Boston Baked my Beans

Ok. It’s still a little early the day after the 2012 Boston Marathon. That’s the best headline I could come up with.

It was hot and grueling, but I made it. This was the most challenging marathon I have ever run since my first marathon. I was completely spent at the end and had nothing left to “run it in”.

It was all I could do to run down Boylston Street. When I turned the corner off of Hereford Street onto Boylston the thought of walking it in actually crossed my mind.

My legs ached and the finish line looked like it was a mile away. I knew it was only about a quarter-mile away and there was no way I was going to walk the last quarter-mile of this thing. In a flash the thought of walking was gone.

Hereford,boston marathon, boston baked my beans

Since I’m at work today and they expect me to get something done, and I’m a little tired, I’ll post my recap in a day or two.

Run well my Friends,

Andy

Notice to all 2012 Boston Marathon participants

The BAA posted this advisory to their website earlier today. I still plan on running the race but I will not be going for a PR. I think that saying that I survived and finished will be good enough. We may end up running the hottest Boston Marathon on record. Be safe.

Boston Marathon Advisory

We are looking closely at the current weather situation which is projected to be quite warm. The B.A.A. is closely monitoring this situation for race day decisions. If the temperatures reach certain levels, running will put even the most fit athletes at risk for heat injury. We are now making the recommendation that if you are not highly fit or if you have any underlying medical conditions (for example-cardiac disease, pulmonary disease or any of a number of medical problems), you should NOT run this race.

Inexperienced marathoners should not run.
Those who have only trained in a cooler climate and who may not be acclimated (for at least the last 10 days) to warm weather running conditions should also consider not running.

For those very fit athletes who decide to run, you should take significant precautions:

Run at a slower pace and maintain hydration.
You should frequently take breaks by walking instead of running.
This will not be a day to run a personal best. If you choose to run, run safely above all else. Speed can kill.
Heat stroke is a serious issue and is related to intensity of running as well as the heat and humidity.

Good hydration is important but over hydration can also be a problem. Thirst is an indication that you are under-hydrated. You should maintain hydration levels slightly greater than your hydration program in your training, but not excessively so.

Even the fittest athletes, that take precautions can still suffer serious heat illness. Recognizing symptoms of heat illness in yourself and others is critical , this may include headaches, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. If you experience any of these, stop running immediately and if symptoms persist seek medical attention.

Boston Marathon Co-Medical Directors, Dr. Pierre d’Hemecourt and Dr. Sophia Dyer

Go to www.baa.org GOOD LUCK PARTICIPANTS! Sincerely, B.A.A.

Run well my friends,

Andy

Great Bay Half Marathon 2012

was this Saturday in Newmarket, NH. I traveled to the race with friends and met more once we got there.

The Great Bay Half Marathon has a well deserved reputation for killer hills.

There are three significant hills and it seems like an endless series of smaller hills. Parts of this race are on country roads out in the woods and some of those roads are dirt. I could actually smell the woods! Some of this race is along the coast where you can see The Great Bay on one side and rolling fields on the other side. Just beautiful.

I thought the race was well-organized and my hat is off to Club Loco for producing another great running experience. My friends and I sat in a great pub on Main street for a little too long and missed the last shuttle bus at 3PM. One of Loco Mike’s crew was kind enough to give us a ride out to the industrial park where parking had been well-organized and coordinated for us runners.

I think most of us will be back next year. If you have never run this race, be sure to put it on your calendar for next year. This race is part of the Will Run for Beer Series.

Have a great day and thanks for reading.