Ryan Hall who ran it in practice, trained for it after, still said aftward, "It's much harder a course than I thought." It's harder on your legs to run down hill than up, especially at the marathon distanceThe anonymity of the Internet makes people ignorant jerks, and I am no exception. So in my response, I made several boastful predictions. That in the following year, I would:
- Qualify for Boston
- Run a PR in Boston
- Feel great at the finish
- Run up and down 12 flights of stairs screaming "Ryan Hall is a weenie!".
So how did my predictions pan out?
1. Qualify
Success. I had tried in 2008 to qualify in the local City Of Oaks, but that was a colossal failure. But I am lucky enough to have the time and money to travel to nice flat and easy marathons. So I ran the Bayshore marathon in Michigan, and managed to eek out a qualifying time. I improved on it a little in Detroit in the fall.
2. Run a PR
Success, by a mere 43 seconds. I will provide details in a race report tomorrow, but it was so improbable that I still cannot believe it.
3. Feel great
FAIL. I have to eat my words here. Mr. Anonymous was right, Boston did in fact turn my legs into "mints meat". More accurately, the muscles in my legs have the consistency of overripe bananas that have been pummeled with a wooden mallet.
4.Run up and down stairs
FAIL. Right now stairs require both hands on the railing, and the way I am waddling around, I can't call anyone a weenie. My next run is in the distant future.
I guess the "Smack down" was on me.
A full race report and Shannon's pictures coming up next...
Shannon took this picture of a pummeled banana as we waited for the start, foreshadowing what was to come... |
That banana is so incredibly disgusting. Just for the record, I did not crop the image like that.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha! I love this. I also underestimated the hills of Boston and still two days later cannot walk down stairs, bend over or sit down without pain. It was all so worth it though!
ReplyDeleteUh, didn't you guys just run 50 miles like two weeks before Boston? I think that MORE than makes up for the #3 and #4 FAIL. I also seem to recall you losing your calf for a while.
ReplyDeleteSure, Boston's hills are scary. If you're from Flatlandistan. But I'll probably never know first hand(foot), being a slowpoke.
Nice job. Are those bananas race shwag? (that word is stupid)
ReplyDeleteBoston is a great road race, but one should never compare road races to trail races.... they are completely different beasts. Net downhill road races like Boston goes a number of the legs like no other. Hiller races like Umstead has it's own level of difficulty but at least is on gravel/dirt. Regardless, Anthony & Shannon are clearly good consistent runner freaks! I mean, 2 ultras, 2 marathons and numerous 5Ks & 10Ks all in 3 months!?! and all in great times too! Great job guys! get some rest!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the PR. No FAILs there! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteSorry . . . but you can't run a marathon and fail! Your times were awesome! And I didn't hear you say you felt like you left a lot on the course! I agree with Shuwen . . . except for the "get some rest!" part! You are both inspirational! And a ton of fun!!
ReplyDeleteAnthony is a weenie, but I still love him. I climbed 12 flights of stairs just a moment ago, just so you know. With true sincerity, awesome run Anthony and Shannon!
ReplyDeleteThanks everybody! It felt good to have so many friends cheering us on.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is time for us to rest, volunteer, and cheer on others!