Plan was to go out 12:30 first 3-4 miles, see how I felt and go from there.

Started with Max and Rob and went out a bit fast and I was concerned about how I was feeling. Both Max and Rob said it takes 3 miles to get into the grove. It was an amazing to be running through Boston. We slowed down in mile 2 & 3 and I felt better. We saw May at the Port A Potty at mile 2, and she caught up with us on Longfellow Bridge in time for a photo. It was great to be running on the bridge with such a spectacular view. I was feeling better, positive and getting in the zone. I was able to talk more with Rob and just enjoy the run. On Memorial Drive we saw the leaders coming back the other direction really flying.

My goal was to drink 21 oz of water an hour and take in 200-250 calories. At mile 4 I had drank 16 oz of water and was on target. Eatting got a bit off as I wasn't focousing on time on purpose, but need to improve that next long run.

We bumped into Emily and Kevin probably 2/3 of the way to the turn around...it was great to get some high 5's. We saw Glen and his running partner Nicole?...looking strong and running fast. Ah then we saw Max and May who shared just 3 miles to turn around...not a funny joke then...Max set us staight. We made it to the turn around...wohooo...almost half way!!!

Run back was great since I knew I'd see Emily and Kevin again..more smiles, high fives and some pictures. Here we started to see some folks suffering and doing the walk run thing. Two women would walk and we'd catch them and then they'd run ahead of us...we pondered how long it would take us to pass them for good. We caught them between mile 11 & 12. I would haven't noticed them at first until Rob pointed them out. We started passing a few people here and there.

Quick stop at the porta potties....ran straight inside but almost fell over as it was a tilt and going from running to squatting isn't smart...had to grab onto the door....visions of falling out went through my head. 8 miles down...how many more...6 miles...no Rob tells me it is only 5...sounds much better.

Back over Longfellow Bridge..now I'm in new territory..never in my 44 years have I run this far...from now on out PB all the way. At the downward side of the bridge we hit 10 miles....let's see if we can take it up a bit and do some negative splitting. Back into the heart of Boston...we start reeling folks in...some take the shortcut on the sidewalk we run on the street and pass them...this is fun...11:29 m/m...nice....Rob asks if I want to slow down as we need to save some for the end...nope...let's keep going. There I see Emily and Kevin again at the end of the Commons...more cheers and support from family...very motivating. I see I have 15 minutes of running left...I will achieve something last year was not even on the radar screen. I used to be the women who ran at night so my neighbors couldn't see me and I couldn't even run one of my block. Maybe Rob was right the end of mile 12 was kinda hard...ah but there is the Bridge...over it to the finish line what motivation to pick up a bit.

Over the Bridge we can hear the music, see the crowd and the finish line...this was great....keep on passing people here and there....come into the gates with throngs of people and try to pass some more people. Rob points out four...says you can pass them. Normally I can't sprint to the finish, but I did, I was catching them...oh I see a group of BTers and I ran as fast as I can wand wave my arms in victory onward to catch the last 3...more BTers to wave to....passed another one....the two are there...ah....pass them maybe 5 feet from the mat...super way to finish...Rob was right I could do it!!!

In the past I'd get all choked up and teary eyed when I finished something hard for me. Before I started I knew I was going to finish so that was a foregone conclusion...how I would race and with what mental strength was the question...it felt so different so much better.

I felt great...it was so fun. Rob was so supportive and encouraging plus fun to be with...and I ran the farthest I ever had. My coach Will calls these type of events Changers....I agree it changes my attitude about what I can do, gives me confidence to do bigger and better things.

My last 5K was faster on this 1/2 Mary than any of my 5K times in my sprint Tris last year by more than 2 minutes and I had run 10 miles before the last 5K which I think for me harder than the swim and bike thing I do in a Tri.

When I do these long runs afterwards I feel like a million bucks (I tell my family I feel like a super hero).

I probably placed in the bottom 2% but it doesn't bug me which is a change. This was such a positive experience made possible to BT and the BTers that I have met. Rob's and so many other support and encouragement before the race and Rob's during the race allowed me to stay calm and enjoy the race and do my very best.

Drank 42 oz of water and took in 350 calories...just a little short in the calories as goal was 200-250 an hour.



Not much...try to eat more...I executed my plan as I had hoped.

Walked around, took pictures, hugged BT friends. Ate a Cliff bar, banana, half a bagel, did leg drains and went to see the IMAX movie with BTers about the Tour. Of course I started thinking about which 1/2 Mary I can do next, how much faster I can be, next year what m/m pace can I go...is this normal?




Same old thing...being 44 and overweight (working on this). Confidence in myself to achieve something big...but doing a race like today helps me feel like I can achieve more than I can dream.