dbradby.net

Breathe the Pressure

This morning was the Boston Half Marathon (13.1 miles / 21.1 km). I wasn't feeling very confident about it as this was the first time I have done this distance. My goals were to firstly finish the race and secondly complete the course within 2 hours and 30 mins. I've had a slight head cold the past week and it still seemed to be around this morning so with that and other things I wasn't at my best.

I went ahead anyway and got up nice and early to have porridge and milo. I felt like I was at a school camp. Before the race I attached my "championchip" tag to my shoe. This tag records my start and end time as I cross the lines. It is really accurate and useful, as I started over 2 minutes later than those at the front because of the amount of runners.

So I started very well and was on target for a 2 hour 10 min run. Well past halfway, at around 8 miles I really started to feel the pain. Not the usual cramp or stitch, but muscle and joint soreness as well as some blisters. But I kept going and even managed an awesome sprint to the finish line.

Not only did I make it, but I did it in 2 hours 28 mins and 46 seconds! I was feeling quite good about my time and I even got a bronze medal (everyone did). But then reality set in. I walked/limped over the food tent and took one bite from a bagel. I did my best to keep it down and snapped at Jen to find me some water ... quick!! After a few mins I started to feel better and went to check the results which were already printed out thanks to the technology of championchip. Well over 4,000 people registered, 3,181 turned up and 3,158 finished. The first runner came in at just over an hour!! By the time I came in 3,002 other people had already finished. Wow there are some fit people out there.

Not too sure if I would do this again, but at the moment I sitting very still on the couch having taken a pain killer. It will be interesting to see how I feel in the morning, let alone next year :)

More photos here http://www.dbradby.net/gallery/bhm2004

Posted by dbradby at October 11, 2004 06:34 AM