Experiencing “It” – John

This was a hectic but good week. I was able to run four out of the five days this week, and then topped it off with an 11.5 mile run on Saturday. I haven’t done a 25+ mile week since last fall. I was also able to get the kids away from the video games two times for one mile walks with Molly.

My friend Steve dropped his daughter off and his dog, a Golden Retriever. She has been playing with Molly since they were puppies, so when I left to run I did not get that, “you are not bringing me” look from her, as she was engrossed with her furry playmate in our yard.

I had an excellent run. After about six miles into the run I turned off the iPod and “It” happened. “It”, as I refer to it, is a pleasant mental state I experience occasionally on a long run. “It” is a spiritual experience that for me lies somewhere between the “Runner’s High” and a meditative state. My running goes on “autopilot” and I start to see images of experiences of the past, some positive and some negative. The positive serve an obvious purpose. The negative ones help me to remember the past, what I have overcome and what I have gotten through in my life along with the roads traveled (literally and figuratively).

Initially, I started to remember a few pleasant images from my childhood. The scene then changed. I was running the New York City Marathon and at mile 21, I all of a sudden felt like I was struck by lighting. Each muscle in my body was in revolt. Each step was a bundle of tightness and pain. I believe I was experiencing dehydration due to the fact I was unable to consume enough liquids due to the gastric bypass surgery. This extreme pain caused me to recall what I consider my “first marathon”. I remembered my first walk after gastric bypass surgery. Although I was on enough pain medication to sedate a rhino, it hurt just to breathe. My 458-pound body hurt worse than I had ever experienced in my life. My 16-inch incision and my insides were sewn and stapled like a child’s art project. However, I was determined to get out of my chair and walk. Each footfall to the street sign was agonizing. I was out of breath within 10 feet. I then continued the 20 or so yards to the sign, feeling like I was descending into the circles of the underworld. I made it to the sign and touched it then headed back. There was no crowd, no water stops and no finish line medals. However, to me it was a truly challenging and memorable experience. This memory helped me summon the strength to the New York finish line in Central Park.

As this memory faded, another very powerful image came to me. It was my first Boston, the 108th. The temperature was recorded near record of 88 degrees. However, I had trained very hard and was a confident (although slow) and experienced marathoner at this point. I remember people half my size dropping from the heat. I never felt so strong running this distance. I remember the strength and power I felt as a cruised along. I remember passing Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and drawing strength from that first “marathon” experience. I continued on my way to Boylston Street for my marathon personal best. I remember shaking my fist in victory as I crossed the finish line and I was overcome with emotion.

After that point a variety of different images and reflections came and went along with the miles. Some were positive and some were not. Then, my mind just cleared. All thoughts melted away with the rhythm of the pavement. This went on for some time until, splash! My foot hit one of the many puddles from the melting snow and my concentration was broken.
I have not run this distance alone in months. It gave me the chance to reflect on both the experience of the day and my life. The notion that you must travel the roads you have been on to get to where you are came to mind. That thought then brought me to Confucius’ proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. After that, I said a silent prayer of thanks for where I have been, how fortunate I am and for the serenity this run has given me. I also asked for guidance in the roads ahead, both of life and asphalt that I will travel. I know I will need it. I clicked my iPod back on as I realized home was near.

They’re Getting Longer – Heidi

I had a great long run this morning. Having company for all but 2.8 miles of the 15 miles was the highlight! The gorgeous, 40-degree day was another big plus. The run was quite a contrast to last weekend’s long run of 13 miles in the cold and snow. My neighbor, Susan, was kind enough to do close to seven miles of that run with me and fortunately I had some new music on my iPod shuffle to get me through the second half.

Preparing my “gear” last night for the first time since last year was a sign of getting into the bigger mileage. I filled my fuel belt bottles with Gatorade, which has become my long run beverage of choice. I filled half with the lemonade flavor, which Martha introduced me to last year. My other flavor was “Fierce Grape”, chosen because it was on sale at the supermarket! The taste was ok but it’s a little scary to drink something that blue as an adult.

I ran with three other women this morning who are fellow members of the Suburban Striders Running Club (www.suburbanstriders.com). This threesome is inspirational given that I am training for a second marathon and hoping to improve my time from last year. Hilda has run four marathons and improved her time with each event. Sharon has completed nine marathons and is also training for Boston. Carol is the fleet-footed one of our group but doesn’t mind slowing down for a long training run. She is also training for Boston having qualified for her number last year and finishing the 111th in 3:30! We talk the entire way sharing training regimens and comparing mileage but also converse about kids, travel and of course, the Patriots!

While my quads and calves are a bit tight having done my longest run to date, I’m encouraged to have enjoyed and survived fifteen miles today. Last year at this time my long run was 12 miles, so I have stepped up the distance a bit. I’m just doing one long run a week, however, most of my running companions today were doing a mid-week long run too. There are always new challenges one can set with the sport of running.

