Notes
Official time was apparently 4:10, although I don't know why it's more than my Garmin. Splits were 7:37, 7:34, 7:31, 7:24, 7:37, 7:32, 7:30, 7:31, 7:32, 7:36, 7:34, 7:31, 7:34 (mile 13), 8:01, 7:58, 7:35, 8:32, 9:04 (mile 18), 8:50, 9:19, 14:10 (mile 21), 21:15, 17:29, 14:36, 9:38 (mile 25), 9:10, 8:40 pace for last 0.58 mile. Hung with Mike Leigh, through the half, then realized I could not keep up. Between miles 20 and 21, cramps started first in my right hammy, then my left, then my calves. Stopped me cold and I writhed in pain. Had all I could do to keep them at bay. I grabbed the side rail and swung the affected leg, then straightened the leg and leaned forward, stretching the calf, and waited. In the meantime, I made some painful screams, prompting people to ask if I needed medical attention. No, I said, worried that it would result in a DNF. I was offered a water bottle and some gatorade, which was probably very helpful, coupled with three miles of walking, when I could. During these three miles, I did not dare run, fearing that the cramps would return. By 24, I felt well off to give it a try, and, voila! I managed to keep running. I counted my cadence, 1-90 every two minutes, to minimize the physical stress. This was also a helpful distraction. The turn onto Boylston was great, as I had worried that I would be walking this final stretch. Instead, halfway down it, I let out some characteristic grunts and yells and sped up as much as I dared without precipitating more cramps. This was exhilarating and satisfying, as much so as crossing the finish (without cramps) was a relief. And I had no cramps after that either, even in the massage area.
The streak is still alive at 7, and I'm qualified for next year. I'll be 55 in 2018, so I'll have an additional ten minutes added to my qualifying time (from 3:30 to 3:40). I'm confident that I can get this in the 2017 season, maybe even this year at Bay State.
I must add that the start with Alicia, Andy, and Mike was fun. We got to the starting area with enough time to use the porta-johns, which had no lines, as usual. Then to the third corral with plenty of time. I decided within the first mile to let Andy and Alicia take off, hoping that I could hang with Mike, which I managed to do through the first half. I should have known better, but, as always, I was too aggressive. Next year, if I have not already BQ'd, I will try to run a steady pace for a 3:35 finish. If I can stay healthy during the training season, who knows, I might have even splits.
Final note: I injected my right knee with 5 cc of Marcaine (with epinephrine), as a long acting anesthetic just in case. My cortisone injection on March 29 allowed me to run for the first time in 25 days on April 7. Since then, I managed to run easy without knee pain, but there was some residual pain at other times, and I worried that this might happen today. Fortunately, there was no knee pain to speak of, and very little even now.