Stride by Stride

My Boston Marathon Experience 2013 Summary

Hello followers! I’m sorry I haven’t posted in nearly forever. I have been dealing with life and stress.

Anyway, I participated in the Boston Marathon on Monday. It was such a lovely course and I was glad to just be apart of the experience. My training leading up to the race was very poor and I was nowhere close to prepared. I projected to get around 3:45 - 4:00 on this race. After mile 1 I had the worst shin splints I have ever had up through mile 5. I even cried somewhere in between those miles while I was running because the pain was so great and I was so sad because I had barely even started the race. Around mile 5 my entire right leg fell asleep which was nice because I didn’t have the excruciating pain in my lower leg, but also awkward. I chugged along somehow and made it to mile 16 where some kids were handing out cups of ice. I took maybe 2 minutes or some to try and stretch out my shin splints and put ice in my compression socks. It hurt so bad to even stand. I began running again and just ran through it. I got some gatorade and water at every mile marker probably up until mile 20, HEARTBREAK HILL. Okay just to let everyone know, heartbreak hill is not as bad as you might think. There is 2-3 hills BEFORE heartbreak that are much harder. heartbreak actually goes by rather fast if you just keep your head down. Anyway, I planned on possibly walking a bit maybe around mile 22 or 23, but I didn’t. I just kept giving myself new goals of distances to run through and by then time flew by and I was at mile 25 then at the “1 mile left” sign. I crossed the finish line with the clock saying I ran it in 3:50:something seconds. And I was really sad but whatever. I just kept walking and got my medal and foil blanket and water or whatever then collected my bag that I dropped off at the starting line. I called my best friend, Haley, who came with me and she was like OH MY GOD GOOD JOB. I didn’t know what she was talking about because that time was nowhere near what I am capable of. And she continues to tell me that I actually got a time of 3:29:53! I was so excited. After an episode of depression for the months of February and March and smoking like 1/3 pack of cigarettes a day, I was satisfied with that time. So I met my roommate back at the hotel and we were just hanging out. Then my friend Serena from back home called me to see if I was okay. At first I thought she just meant from the marathon. She told me about the explosions. It was the weirdest feeling ever. So Haley and I went downstairs into the lobby to watch TV. Down there were other runners and family. We were all very confused and freaking out. One woman was crying because she couldn’t get a hold of her husband and everyone was on edge. The lady ended up talking to him about 15 minutes after. Haley and I tried calling loved ones, etc., but our phones weren’t working and we couldn’t get a signal. We eventually did and I called my mom and found out she was terrified along with the rest of my family. It was all so strange because our hotel was only 3 block away from the explosion sites, yet, we didn’t feel anything. I’m not home and just very confused about the whole thing. It was so scary, but I think I am more scared now. I don’t know. I am thankful Haley and I and our friends who hungout with us in Boston are okay. But I am also angry and confused and sad. Why? it’s just so cruel.