I'm Back - Heidi

I’m back and probably completely crazy to be looking forward to another Boston Marathon. I did question my sanity when feeling pleased at the news that my name was one of the ones drawn out of the hat for a Boston number at Newton-Wellesley. Those that have heard that I’m running again, quickly ask whether Martha is running too. Unfortunately, I’ll have to log many of my upcoming miles solo this year. Even more sadly for you readers, you will not have Martha’s hilarious vignettes to scroll through on your computer screen. You can imagine how great it was last year to have my own personal entertainer and I am having a hard time imagining those 10 to 20 mile runs without my buddy.

Do not fear dear reader, Martha is alive and well and continuing to pass gas (anesthesia joke) in the Newton-Wellesley Operating Room. I actually did a 10-mile run with Martha and her husband a few weekends ago. Martha was an ideal running partner last year and the highlight of my marathon experience was building our friendship.

So what am I hoping for this year? My primary goal is the same as it was for the 111th Boston Marathon, which is to complete the course and remain healthy and injury-free. A secondary goal is to see if I can improve my time. Two years ago I didn’t know what a “PR” was. Now I know it stands for personal record and like most runners who repeat race events, I’d like to see if I can run it a little faster. However, I’m a superstitious person and I hate to set myself up for a fall so I am leery of putting a definitive time goal out there in cyberspace. Suffice it to say that one of the books that I just returned to the public library was 4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon by David Kuehls. One fact that surfaced in his book is that Oprah Winfrey ran the Chicago Marathon in four hours. I don’t think that occurred last year when people were dropping like flies in the heat! At any rate, I will let that inspire me.

Some Weeks are Like That - John

Had a rough week. My kids were sick, and they tend to act as Petri dishes and spread their sickness to us. So I did not run much this week. I decided not to run the Derry 16-mile race. Instead, my friend Jimmy came over and we ran a 10-mile loop course I have measured through Chelmsford and Westford back to my house. Jimmy runs faster for the first 10K and starts to fade after that. So I gave him my energy gel pack, which was probably a good thing, since my stomach was bothering me from being sick all week. He finished up at about 9.5, and wanted a “cool down” walk, so I ran ahead the half mile and ran back to meet him. The weather conditions were tough, as it was snowing heavily. We finished up and we both pre-registered for the Eastern States 20. This is a 20-mile Boston Prep Race three weeks and a day before Boston that starts in Maine, runs through NH and ends in Salisbury.

This looks like a busy week at home, as my wife has to go to her graduate school classes on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So, I took a “recovery run” today with Molly. It was tough as we had to pick our feet up a lot higher due to the slush (or paws in her case!) We did 3.5 miles. I then hired my friend Steve's daughter to come over Saturday so I can run. Jimmy is running a 5K race on Superbowl Sunday, but I want to stick with a long 10-plus mile run. I spoke to my older son, and we may go over on Sunday and volunteer to help with the race.

The Day After – John

I normally don't run the day after a long run, but I wanted to get out with Molly. She looked liked she needed to get out. We had a nice run of 3.5 miles. I am thinking about running the Derry Prep 16 Miler this weekend. It's a very challenging course and designed as a Boston Prep race. I have run it before. My friend Mike and Paul are running it. I'm thinking I might run it, even if I need to stop after 12 miles or so.

My First Official Training Run – John

I took a run with my friend from the club Jimmy Shelton on January 20. Jimmy is training for his 24th Boston and is a Hall of Fame Member of Greater Lowell Road Runners. We were a little overdressed, but had fun. We did about an 8.5-mile run through town. I felt OK. Jimmy is faster than me on shorter distances, while I am faster on longer distances. I had to slow him down a few times.

Why I Run - John

I started running about six months after my gastric bypass surgery at NWH. Since then, I've run the last four Boston Marathons, three New York City Marathons and the 2006 Disney Marathon. I am also a member of the Greater Lowell Road Runners.

I started running because my gastric bypass surgeon suggested I walk two miles a day. Being a typical “Type A”, I felt like I needed to find a way to finish faster. I then started running. I mixed running and walking together, then I started getting ready and ran the Chelmsford Fourth of July Road Race as my first race. I continue to run four to five times a week. Marathon training gets “fit into” my lifestyle, by getting up early and “doing it”. A few years ago, Saucony got wind of my story and sponsored me for the Boston Marathon as part of the “Saucony 26” dedicating a mile of the race for 26 folks with a special story. They dedicated mile 16 for me, since this passes by Newton-Wellesley Hospital. I donated the sponsorship money to the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons.

I currently live in Chelmsford with my wife, three children and my running partner Molly – my four-year-old Australian Labradoodle.

My plans for training are to run my normal patterns three to four days a week and do a progressive build up once a week which will be supplemented with long-distance training races. My concerns are always for my health and injury. Since my gastric bypass surgery, I have suffered through a variety of minor physical and personal issues. I am not in my top end shape and need to pick it up!