After a full weekend of denial (it couldn't possibly be as hot as predicted), my new friend Lisa (who I met on the bus to Hopkinton) and I threw out all hopes of PR's and re-qualifying and decided we would start the marathon at a conservative (I thought) pace of 9:30 miles. We kept right on target for the first few miles. By mile 8, I started feeling tired and told Lisa I couldn't maintain the pace. Sadly, I watched her fade into the distance. At mile 10, I was really tired and started to feel light-headed. I had abandoned hopes of a 4:30 race. I wondered whether I could even finish. I do not do well in the heat. I took a Clif-shot (with caffeine and electrolytes), made a pit-stop and felt a little better. OK, I thought I'll just take it slow, drink a lot of water and Gatorade and hopefully make it to the end.
Pat and I had agreed he would meet me somewhere around mile 21. He probably would not run with me this year as he had last year because he had a bad cold. I tried to focus on just seeing a familiar face after mile 20.
The reports are right, the crowds are great - the screaming at Wellesley, the guy singing "Ring of Fire" on a stage on the sidelines, etc, etc. It all helps, but it was still a pretty miserable next 10 miles.
I was sore all over and noticed my calves were starting to cramp up. At about mile 20 an empty gallon jug blew in front of me. I lifted my right leg to step over it and got a severe charley horse in my right calf. I looked around wildly, trying not to fall over. A couple of policemen nearby asked me "Ma'am, are you alright?" "No", I said, "hold me up". They did and helped me hop over to the barricades on the side. I was able to stretch out the cramp in a few minutes. After reassuring the police that I didn't need to go to the medical tent, I started walking. Both calves started to cramp every time I tried to run. Oh, well, I'll just walk, I thought. I'll see Pat soon and tell him I'll see him again in a couple of hours.
I continued to walk and pretty soon, there he was - in shorts and a t-shirt! My knight in shining armor! - He is going to run with me! After a hug and kiss and someone took our picture, I told Pat about my cramping. L- I can't run, I can only walk. P - Have you been drinking? L - Yes water at every stop, Gatorade every other stop. - pause - P - OK, here's what I want you to do - at the next water stop, take two cups of Gatorade and drink all of it. L - UGH! it will make me sick. P - No, it won't. Do it. You're cramping because you need electrolytes. And so I did- at every water stop- and was able to start running again, albeit slowly.
The rest of the race was slow, but at least I was able to run. Pat kept telling me - remember this is Boston. It is so great to be here. Focus. Go forward. This is great. Feel the energy. Focus. Go forward.
Finally there was the Citgo sign. The end was near. As we rounded the last corner, Pat slipped off the course and said he would see me at the family meeting area. I could see the finish. Hooray! I actually picked it up a little and ran - can't quite say "kicked it" -across the finish line. I had just finished a personal worst marathon (5:10), probably the hardest marathon I've done. But I finished, and I treasure my finisher's medal.
Lowpoint of the weekend: Mile 20 - the cramp.
Highlights: Meeting my sister for brunch Sunday morning. The expo - Boston has the greatest expo. Getting Greta Waitz's autograph on my number (I'm going to frame it, even though I had a PW). Hanging out with Reston Runners before the race. The policemen who helped me. Seeing Pat at mile 21. Crossing the finish line.