There is no finish line......

April 18, 2011.

That date probably doesn’t mean much to most, but for those of us who ran the Boston Marathon this Patriot’s Day, we know that’s the date of the 115th running, and we plan on being there.

I have to admit that I’m a little surprised that I’m already planning my 35th consecutive Boston run based on my last two races. It’s taken two years to figure out that incredibly tight Iliotibial Bands (ITB’s) have been the root cause of limited training and maximum discomfort in the race. But, in the long run, it really doesn’t matter. It’s all about the journey.

Here are the quick facts about the 114th Boston Marathon.

More than 500,000 spectators lined the street to watch the 23,071 starters of the 26,776 entrants. Some entrants were injured; some were sidelined by a volcano in Iceland. 22,588 completed the trek, an amazing 98%. Helping to make the experience as positive as possible were 8,000 race day volunteers – one volunteer for every 3 runners!

1,350 athletes raised more than $11 million for 24 charities; since the start of the charity program, more than a $100 million has been raised.

Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia won the women’s division in 2:26:11, while Robert K. Cheruiyot set a course record in 2:05:52. To put that record in perspective consider this. His pace was 4:48 per mile. The all time best mile for high school girls in Massachusetts was set by Kirsten Kasper in 4:49…and she didn’t do a 25 mile warm up before running that time!

Behind the headline stories lie the other 23,000 stories. Here is mine.

On the Monday before the race, I was on my physical therapist’s table enduring excruciating pain as Greg attempted to loosen those pesky ITB’s. Had it been race day, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have made it to Ashland, a mere two miles from Hopkinton.

Along with my physical therapist, Greg, my acupuncturist, Sarah, massage therapist, Lou, and Hot Yoga Instructor, Terri, all pitched in to get my reluctant legs ready. We runners tend to be very stubborn and find the option of not running totally unacceptable.

Race morning dawned clear and cool with a brisk north westerly breeze – perfect conditions. I hadn’t run in 10 days. I was wearing my Vibram Five Finger “shoes” (the minimalist shoe that is virtually like running barefoot) in my attempt to complete the race with the least amount of training miles I’ve ever logged. Yet, I had no doubt I’d finish. I just hoped it would be on the same day I started!

My training buddy and fellow Ironman, Ken, and I decided to run together. At the sound of the starter’s gun we began our race with a slow 10 minute walk to the starting line. There I got the chance to kiss my wife, Lyn, who is the Captain of the “human chain” – the folks who stand at the front line to keep the world’s fastest runners in check until the gun fires.

The road opens up at the start line, and Ken and I began running at our target pace. To my surprise and delight, I was relatively pain free. Of course, I was only 1 mile into the day and we were running downhill!

As the miles passed, I found my modest pace kept potential problems under control and allowed me to really enjoy the spectacle that unfolded along the way. Many of the runners around me were sporting their names on their racing singlet’s which made it easy to strike up conversations. Some were running for charities, some in memory of loved ones, but all were happy and very eager to share their stories.

At 10 miles, the happy chatter began to slow as the enormity of the day’s task began to sink in. The good news was that the girls of Wellesley College were but a few miles ahead. The bad news was that the hills of Newton loomed after that and threatened to the break the hearts of those inadequately prepared.

At the half way point, Kenny dropped back a bit, and I mentally prepared myself for the task ahead.

At 17 miles I took the right hand turn off of Rte.16 to head into the fabled Heartbreak Hills. A series of three hills, the challenge is not the steepness, it’s the timing. From 18 miles through 21 miles the hills are unmerciful on tired quadriceps, and my ITB’s began to remind me how unhappy they were.

Coming off the hills into Cleveland Circle provides a welcome downhill which I really needed, for my next pursuit was to get past the famous Citgo sign that marks Kenmore Square and the final mile. The big treat for me, though, came at 24 miles where my wife and my niece, Megan, were waiting to run in with me. Though Lyn and I have experienced the excitement of Boston 34 years, it was Meggy’s first, and seeing the amazement in her eyes as she took in the sights and sounds of the last two miles was wonderful.

At 25 miles, I crested the Mass Ave overpass and my legs were on fire. But it didn’t matter. My time didn’t matter. All that mattered was that I was again granted the gift of traveling down the same roads that world class runners of today and from the past 114 years had traveled.

Up Hereford Street and onto Boylston, and there it was – the finish line.

I crossed the line and completed the pair of kisses with Lyn – the one at the start and now at the finish. Meggy said, “I think I’d like to run the whole thing next year!” Later that evening, my 4 year old granddaughter, Lexi, told her Mom, “Someday I’d like to run the Boston Marathon, just like Poppy, but I’ll be a girl Poppy”.

So, yes, I am planning to run number 35 next year.

Meggy and Lexi would expect no less.

