First stop was the marathon expo.. Igot to see Ryan Hall and almost meet him but his wife, Sara, was running in the 1 mile and he had to scram if he wanted to see her. The last 5 of us in line got a wave and a signed poster. The line for Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman was about 2 hrs long, so I just got a picture of them.
Ryan Hall Lauren Fleshman & Kara Goucher
After the expo, we went to the samuel adams brewery where we got a tour, free samples, and then a boston beer glass. Most runners I know love free beer :) I went to the expo each day and spent less and less time each time I went. On Saturday evening, I met Amanda from DC, who I was suppose to pace. She was really nice and ready for her first Boston.
At the Samuel Adam's booth at the expo
Easter Sunday was lots of fun as Scott drove me and Jacob to Hopkinton taking the course backwards. We stopped at the Heartbreak Hill Running Store on the way. Just seeing all the road blocks and baricades along the course was motivating. When we got to John's, they began making dinner for us and what a dinner it turned out to be! Pasta, salad, salmon, fresh bread, runners couldn't ask for much more.
It was so nice to sleep in, waking up around 7am and heading to athletes villiage with Kevin, Scott and Jacob. We got to see the whole villiage, kevin loved it. We left with bananas, coffee and powerbars. We got back to the house in time to get ready and watch the elite females start.
Got a shot of our bibs before the others woke up
Quick recap: crowd support was exceptionally well this year. Couldn't even hear the screaming girls from welsley college as the crowd along the streets overpowered them. Amanda was having fun all along the course until she began complaining about her calves tightening up. This was before heart break hill. We weree on pace for 3:35 up until mile 21, when we began slowing the pace. She stopped and walked a few times and I stayed right with her motivating her to keep going. It was onlyh her second marathon and she kept talking about walking off the course cause she hurt so bad and was so miserable and didn't wanna be miserable for another hour or 2.
Boston bling with shirt, medal, poster and glass from brewery
We finally made it to the end finishing in 3:47.. not what she wanted, not a boston qualifier but still finished and got her medal. She told me a couple times that if I wasn't there that she would've walked off. I walked her back to her hotel and we saw her 2 friends across the street and walked together. When we walked inside, there were employees forming an isle and began clapping as we walked past and offered us towels and had fruit baskets behind them. It was super nice. Then I had to leave and meet up with mary beth and her cousin to get my stuff. The t was free for marathoners that day so I met them elsewhere then headed back to the hostel. The one guy from chicago ran a 2:50 and one of the mexicans around 3:12. The others also broke 4:00. That night, I met todd who ran a 2:58 and his mom at a local restaurant off boylston. Another great experience at boston.. just love that city!
I did a little touring the next morning
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