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Last Chance for Boston, Columbus Ohio February 17th 2008, a race report (Read 578 times)

    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 Big grin Big grin Big grin Big grin Big grin Big grin Big grin 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 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=""></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>
      Nice Job!! Congratulations.
        2. Diarrhea and hurling in Toronto International Marathon October 2007 Dead
        Dead Black eye 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.

        Vim

        Ringmaster


          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

          Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb. 12:1b)
          Mile by Mile


          Another Passion

            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

              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

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

                  E.J.
                  Greater Lowell Road Runners
                  Cry havoc and let slip the dawgs of war!

                  May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your SPF30, may the rains fall soft upon your sweat-wicking hat, and until you hit the finish line may The Flying Spaghetti Monster hold you in the hollow of His Noodly Appendage.


                  Go Pre!

                    2 words - F*cking AWESOME! - Cheers from a Proud fellow Canuck Arne!
                    ohanapecosh


                      Great report - thanks for sharing.


                      Bugs

                        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.

                        Bugs