The Big Day

The Big Day
By tom licciardello

There are 26,700 athletes around the globe that have a red circle around April 19th on their calendars. For those who live in Massachusetts, it is Patriot’s Day, but for those who identify themselves as marathoners it’s the day for the king of all marathons - The Boston Marathon.
When Boston began its long history 114 years ago on April 19, 1897, there were but 18 men who stood behind a line scratched on the dirt road by Tom Burke in front of Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland, about a mile from the current starting line in Hopkinton. Though spectators marveled at the amazing feat of courage displayed by these pioneers, many folks thought them to be quite crazy.
Much has changed in the past 114 years, though there are still many who would categorize the attempt to run 26.2 miles as an act of foolishness. There are a lot more of these fools nowadays. In 2009 there were 468,000 recorded marathon finishing times in just the United States. No longer is the marathon the domain of only men, as it was in Boston up until Katharine Switzer broke the gender barrier in 1967. Last year 40% of marathon finishers were females and the gap closes more each year.
In Chris McDougal’s runaway hit book, “Born to Run”, he suggests that anthropological evidence suggests that we were, in fact, born to run so that we could pursue animals on a hunt which would typically last 4 to 5 hours. Coincidentally, the average finishing time for men last year was 4:24 and for women it was 4:52. Maybe he’s got something there, but what’s the big deal about Boston?
Quite simply, Boston is the Grand Daddy of American Marathons. It is the oldest continuous marathon in the country, and it holds the distinction of requiring a qualifying time to enter (or a charity pledge). The only other marathons that require qualification are the Olympic Trials and the Olympics. But there is more to it than that. Boston is a “happening” that, once experienced, leaves an indelible mark.
In the early morning hours of race day, Hopkinton is a well controlled mad house of athletes, press, and spectators. It is only because of the masterful organization of race director, Dave McGillivray, his Organizing Committee, and the cooperation of the town that this quite suburb of 14,000 can handle the invasion. Runners are directed to the Athlete’s Village, where tents can provide shelter should it rain, entertainment helps keep minds occupied, and 600 hundred porto-johns are available to service the well hydrated hordes.
The migration from the Athlete’s Village to the start corrals is the first indication runners have of the enormity of the field on these rural roads. The procession to the start line packs the country road with anxious runners, some wearing garbage bags to stay warm, many seeking a last porta-john stop, and all looking forward to crossing the start line.
This race starts on a two lane road, not like the four lane highway starts of other mega marathons such as New York or Chicago. Again, it was the ingenuity of McGillivray and his staff to solve the problem of the “marathon shuffle” – getting stuck in a slow procession of runners for the first mile until the crowd thins out. In the last few years, the race has featured a “wave start” – wheelchair divisions at 9:17, Elite Women at 9:32, Elite men and Wave 1 at 10:00, and then Wave 2 at 10:30.
Additionally, the “runner corrals” which are arranged by qualification time are placed several feet in from the curbs, pinching the staging area. When runners reach the start line, the full road width opens which allows runners to immediately begin running.
After the singing of the National Anthem, and the flyby of National Guard fighter jets (it takes them about 2 ½ minutes to make the trip to the finish line!), the gun finally fires and the journey begins.
In the first mile heading into Ashland, a mid-pack runner can easily be discouraged viewing the thousands of runners in front of him as he heads down the first hill. The temptation is to make up time by picking up the pace – a costly mistake. Better to be patient; after descending the first hill, there is a gentle uphill – a good spot to briefly and carefully turn around to see the thousands of runners behind him.
The first five miles of Boston need to be run with a sense that the pace is too slow. The downhill orientation of the first section of the race can lead to a reckless pace that could make the last few miles a dreadful experience. Boston is best viewed in thirds. In the first 10 miles, the goal is to keep the pace down to the target level, in the next 10 miles keep up to the goal pace, and the last 10 kilometers, well, success all depends on how well disciplined the first two 10’s were.
At mile 3, runners will come to the first of two islands that split the course. Here’s the inside scoop – run to the right of the first one and to the left of the second. It positions you better for the upcoming curves in the road. It probably saves a couple of yards, but the time will come when a couple of yards mean something!
The next five miles can be critical. The adrenaline rush of the start of the race and the downhill nature of the first five miles can easily fool a runner into believing that he is having a “miracle day” and abandon all the thoughtful plans for a pace that makes sense. Keeping control in the first ten miles is critical.
Around the 10 kilometer mark runners will pass the Mugs Away Pub, a biker bar with lots of enthusiastic fans sipping frosty mugs of beer. Very tempting, but another twenty miles must be traveled before enjoying something more robust than Gatorade. Now in Framingham, the crowds are getting bigger and more enthusiastic. Bands are playing, and mirror like store windows provide an opportunity for runners to check their form. Through these miles runners continue to wear smiles of joy and remain optimistic that a PR (personal record) is possible.
