This is the email I wrote to my friends and family after I got back from the Boston Marathon. I hope to write a longer post on the experience later. I felt like I needed to get this out there so anyone who has been waiting to hear about my race here you go. While the race was not as planned the experience of Boston is the greatest pre-race experience I have ever been part of.
Hello Friends and Family,
I thought it might make sense to just send out a mass email to all my friends and family about what happened at yesterday's Boston Marathon. I'm going to give the somewhat abbreviated version since I am laying in bed and my skull is pounding.
It started like any other race day. I ate the same things I always eat, at the same time I always do. It was already in the 80's before we even started and I could tell due to the fact I was already sweating before we even started. That's not good for me but more on that later. My goal was 2:59:59 and the Boston Athletic Association had already send out numerous warning about slowing down and hydrating. They also took the unprecedented step of issuing you free entry into next year's race if you would withdraw. (they didn't want people dying and now I understand the true seriousness of the warning) If I hadn't trained so long and brought the wife and kids I may have withdrawn, but probably not because as you know I think I am indestructible and think fairly highly of myself. HA! At about mile 8 I knew I was in trouble. I went out normally, fairly slow keeping to my splits for each mile. At mile 8 I was about 30 seconds over where I should be and doubts were creeping in. I started getting pains in my sternum and the middle of my back. My fingers were getting tingly and I was honestly afraid I was having a heart attack which made me freak out a little. At mile 13 I was only 5 minutes over my pace and was happy in a weird way but new it was only a matter of time until I stopped. This is when I started thinking about what Red Cross station I was going to stop at. I really wanted to make it through Wesleyan College where all the girls go nuts. Imagine that. At mile 16 I think a volunteer nurse helped me make a decision that may have saved me from permanent damage. I was walking in the middle of the road, and mind you there are thousands of runners on the whole course it's insane, and she yells out to me, "are you okay?" I started crying and said "no". I walked over sat down and said I'm done. I was one of the hardest and most disappointing things I have ever had to do. I mean I put in a lot of miles, nearly 700 this year already, Emily has made tremendous sacrifices to help me get to here, Jason and Anne opened their home to my insane kids and were so amazing at getting us where we needed to be without any complaints. Not to mention all the people I had told I was running this, what my goal time was, etc, etc.. I had set expectations and had the utmost confidence I would smash them. Funny how 89 degree heat will throw a wrench in those plans. I got on an aid bus and went to the finish line. Jason, Emily and the kids picked me up and then the flight home from hell begun. In hindsight I should have gone to the hospital but money, flight changes, and my stubbornness thought otherwise. I am doing much better and am laying in bed as I write this. I will be going back to sleep once I get done with this but I felt I owed all of you an update or explanation on what happened. All of you on this, in one way or another supported me in life not just running and I was thinking about all of you as I was going home. It is overwhelming to know how many people care about me and I can at least show my appreciation by giving you a rundown of the events. I'm okay. I'm feeling much better and will not be running for awhile.
22,500 races qualified. 4500 withdrew before the race. Over 2500 quit during the race. Geoffrey Mutai, of Kenya and a previous winner, had to quit at mile 18 due to heat and cramps. Not bad company to keep in the quitting department.
Who knows what silver lining will come out of this. I'm not too worried about it. I tried hard, learned some lessons, and live to run another day.
A heartfelt thank you to every single one of you for your thoughts, prayers, and good vibes you sent my way for this race. It will be alright.
Ben
Hello Friends and Family,
I thought it might make sense to just send out a mass email to all my friends and family about what happened at yesterday's Boston Marathon. I'm going to give the somewhat abbreviated version since I am laying in bed and my skull is pounding.
It started like any other race day. I ate the same things I always eat, at the same time I always do. It was already in the 80's before we even started and I could tell due to the fact I was already sweating before we even started. That's not good for me but more on that later. My goal was 2:59:59 and the Boston Athletic Association had already send out numerous warning about slowing down and hydrating. They also took the unprecedented step of issuing you free entry into next year's race if you would withdraw. (they didn't want people dying and now I understand the true seriousness of the warning) If I hadn't trained so long and brought the wife and kids I may have withdrawn, but probably not because as you know I think I am indestructible and think fairly highly of myself. HA! At about mile 8 I knew I was in trouble. I went out normally, fairly slow keeping to my splits for each mile. At mile 8 I was about 30 seconds over where I should be and doubts were creeping in. I started getting pains in my sternum and the middle of my back. My fingers were getting tingly and I was honestly afraid I was having a heart attack which made me freak out a little. At mile 13 I was only 5 minutes over my pace and was happy in a weird way but new it was only a matter of time until I stopped. This is when I started thinking about what Red Cross station I was going to stop at. I really wanted to make it through Wesleyan College where all the girls go nuts. Imagine that. At mile 16 I think a volunteer nurse helped me make a decision that may have saved me from permanent damage. I was walking in the middle of the road, and mind you there are thousands of runners on the whole course it's insane, and she yells out to me, "are you okay?" I started crying and said "no". I walked over sat down and said I'm done. I was one of the hardest and most disappointing things I have ever had to do. I mean I put in a lot of miles, nearly 700 this year already, Emily has made tremendous sacrifices to help me get to here, Jason and Anne opened their home to my insane kids and were so amazing at getting us where we needed to be without any complaints. Not to mention all the people I had told I was running this, what my goal time was, etc, etc.. I had set expectations and had the utmost confidence I would smash them. Funny how 89 degree heat will throw a wrench in those plans. I got on an aid bus and went to the finish line. Jason, Emily and the kids picked me up and then the flight home from hell begun. In hindsight I should have gone to the hospital but money, flight changes, and my stubbornness thought otherwise. I am doing much better and am laying in bed as I write this. I will be going back to sleep once I get done with this but I felt I owed all of you an update or explanation on what happened. All of you on this, in one way or another supported me in life not just running and I was thinking about all of you as I was going home. It is overwhelming to know how many people care about me and I can at least show my appreciation by giving you a rundown of the events. I'm okay. I'm feeling much better and will not be running for awhile.
22,500 races qualified. 4500 withdrew before the race. Over 2500 quit during the race. Geoffrey Mutai, of Kenya and a previous winner, had to quit at mile 18 due to heat and cramps. Not bad company to keep in the quitting department.
Who knows what silver lining will come out of this. I'm not too worried about it. I tried hard, learned some lessons, and live to run another day.
A heartfelt thank you to every single one of you for your thoughts, prayers, and good vibes you sent my way for this race. It will be alright.
Ben
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