Background
After a breakthru marathon in Ottawa with nearly a 24min PB of 3:28, I set my sights on Boston. Since I was turning 40 in November of this year, I required a 3:20:59 to qualify for Boston. I started another 18 week training program with increased mileage and speedwork.
Goal
Although I toyed with the idea of a 3:15 to qualify as a 39 year old, I abandoned the idea. 4:40 was the target pace for a projected 3:17 and hoping to hold it together for the 3:20 and resist the fade the best that I could. There was no whisper goal, 3rd goal...only one goal...to BQ or BUST.
Pre-Race
Mark drove me to the race in the morning (he and his family are just fantastic hosts!) to catch the 07:00 bus to Buffalo. We stayed in the art museum, just a great setup to chill prior to the race. I was well hydrated and had pasta 2 days out and sushi the night prior (my new carb loading staple!). National anthems and the cannon went off! Now that's the way to do it!! Ottawa, take note.
Race
2 loops around the block to start in Buffalo, didn't find this a very motivating start. Settled into a pace after this, and of course...too fast
I'm hopeless! In the 4:34-4:38 range. I honestly tried to get it in control by 17k 
. I think the issue was the pack in front of me. They were pulling away and I had to keep checking myself NOT to follow. But in the end, anyone I saw, I caught them (more on that later).Honesty, it wasn't feeling easy to keep the 4:40 (well faster...) pace. I was beginning to have doubts, but I kept the pace. The bridge crossing was not an issue at all, a very easy bridge within the 1st 10km. Crossed over to Canada and a back and forth at Fort Erie, again, not my favorite to backtrack.
Until 30k, I was maintaining pretty much a 4:40 pace. But it was getting hard, really hard. I knew that I really needed to keep the pace in the 4:40-4:45 for the 3:20. I already did well for 30k, so 4:45 was not going to kill me. That's what happened until 34k, then it was moving up to 4:50 from 35-37k. I took 6 gels during this race every 30 minutes. At 3:00 at the water station I walked to take my last gel and drink water and promised myself there was no more walking until the end (5:27).At around 38k, my right calf seized and I nearly fell over. Oh, God I thought, not again! But it was gone and I was too close. This time I did not give in to it, I keep trying to keep the pace sub 5:00 and I did with change. And the last 1k was at 4:40 with both my calves twitching and threatening to take me down. I was talking to myself, talking to my calves, explaining to the whole body that I didn't do all this training to miss by minutes. Dammit, we were going to finish this thing, so get with the program. Approaching the finish, my legs were really pissed at me and I did everything to not give in and fall over.
And the moral of this story is I didn't. And because I didn't, I am now a Boston Qualifier. 3:19:49, a PB of 8m29s
Post Race
At the half point, I was in the 132 position. At the finish, I was 73. I gained 59 positions. Nearly every person I saw near the start of the 1st half, I took down. Red guy, orange guy, blue Gatorade guy...
Men 35 - 39 Cat 16/91 - 17% Men 65/613 10.6%
Mark took some great photo's of me on approach. It shows the pain and elation of running the race of your dreams. I achieved a goal that I NEVER could have dreamed 5 years ago, even 2 years ago or at the start of this year. I can tell you in all sincerity, you can achieve great things when you truly commit yourself.
I am a Boston Qualifier. You should have heard me roar!!
I want to thank Mark and his lovely family for allowing me to invade their home this weekend. I am so grateful for your hospitality. I would also like to express gratitude to my wife; without her, this would never have been possible. She has been so supportive of my running obsession and we found a way to balance it in our family routine. Love you lots.
Now, as for this dog picture Mark posted...There were some others with pain that did not have my tongue out. I have a feeling there will be a real keeper finishing shot from the race photographers, I can't wait to see my face...
The dog
Serious pain and hunger for the finish
Ohh, would you look at that clock...can't wait to see my face when the race photos come out!
The Medal
And, of course the BQers
mcshame, over and out