At mile 10, runners pass Fiske Pond where the legendary Tarzan Brown stepped off the course on the 80 degree day in 1938 to take a dip and finished in 51st place. Tarzan was a two time winner at Boston who captured a lot of attention when he first appeared at the race in 1935 running barefoot!
Ten miles done is an important milestone. This is the point where the runner should be thinking, “I feel great!” The next 10 miles is when the smiles and the happy banter among the runners begin to fade and the real work begins as the mostly downhill portion of the event ends, and the more challenging sections loom ahead.
At 11 miles, runners enter Natick Center to the roars of spectators that pack the roads. The timing is good, because spectator encouragement can help a runner’s flagging enthusiasm. Many runners will tape their names to their race shirts so that spectator’s can personalize cheers to them. Hearing hundreds of people yell, “Way to go, Tom!” is very cool.
Soon, runners begin to hear a rumble in the distance that grows louder with each stride until they reach the fabled girls of Wellesley College at 12.6 miles. Like the Siren Song from Greek mythology, those sweet yells can make the athlete do crazy things. Attractive coeds line the street screaming encouragement holding “Kiss me!” signs that miraculously transform weary runners who are beginning to slump into vibrant running machines. The pace typically drops a minute per mile.
Unfortunately, like the Greek mythology, there can be a dark side to the glorious sight of the Wellesley girls. Once past the college, there is a very lonely, very quite section leading to the center of the town of Wellesley. The sudden loss of cheerleading coupled with an unsustainable “new” pace can be very depressing. Then there is the realization that the college was not the halfway point as many think. Many runners hit the 13.1 mile mark in the center of town feeling the letdown and defeated. Perhaps Ulysses was right by putting cotton in his ears to avoid the dangers of the Siren’s song.
For the ecstasy of Wellesley comes the agony of the infamous hills.
At mile 16, runners enter Newton Lower Falls – well named as there is a tremendous downhill to be negotiated. The danger is the pounding the quads take can have a terrible effect on the ability to conquer the more infamous uphill section of “Heartbreak Hill”. Few have traversed the Boston course more than race director, Dave McGillivray who says of the downhill, “If you land like a helicopter, the course can beat the heck out of your quads, knees, joints, and feet”.
At mile 17, the Rte. 128 overpass uphill looms ahead. It’s one of my least favorite sections. It’s uphill, spectators are sparse, it’s a barren highway, and it’s the precursor to the right hand turn at the Newton Fire Station at 18 miles….and Heartbreak Hill.
For the next three miles runners will be challenged with a series of 3 (some call it 4) hills that collectively can take a terrible toll. Though not extraordinarily steep, they come at a “heartbreaking” point of the race. The good news is that there is a huge crowd of spectators encouraging flagging runners with, “Keep it up, you look great!”
I’ve run this race 33 times and I still get confused about which hill is the last one. The best advice is to keep plugging until you hit 21 miles and can see the Prudential Center on the horizon (which will look like it’s a whole lot further away than five miles!).
Once Heartbreak Hill is crested, the reward is an all too short downhill leading to Cleveland Circle. Taking a few moments to walk before descending is a technique many use to readjust the legs from one gravity challenge to a very different kind.
With a mere 5.2 miles left, the real work begins.
For the next several miles, it’s all about the Citgo Sign. That big, beautiful sign is the landmark that signals the finish line is nearby. I know it can’t be true, but runners will swear that the sign keeps moving down the course as it doesn’t seem to get bigger for a very long time. But at last, it leads the runners to Mile 25, the Citgo sign, and the final assault on “Citgo Hill” at Kenmore Square. The good news is that after cresting that “bump” runners can start the mental celebration of their accomplishment. There is little that can stop a runner in the last mile of the Boston Marathon.
Though battling with a brain that is screaming “Stop!” the last mile of the Boston Marathon is extraordinarily exciting. Taking the right turn onto the fabled Hereford Street can bring tears to the eyes of first timers and veterans alike. Here the screams of spectators are greater than in Wellesley, and every runner is sure that the thousands are there just for him.
Finally, the left onto Boylston Street gives the first view of the Promised Land – the finish line!
That final quarter mile is when the realization that the goal will be achieved really sinks in. No matter how painful the journey may have been, and no matter whether or not the time goal will be met, this is when unbridled joy overtakes the all other sensations. There is simply nothing like crossing that line to the cheers of thousands and having the finisher’s medal placed around your neck.
As the finishers walk through the finish shoot, it is time to realize that they have passed through the same roads of the greats of the past. John McDermott (the first champion), Clarence Demar, Tarzan Brown, Johnny Kelley, Nina Kuscsik (the first official women’s champion), Billy Rodgers, Jack Fultz, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and so many other legends followed the same path, perhaps faster, but there is a bond. Is there another sport where an average athlete can compete on the same playing field with the world’s best?
If you are one of the fortunate folks who will be there on April 19th, best of luck and enjoy every moment of your journey. For those who have supported a loved one who is running, bless your hearts, for you really made it possible for them to reach their goal. For those who dream of someday running Boston, know that all things are possible for those who really want it.
BY THE NUMBERS Statistics and information from Boston Athletic Association

