| Author |
Topic: Boston RR (0 for 3 weather-wise). |
Doctor Wu
Cool Runner |
 posted Apr-17-2007 10:25 AM
   
Whenever I have a mediocre performance I don't really feel like talking about it but some of you said you looked forward to reading my report, so here goes...Forgive me if I ramble and don't follow the usual Boomer format. Since getting my PR last October and running Philly in November I never got fully motivated to train hard this winter and spring. So going into this my third Boston Marathon I only had about 420 miles YTD compared to +/- 650 in 2002 and 2003. I didn't do any speedwork since November and haven't lost the 10 pounds that I gained over the holidays. Then after doing a 20 mile race on March 25 and a hilly 24.5 miler seven days later I came down with the flu on April 2. Since getting over the flu I managed only three short runs to make sure everything was working and see if I could breathe normally. So with my training lacking I had already decided to use Boston as a training run in preparation for VCM on May 27. I drove down to Boston early Sunday morning beating the snow that was forecast for northern New England. Arriving at the expo I was disappointed that they had already run out of large teeshirts but the medium they gave me seems pretty big. The Hynes Convention Center is clearly too small for the expo and the place was a zoo. I walked around the hall once and left then headed up to Cambridge to meet some Coolrunners and some people from that other website for lunch. At 5PM I headed over to Milford where I had a hotel reservation. I prefer staying near the start then riding the free bus back to the Hopkington parking lot after the race. It's much quieter outside of Boston and the hotels are cheaper. After a big pasta lunch I wasn't very hungry and had a turkey sandwich for dinner. Race morning: Up at 6AM and down to the hotel lobby for a bagel, OJ and coffee. I went outside and checked out the weather: still raining and very windy but not too cold. I decided to wear shorts. Clothing: Double layer long sleeve blue Coolmax mock T, Mizuno singlet over the top, blue Race Ready shorts, RRS Coolmax boxer briefs (for extra insulation and to keep my hammies warm), Mizuno Elixir's, thin wool socks, Coolmax cap, cheap cotton gloves (and a dry pair of knit gloves in a plastic bag in my back pocket), and a genuine Maid 'O The Mist blue plastic rain poncho. I rode the bus from the parking area outside of Hopkington to the race village. The ride took an extra ten minutes and I heard somebody say they were looping the busses around from the south so they wouldn't go through downtown Hopkington and upset the residents. What a change from previous years when some people used to use the resident's front yards as open air latrines! It was raining hard when I got off the bus and I followed the crowd to the high school entrance. I was the last person to get in before secuurity guards said they were full. After that they would only let people in when some people went out. This was a very welcome dry warm place. I settled down on the floor on top of my spare plastic poncho and spent an hour there chatting with people. At 8:50 it was time to go out and get on the porta potty line. I have never brought so much extra clothing to a race and my official orange gear bag was bursting at the seams. I finally decided on the clothing described earlier but I wore an old pair of running shoes and socks when I went out and carried my race shoes, socks, Bodyglide, Vaseline and some napkins in a plastic bag. The athletic field where the large shelter-tents and porta potties were located was a conbination of mud and grassy puddles. The porta potty line was short but took forever. The potties were too disgusting to talk about. I was in the first wave and got out of the porta potty about twenty minutes before the start time. I looped around to the gear busses and dropped off my bag. It was very hard to hand in that bag with all the warm clothing but I think I had made the right decision. Then I walked around to the front of the school looking for a dry place to change into my race shoes. It was raining sideways and I made my way over to a covered doorway and squeezed my way in among the people cowering there. I managed to grease up my feet with Bodyglide and Vaseline without freezing them or getting them dirty. I put on my race shoes and threw the old shoes and socks in a garbage can. The time was 9:50 AM. I jogged down the street and got into corral #10 and two minutes later the gun went off. As the race began the rain had mostly stopped. The wind was in our faces but light so I settled in to an easy pace remembering to reel back my pace on the downhills. At about mile 3 I took off my plastic poncho but scrunched it into a ball and carried it for three more miles thinking it would rain and I would get cold. Finally I tossed it off to the side. I saw Jensparks at the 10k mark