Denouement

Used mapmyrun to see how I ran after running with a battery-drained watch.  It was not as cold as Saturday morning, about 44F, similar to race-start conditions.  Lots of stretching, but also a bit too much walking around.  

I went the the elite technical meeting, and found out that I had been bumped up to having water support, so spent time in the evening going back into Boston with my bottles and gus. 

First of all, I feel awkward writing about my marathon when such a tragic event happened associated with this event, which affects many families negatively.  My race didn't go well, but my disappointment was promptly tempered by the tragic bombings at the Boston marathon today.

Last night I just got 4 hours of sleep, but that is not too uncommon, got a good night of sleep the night before.  I took 2 antidiarreheal medicines at around midnight.  For more rest laid in bed resting from 2:15 to 5am, though I couldn't fall asleep, I felt pretty rested.  I went to the elite buses early and at around 7:15 I took 75 mg of indomethacin and a third anti diarreheal.  This is what I normally do before a marathon. 

I met a girl named Kelly who had the same time goals as me yesterday at the elite meeting, so we rode up together and lined up together.  I had written on my arm my splits for each 5k for 2:44 at even effort, which was 19:25 per 5k, I was fine going under a bit in the first half, though it needed to feel easy the first half.  

I realized with about 7 minutes to the start that I forgot to put on glide.  Am I an amateur or what?  I also forgot something else that I still can't remember now.

Here are my splits and description:

Mile	Mile split	5k split	Comment
1	6:16		The front pack starts out SLOW, and most women were in that pack, I back off after perhaps 800m, wanting to keep it easy, and Kelly is in the back of that slow front pack. So we ran together for about 3 min!
2	6:11		There is a headwind, not bad but persistent, so I draft of ladies as much as possible, I feel by now that though I haven't felt my tonsillitis for days, that I felt off, like I was a bit sick
3	6:08	5k 19:10 or 19:11	I continue to draft in a small second pack, about 5 ladies
4	5:57		I start feeling better and pull out from the second pack, trying to chase some stragglers from the 40 person front pack which has started to fall apart
5	6:14
6	6:07	38:12	Feeling good but trying to hold back
7	6:08		Somewhere around 7 miles I start to feel like I am going to need to go to the bathroom early in the race, but I try to hold off
8	6:22
9	6:17
10	6:28
11	6:21
12	6:12
13	6:36		Right after the 12 mile marker I went to the portapotty, took a bit longer than a normal break, but not bad, probably cost me 30 seconds.
14	6:23
15	7:06		Right after the 14 mile marker I had to go to the bathroom again, not a fast experience, I have a bit of a cry in the marathon, because I feel bad, like this is going to be a miserable experience, stomach is upset, and I spend time trying to decide if stomach is strong enough for my 5 hour energy drink which is in my 25k water bottle stop, diluted by water (about 15.6 miles), I am upset about the time lost but feel like I could still be sub 2:45 if I go strong (had a 1 min cushion)
16	6:08		I get my pace back on track, stomach settles and I drink most of my 5 hour energy drink
17	6:40		There is a hill in here, and I don't take it as strong as I should, I am not focused on my watch but on my effort, I try to stay relaxed, a blond chick passes me and attacks the hill, another girl passes me whose goal was 2:46, another girl joins me and we trade off
18	6:44		The girl who I trade off with pulls ahead then falls on the asphalt, she seems to be ok (I talk to her) but falls behind for a bit, a little dazed, first Newton hill here
19	6:21		This is supposed to be a downhill mile, right? I feel like I need to go to the bathroom, but I try to hold off, because the men are about to pass, and no bathroom is close to the road
20	6:35		Small newton hill, men pass me right at the 20 mile mark
21	7:36		I find a bathroom at this mile and obviously spend some quality time in it, because this is a downhill mile!!
22	6:21		Try to get back into the race, legs killing, stomach sour
23	6:53		A bit of downhill, feeling deflated
24	8:03		I am considering how awful it is, all the effort I put forth to get in my best shape and to not get a PR (2:47:08), let alone the sub 2:45 I hoped for, I pass my mom and she takes pictures, I beg vocally for the downhill to stop, it is torturing me. I frantically search the side of the race for a bathroom, I find one and spend some more quality time there. People everywhere, and they noticed me hopping in the john, so when I get out there's some faint cheering, so I raise my hands and I get a large cheer and I get going again
25	6:52		I get into the groove in a limited way
26	6:49		An Asian dude passes me (I think from Japan) but he is going slow, so I keep with him for a while.  He doesn't like it and slowly breaks away.  What is with the hill out of the underpass.  I was going 6:35 pace before that
.22	1:24 (6:33 pace)		I hope no lady will zoom past me and none does, so grateful it is over

 So normally in a marathon I lose 25-90 seconds on bathroom breaks.  This time it was more like 4 minutes.  That only counts the actual potty time, not the overall effect of the abdominal upset.  I was also thrashed from the hills, and have a new respect for this course.  I should have trained more specifically for this course, more hills and downhill training, if I wanted to have my magnum opus here.  But I think I could have totally PRed modestly without the stomach issues.  When I crossed the finish line, there was more relief than disappointment.  I did not break down, I knew the issues were out of my control.  Kelly finished right before me and was really disappointed because she struggled with tunnel vision the last three miles.  I did perhaps make a mistake in taking so much indomethacin so close the marathon.  I have taken 50 mg without any stomach issue, but 75 was more uncharted territory. I did not cry until about 40 minutes after the race, and that was when I was trying to explain to my mom the work and emotional effort I put into the training for this race, because she doesn't really understand running.    

My stomach woes have continued to wipe me out this afternoon and evening (9 trips in 9 hours).  Watched a lot of coverage on the bombing, which occurred when I was in the shower.  Tired and emotionally drained. I am grateful that my mom and my friends are safe, but those injured and killed are someones family and friends.  I wonder how his bombing will affect race logistics at Boston and other races in the future?

Taking a week off of running.  Legs quite sore.  Walked alot around Boston though.  Visited China town (lame, but fun to see how overpriced their goods/massages are), Beacon Hill, the Massachussets State House, Little Italy.  

Flight home.  But first walked 25 minutes to a grocery store and found some pink and white frosted animal cookies for Mickie, his request from America.  Also brought home: handisnacks, fiber one bars, granola bars, trident, teddy grams, wheat thins, cinnamon toast crunch, easter candy for next year, candy for Ben's junk party.

Lost day--got home 5 minutes before midnight.

60 min elliptical, oil massage for $12 USD.  Commiserating lunch with Roberto.  He suggests doing Yokohama again in November.  I will think about it.

60 min elliptical.