The Privilege Of Being A Runner Part 2 Boston '08

OK, back to the grind.

Good news, 10 miles down and feeling pretty good. Bad news, 16 more miles and those 4 Newton hills. Miles 11 and 12 went down pretty easy in the big scheme of things. Again like some of the previous parts of the race, I honestly don't remember those 2 miles or even what my thoughts were at the time. I know at this point in races I invariably think about my family and how fortunate I am. I consider all the good things about this world and the not so good things that all too frequently could be changed or at least improved. I know I am a pretty simple guy who loves his family, values his life, loves having the ability to run, and maybe thinks just a little bit too much. A little before the half way point of the Boston Marathon is the section known as the "scream zone". There is really no way to describe it, but I will do my best. Close your eyes for a second and imagine yourself sitting at your kitchen table. The room is filled with people and every single one of them is holding a bullhorn up to his/her mouth and screaming at you. I'm not kidding... it is truly that loud and you can hear them from almost a mile away. I stayed in the middle of the road this time, letting my fellow runners get close to the Wellesley girls and their amazing outpouring of support. At this point, we are through the half marathon in just over 87 minutes. I know from experience that the second half will take considerably longer. We have had a pretty steady 10 mile per hour headwind the whole way that now seems just a little bit stronger. I am also aware for the first time that I am thirsty, despite managing to drink at pretty much every mile... I guess you notice everything a little more as you start to get tired. Miles 14 and 15race on past and my running partners have dropped back. As happens so often in the marathon, disaster strikes quickly and with a heavy hand. They were with me a couple minutes ago and now have been swallowed up by the oncoming swarm of runners. Mile 16 has us flying downhill into Newton Falls where we face our first climb up over highway 128. It is the 1st of the 4 Newton Hills and I honestly don't notice it until I am at the top... I guess I must have been pretty deep in thought! Mile 17 is where the road makes a sharp right turn onto Commonwealth Ave. and the second of the Newton hills. I certainly notice this one as I make my way up to the top. It seemed to attack my legs and make them feel heavy and inflexible. A level section for about a mile or so brought us to the base of the 3rd hill... when running Boston, those level sections are few and far between and seem to go by just a little faster than the ups and downs. The 3rd hill is very steep, but mercifully short. It hit me pretty hard, but I kept a good pace and even managed to pass a few of my fellow runners on the way up. Here, I begin to notice that it has gotten much warmer and can feel the sweat running down my face. A relatively short, flat section has us facing the infamous Heartbreak Hill. I climb and climb making steady progress on my way to the top. I am keenly aware that I am losing some time, but can only manage the same pace as the runners around me. We seem to move in a pack though, swallowing the many runners who have been beaten by this brutal course. This hill is the proverbial coup de grace. The carnage is unbelievable and there are far too many of them, head down and shuffling along in pain and utter disappointment. For those fortunate enough to make it to the top of Heartbreak, the reward is the appreciative cheers of the assembled masses. The crowds of people are huge and their shouts of encouragement carry us along as we finally hit the downhills. I want to go faster, but this time my mind has no sway over my legs. We move past Coolidge Corner and the energetic cheers of the Boston College students. I've managed to pick up the pace and begin to pass a few runners who cannot take advantage of the final couple miles. In the distance, I can see the famous Citgo sign and know from there I will survive the beating this course has given me over the last 2 and half hours. Finally, the top of the Citgo hill is reached and then there is a short right and then a left onto Boylston street for that last quarter mile to the finish. But first something amazing happens. I look to my left and there is a wheelchair athlete struggling to get up this last hill before Boylston Street. I almost want to reach out and pull him with me as I speed on past. Instead, I reach down and gently pat his back telling him that he is almost there and continue on my way. I move to the left side of the course, trying to get as close as possible to the screaming throngs of people. I'm really moving now and just as I reach my full sprint, here comes my wheelchair guy. This last couple hundred yards is flat and we race to the finish. I'm running all out and he is slapping those wheels, trying to get them to turn faster and faster. I honestly don't know if Wheelchair #2 beat me to the finish and I really don't care. We raced Boston together as equals, both having put in our time in sweat and miles and sacrifice.

The Boston Marathon is an unforgiving adversary and those fortunate enough to have finished had finally beaten back it's challenge. The marathon always changes you..it makes you appreciate things just a little bit more or somehow allows you to see life with just a little more clarity. The little inconveniences and annoyances that seem such a big deal, seem to fade away and all that is left is the good stuff. The nitty gritty, the barest of bones, that is the privilege of being a runner.

Time 2:59:10

Finished 1113 out of 21963