and almost knocked her over when she came out on the course to give me a hug. Somewhere around mile 11 there was a lake on the right and the wind picked up big time. It seems like from there to the finish the wind was in our faces with some big gusts occasionally slamming us. You could hear the girls at Wellesley College screaming a half mile away. I reached 13.1 in 1:54:04 and guessed if I was felling good I could maybe do a 3:48 which would make a very good training run. The headwind and occasional light drizzle was making me a bit cold and I wasn't in good enough form to ramp up my speed. I took it very easy down that big hill at mile 14 before the uphills started. My feet were soaked and cold in my thin Mizunos and all that Vaseline was squishy between my toes. I was no longer running 8:30's and had slowed to around 9's. I made my way up the Newton hills welcoming the extra work that I hoped would warm me up. Just before the top I reached the Boomer aid station and was handed a Gu and a bottle of Gatorade by Dtoce. This was great! From about miles 22 to the finish my feet were very cold and sore and I really wanted to walk but I knew that I would risk hypothermia if I stopped running. I was crawling along at about 9:30 pace and was estimating a finish just under four hours. That's what kept me going, foolish pride and stubborness. As I saw the final turn before Beacon Street my watch was at 3:57 and change. On the final home stretch I saw the finish banner in the distance and finally knew I had a 3:59 in the bag and crossed the line in 3:59:27. So it looks like I'm 0 for 3 in Boston weather wise: 2003, 75 degrees and wilting sun. 2004: 85 degrees. Then 2007, probably could have done much better if I was in shape. I won't post my splits since they're so pathetic. After a few days to let my quads recover I'll be determined to work hard for three weeks to be ready for VCM. I don't ever want to run another marathon undertrained. [This message has been edited by Doctor Wu (edited Apr-17-2007).]
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TammyM
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:02 AM
A sub 4 hr marathon is very good. I realize that you have the ability to go faster than that, but considering you were not that far out from having the flu, your training hasn't been where it normally is, and you ran in adverse weather conditions, I would say that your performance and your time were quite satisfactory. And since you have another marathon coming up fairly soon, you can just count this one as a training run for that marathon, where I'm sure you'll perform more up to your standards, although I'm quite impressed with your time at this one!  Good going Dr. Wu!
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ksrunr
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:07 AM
DR. Wu,Enoyed your race report. Tough conditions to run in for sure. ksrunr
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Barefoot Rick
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:13 AM
The Boston course is an enigma to me. It can be very frustrating. The best I could do in 4 tries was never even close to my best.Chin up! You did good with a sub-4 on the Beantown course. Believe me, it could have been a lot worse for you. BR ------------------
Barefoot Running ... So easy, a caveman could do it!" - Barefoot Rick @ www.barefootrunner.org
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Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:22 AM
Most of us here know what a strong marathoner you are as you ran a very good race last year. I forget the time but it was around 3:25, so the mystery of Boston doesn't detract from you as a marathoner. Even had you been well trained, yesterday's conditions posed at least a ten minute handicap. You will go get 'em another day. Meanwhile, another notch for you. Great report. Spareribs
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mariposai
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:26 AM
So... foolish pride and stubbornness has helped you to finish your "test run" under much less desirable conditions. Congratulations. I know the race was tough, but you were tougher. A sub 4 is still very impressive; some of us are dreaming and drooling over a sub 4.
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Coastwalker
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:36 AM
Hi Dr. Wu,If you can run under 4 when coming off the flu, and in somewhat less than ideal weather conditions, then VCM should be a piece of cake, and a joy to run this year! When you take into account all you had to put up with, this was an excellent training run! Jay
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La Tortuga
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:39 AM
It was greta to see you out there yesterday. You had your head up, a good pace and did not appear to be in any pain.Happy training for VCM!
