RunningAHEAD - Topic: Last Chance for Boston, Columbus Ohio February 17th 2008, a race report

All About Running > Racing > Last Chance for Boston, Columbus Ohio February 17th 2008, a race report

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Last Chance for Boston, Columbus Ohio February 17th 2008, a race report (Read 335 times)

posted: 2/20/2008 at 2:15 PM

This is the race-report that I always wanted to write! YES I did qualify for Boston! I had the race of a lifetime. This was marathon number 11 and the fourth serious attempt to qualify! Here is a quick recap of previous disaster runs:
1. 5.4 seconds to late in Mississauga Marathon in May 2007
2. Diarrhea and hurling in Toronto International Marathon October 2007
3. Hitting the wall in the final 6 km up the Niagara escarpment 300 feet straight up 4 weeks later. Hamilton Marathon November 2007

The Last Chance for Boston is as the name suggests a Marathon for the desperate runner. And that was me! You run the same circle 26.2 times. It is flat and Ohio can get pretty cold at this time of the year.

The drive down from Toronto was nice except for 2.5 hours of Homeland Insecurity Border delay. Arrived late Saturday night in Columbus Ohio. The host hotel is 30 meters from the finishing line. Packet pick up and after race snack is done inside the hotel.

RACEDAY: +7 Celsius and RAIN. I felt sluggish after 3 weeks of tapering with way too much food. The 9 Hour drive was still in my body so I was concerned.

About 130 runners did the full M, several hundreds more did the 5K, 10K and ½ M.
We started a bit staggered to avoid congestion on the 1 Mile course. After 3 miles I lost track of how many rounds I had done. I was passing a lot of runners and I was passed myself by even more. I decided to keep going at the pace I started with. Body felt pretty good and I just kept going for 20 Miles not knowing how I was doing time wise. The rain let up after 1 mile and everything was just fine. I took a GU every 45 minutes, Gatorade every 2 miles.

After 2 Hours the number of people on the track was down and they started calling out how many miles you had done. My name was called after I had done 20.2 Miles and then I knew that I was pretty much right on a schedule for 3:25. I knew that I could do the final 6 miles and even hit the wall a bit without missing out on BQ.

So the last 2 miles I was just a giant smile, laughing and giggling to myself and everybody else around me. I passed the finish line in 3:27, ran to my hotel room and turned on the laptop and signed on to BOSTON 2008.

Afterwards I went back to the track and thanked all the helping hands handing out drinks and keeping the remaining runners moral up. This race also gives you pizza as post-race snack in addition to the usual bagels and fruit. A perfect race to BQ in!!!!

The drive home? Singing and smiling in the car all by myself, even the homeland insecurity people had disappeared, only a nice girl on the other side greeting “Welcome to Canada!”

Thanks to all of you Runningaheaders, the boost this site gives me has an absolute influence on my training and racing!!!!

Cheers Arne
Big grin

Goals 2008
1: BQ/PB <3:30:59 DONE FEB 17th BQ 3:27
2: Half ironman Done Aug 10
3: 2 or more M. DONE Feb 17th and BOSTON April 22.
4: Sprint tri Done July 5
Goals 2009
1: The NORSEMAN

Mike23

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posted: 2/20/2008 at 2:20 PM

Nice Job!! Congratulations.

modal

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Bloody Nipple

posted: 2/20/2008 at 3:05 PM

Quote from arneparne on 2/20/2008 at 2:15 PM:

2. Diarrhea and hurling in Toronto International Marathon October 2007 Dead

Thanks for sharing Wink

So the last 2 miles I was just a giant smile, laughing and giggling to myself and everybody else around me. I passed the finish line in 3:27, ran to my hotel room and turned on the laptop and signed on to BOSTON 2008.

What kind of pace were your running to the hotel?

Thanks to all of you Runningaheaders, the boost this site gives me has an absolute influence on my training and racing!!!!

Word! Amen! (aka I agree)

Oh yeah, congrats on BQ'ing.

March 7 & 8, 2009 - Join the RunningAHEAD.com Texas Independence Relay Team
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VixiDu

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learning to soar

posted: 2/20/2008 at 11:03 PM

Arne, thanks for coming and sharing your smile with us. I agree, this site and the people here do give your running a boost!

Have a GREAT race in Boston!

Karina

But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Is. 40:31)
Mile by Mile

rvelich

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Can't run? Go play.

posted: 2/21/2008 at 3:03 AM

Congratulations, Arne!

Rick
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa
"I wanna go fast." Ricky Bobby
runningforcassy.blogspot.com

offthecouch

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posted: 2/21/2008 at 6:24 AM

congrats! BQ _and_ able to drive home, impressive.

(good thing that the crew was keeping count of all the laps)

2008 Goals: 10k < 44, HM < 1:40, learn to use my Garmin

Captain Atom

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On to the Half!

posted: 2/21/2008 at 8:13 AM

Congratulations, Arne!
Wish I were going (someday. . .maybe Tongue

).

Paul

Training blog ~*~ The Faxer

BadDawg

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posted: 2/21/2008 at 7:13 PM
modified: 2/21/2008 at 7:20 PM

Hey Arne, sincere congrats on a job well done! You're currently living my dream, so if you have any leftover 45 year old guy BQ mojo send it south of the border. That's if it's not too much hassle to get it past the Department of Homeland Insecurity. Way to go!

Quote from arneparne on 2/20/2008 at 2:15 PM:

Thanks to all of you Runningaheaders, the boost this site gives me has an absolute influence on my training and racing!!!!

The wisdom and inspiration (and let's not forget sick humor) to be found on this site has been priceless to me, I can't remember how I found RA but I can't begin to say how glad I am that I did. Eric rocks.

Ed
Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA (So sad it's over)

2008: HTFU and BQ at BayState Marathon

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy

Daddyo

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Donate to this site!

posted: 2/22/2008 at 4:24 AM

2 words - F*cking AWESOME! -

Cheers from a Proud fellow Canuck Arne!

Dave ~ Marathon Maniac #1166
www.daddyo.ca
Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.

pinwheel

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posted: 2/22/2008 at 5:45 AM

Great report - thanks for sharing.

Bugs34

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Bugs

posted: 2/23/2008 at 1:52 PM

Great work! I can't imagine running a circle that many times nor running a marathon in those temps. Enjoy Boston. You've earned. Well done again.

B U G S (Like the bunny, not the bug)
g . b u g s @ h o t m a i l . c o m

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All About Running > Racing > Last Chance for Boston, Columbus Ohio February 17th 2008, a race report