4/20/97 Freds Marathon

Somehow I learned of a small marathon to be run on the day before Boston, on the grounds of the Devons Air Force Base. It was billed as a race for the common man, no need to qualify. Far from the madding crowd. 85 of us started out on that Sunday morning. Prior to the start the official asked if anyone was planning to also run Boston. Two crazy person’s raised their hands. One I had met earlier. Horst Pressler from Germany was looking for a ride to the subway station after this race and I offered to give him a lift. He claimed to hold the world record for most marathons run. I looked him up in the Guinness Book of World Records and there he was with over 500 marathons completed. He told me that he would run Freds in about 4 hours, but he would be about 20 minutes slower at Boston. He was correct in both counts. Looking back I wish that I had run with him. My goal was 4 hours and he crossed the line in 4:02. I passed him about a mile or two after the start and I think he wished me luck and said that he would see me at the finish. He said the same thing as he passed me 15 miles later.

The Fred’s course had a few small hills and was closed to traffic. The real tough part of the course was that it was an 8.73 mile loop that we had to complete 3 times. It did not occur to me that I could be lapped. I was not in fact lapped, however as I crossed the start/finish line ending my second lap, I could see that the few spectators were getting excited and as I looked back I could see the winner not so far behind me. One of my most depressing moments in my running career came there at about mile 17. I was getting tired, the race was already over for one person, I did not really feel like going on. The course took me right past my car and I thought about hopping in and driving away. No one would ever know (except Horst who would be waiting for a ride). The next hour and a half was pure misery. I started to get pains shooting up my legs. I walked and jogged and ran a little. Mostly I battled very negative thoughts. Why was I out here, this is stupid, I will never run another marathon in my life, what a waste of time, this is killing me, why don’t I just walk the rest of the way? I did manage to keep shuffling along and it was the moment that I crossed the finish line when my attitude changed. Immediately I started thinking about how next time I could do better. I had started too fast, I had barely trained enough and so on. I was also very proud of my accomplishment. I gave Horst his ride home and rested the next day. It is a whole different thing to watch the Boston Marathon on TV when you have run a marathon the previous day.


4:09:41
65th of 85
****

2/2/97 Cape Elizabeth Maine 10 miles

Ten mile race in Maine.....in February? What am I thinking. Well it is not way up there in Maine, just a two hour drive or so. And the weather is cooperating nicely. Surprised to see Steve and Amy Philbrook, friends from college at the race.

Race goes well. Negative split means good pacing and a strong finish. Very pleased with the finish time and the high quality long sleeved T-shirt

1:16:20
127th of 325
***

1/1/97 Hangover Classic 10K, Salisbury MA

It gets cold in New England. Really cold. And this is one of those mornings. It seems like a crazy fun way to ring in the new year. Temperature reads 7 degrees F at the start. One person is wearing shorts, the rest of us are bundled up. Tired and do not feel like doing any warm up running. Road has some snowy and icy spots, one part of the race takes us onto a paved trail that is very icy and slippery. Feel crazy being out here, all my friends are sleeping, but I am having fun. Don't even care about the finish time so much, there is no way I can run my best on this ice. Still end up with a decent finish time.

46:50
165th of 335
***

11/23/96 AGN Turkey Tune Up 5K

My first 5K. That is 3.11 miles. This one is out on "Great Neck" the almost island in Ipswich. Small low key event. Fairly tough hilly course. I run well and have a fun time.

22:03
32nd of 109
****

6/22/96 My Brother's Table Half Marathon

One year anniversary of my first race. I feel like I have progressed so much in the past year. I know that I can run faster that last year. I've done a few races and since I have been here before I know the routine and the course. I am fairly relaxed.

Mile 13.1 - No wall this time. Just solid running throughout. I get a little emotional as I cross the finish line and realize that I just ran this race 16 and half minutes faster than a year ago. I took off more than a minute per mile. Great feeling of accomplishment.

1:42:33 PR
257 of 650 (200 place improvement)
****

5/17/96 Race Against Extinction 10K

Plum Island - home of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Newburyport MA. First came here for field trips during college. Still visit now and then to do some bird watching or walking on the beach. Mid week, evening 10K race. Nice T-shirts.

Super flat and straight out and back course. I count the runners ahead and behind me and know my finish position before the results are posted.

46:36
122 of 270
***

11/5/95 Shrine 10K

Ipswich MA. Evening race. Long uphill run to the finish makes this a tough course. Negative moments during the race but still a good time.

48:17
97th of 205
**