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rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:46 AM
A great race report, Doc, if not a great race by your high standards (many of us would do anything for a sub-4 marathon). I am sure that you will be in much better shape for your next, and will do even better. I was wondering why I hadn't seen many (any) posts by you recently, but you have now explained your dire circumstances. Good luck for the rest of this season! ------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
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MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 11:58 AM
Dr. Wu, thanks for posting your race report. It sounds like it got pretty tough there at the end. Thanks for the warning on running undertrained. Good luck on VCM and the weather for your next Boston Marathon.Mark
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hazelrah
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 12:04 PM
Walt, Nice run and report. I am pretty sure that if I had qualified I would have stayed home given the forecast. I have never run a point to point course into a 20mph+ headwind, and have no desire to. I am sure you know the winners' times for both men and women race's were the slowest since 1985, and I think a good 7-8 minutes off last year's pace. Not to make excuses for you, but you should cut yourself 10-15 minutes slack when looking at your time. I think that would put you into the ball park of where you want to be. If I were a betting man, given the unusually cold spring we are having, I would bet 80F+ & humid for VCM (I don't like but I guess things happen that way -Yeah, I been listening to Johnny Cash). Congrats again on another successful Boston Finish !
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Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 12:32 PM
oh, pish posh, Dr. Wu! Not pathetic at all! The weather dealt another blow and you charged right on through. Be proud!
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evanflein
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 12:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mariposai:
A sub 4 is still very impressive; some of us are dreaming and drooling over a sub 4.
Amen to that! Good job under adverse conditions. (But I understand the stubbornness and pride comment completely!) Thanks for the race report. I always learn a lot hearing how more experienced runners prepare and run their races.... ------------------
evanflein
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perchcreek
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 12:40 PM
Dr. Wu... Yesterday's Boston was not one of finish time but of experience. You experienced one of the slowest Bostons ever and suffured and endured with the rest of the finishers. You also stacked the odds that the next time you tackle Boston, conditions will be perfct! Great job enduring!------------------
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pmcneb
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 12:45 PM
I am still in awe of all of you that finished .Your crawl of 9:30 is the fastest I have ever run. Cannot wait to hear the report from the next one in May. ------------------
Patty
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Canfit
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 12:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by evanflein:
Amen to that! Good job under adverse conditions. (But I understand the stubbornness and pride comment completely!) Thanks for the race report. I always learn a lot hearing how more experienced runners prepare and run their races....
Double "amen" to that! Great race and great RR too! It's tough enough just running the race, let alone all the energy being used up by everyone just getting to the starting line!
PJ
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deez4boyz
Member |
posted Apr-17-2007 03:51 PM
Nice job Dr Wu and great report!!you didn't happen to stop in the medical tent for a brief R&R after the race did you?? i took care of a man who told me he just got over the flu, but cant remember if he was wearing shorts or tights...........hope you're feeling much better and give yourself some well deserved recovery time!!
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littlerockgm
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 04:11 PM
You Wu me away. Great accompishment in some very adverse conditions. Nicely run within your limitations (flu, weather, etc) and with prior knowledge of the course. . Good running, good Dr. Jim
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Karl Rysted
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 04:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Econo:
oh, pish posh, Dr. Wu! Not pathetic at all! The weather dealt another blow and you charged right on through. Be proud!
What she said. ------------------
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Fortunate One
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 04:32 PM
Nice WU for VCM. It seems to me that you did great, all things considered, and can be proud that you finished in a respectable time. Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed RR. We who can get only a second-hand glimpse of Boston appreciate all the information we can get. Good luck at VCM.------------------
Fortunate--a volleyballer with a running problem
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bigapplepie
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 04:42 PM
Wu-hoo!
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cajohnson5
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 05:39 PM
I really appreciated all the details. Gave you a sense of being there. Congratulations on running Boston in less than ideal conditions -- I think you did great. cj
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 05:48 PM
Nice job, DrWu. Given everything working against you, you did well. You and all the other Boston marathoners are to be commended.TomS ------------------
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hally
Moderator of Boomers and Beyond |
posted Apr-17-2007 07:07 PM
Wu, you did great considering the flu and lack of training. I don't know where I was when you went by the water stop, sorry I missed seeing you. I also missed going to the CH get together, just was not into tromping around in the pouring rain anymore as I thought we'd be standing in it the next day.
Good luck in the VCM.
Barb
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vista129
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-17-2007 07:21 PM
Thanks for the good report.There is many GOOD points to be grabbed from this race that will do you well down the road. Congratulations on the good time ------------------
vista129
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