PEOPLE
26,700 Official Entrants (approx.)
80,000 People attending the Expo
7,000 Volunteers
1,200 Medical Personnel
1,500 Security Personnel
62 Race Officials
250 Ham Radio Operators
500,000 Spectators Along the Course
1,200 Total Uniform Police Officers
300 State Police
415 Members of the National Guard

B.A.A. CHARITY PROGRAM
24 Official Members in the B.A.A. Charity Program
1275 Total Runners
Fundraising efforts are expected to exceed $10 million

COURSE
36 Course Clocks
9 Electronic Checkpoints
5 Manual Checkpoints
26 Red Cross Stations
24 Water Stations
60 Volunteers at each Water Station
8 Elite Athlete Water Stations

ECONOMIC IMPACT
Boston Marathon generates an estimated $80 million for the local economy

EQUIPMENT
169 Two-way Radios
63,360 Feet of Rope
30,000 Feet of Fencing
50,000 Feet of Cable
10,000 Trash Bags
50,000 Cable Ties
300KW of Electrical Power
500KW of Electrical Power for Media
9 Million BTU's Temporary Heat
2,000 Tables
2,000 Barricades
200 x 2 Inch Tape/Rolls of Caution Tape
10 Fork Lifts
10 Scissors Lifts
600 Port-o-Johns
19 Lead Vehicles
5 Lifeguard Stands
350 Rakes and Shovels
40 Delivery Trucks
350 Buses
53 Baggage Buses
600 Trash Barrels
400 Rolls of Paper Towel
100,000 Safety Pins
65 Shuttle Buses in Hopkinton
15 Medical Buses
140 National Anthems and Countries' Flags
38,000 mylar blankets
25,000 Feet of Ribbon
5 Command Posts
220,000 Sponsor Brochures distributed to runners
25,000 Participants' Tee-Shirts
25,000 Participants' Bags/Packets
25,000 Finishers' Medals
400 packets of Handi-Wipes
1.4 Million Paper Cups
140,000 Sponsors' Samples distributed to Runners
24 Golf Carts
50,000 Drywall Screws
600 Sheets of Plywood
1,000 Pairs of Work Gloves

FOOD
11,300 Pounds of Pasta
2,825 Quarts of Tomato Sauce
3,400 Pounds of Fresh Vegetables
100 Pounds of Ground Black Pepper
35,300 Powerbars
18,000 Packets of PowerGel
17,000 Cups of Coffee/Tea
5,250 Gallons of Boiling Water
5,225 Hours of Preparation & Cooking Time
140 Waiters/Waitresses Including Chefs
35,000 Gallons of Poland Spring Water

MEDIA
200 Outlets Receiving Credentials
More than 1,500 Media Credentials Issued
8 Countries Receiving Credentials
30 States Receiving Credentials
106 Print Publications Receiving Credentials
30 Television Stations Receiving Credentials
16 Radio Stations Receiving Credentials
15 News Agencies Receiving Credentials
Telecast to more than 200 countries

MEDICAL
500 Bags of Ice
380 Cots
1,500 Blankets
500 Tongue Depressors
200 Sick Bags
4000 band aids
175 Ace Bandages
1,500 Gauze Pads
2,000 Adhesive Bandages
250 Rolls of Moleskin
BY THE NUMBERS

500 Surgical Soaps
500 Tubes of Petroleum Jelly
500 Towels
1,500 Intravenous Bags
26 Oxygen Tanks
12 EKG Machines
36 Defibrillators
150 Blood Pressure Cuffs & Stethoscopes
80 Thermometers
16 Tympanic Thermometers
2,000 Pairs of Medical Gloves
200 Bottles of Antiseptic Handwash
500 Emesis Basins
2,000 Tubes of Antibiotic Ointment

RED CROSS ALONG COURSE
325 medical / admin volunteers2,000 combined volunteer hours120 ham radio operators for course medical communications1,000-2,000 runners, spectators assisted every year along the course31 bottles Antiseptic hand gel104 boxes Gloves
52 bottles Sunblock31 boxes Antibiotic Ointment5,000 Bandaids1,500 Gauze Pads250 Ice Packs52 Heat Packs400 pads Moleskin52 tubes Sports Cream150 pounds Petroleum Jelly52 rolls Paper Towels52 boxes Tissues52 Trash Bags
QUALIFYING
480 Qualifying Races Used for Boston

The sign says it so well, “Hopkinton – It All Starts Here”.