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Boston - It Still Hurts...

Posted by: Alexandre Vanobberghen | 28 April 2008

My legs are still screaming but smile is on my face as I'm writing. This idea of running with Ian at the Boston marathon had been in my head for awhile but this race being my first marathon I just didn't know what to expect, just like the first day in a new school.

Fortunately, I felt relaxed and happy to be there with friends and didn't really have a race tactic as my only objective was to reach the finish line. In normal circumstances, my preparation would have only led me to do good on 25 km or so, the rest of it was expected to be a battle with my body anyway. But the 2 weeks before the race were a bit hectic in terms of health checking and making sure it was safe for me to run this race, so in those conditions I just thought I'd go with the flow and not worry about my performance...on the 25 first km anyway.

So here we are with Ian, getting ready to go to Hopkinton (start line) queuing to get in the school bus that will take us there. His scouser vibes surely did put me in a good mood, ah! After a horribly long bus ride and laughing at Ian's face falling asleep and crashing into the back of the front seat, we finally made it to the athletes village. Ian spent most of his time in the "porter potty" there while I zoned out and watched all those people that looked like they knew what they were about to do. I was so close to find out by my own...

The rest of the day can be broken down as follow:

Km 0: Go! finally...

Km 1: Ian's 12th wee of the day

Km 2: Ian's shoelaces

Km 3+: Feeling good - Cheering crowd all around Km 10: Ian's knee funerals Km 12: Going on my own while Ian takes it easy Km 20: the Wall, a bloody long one!

Km 23: Breakdown, legs won't go no more.

Km 30: Catch up with Ian, such a great feeling to find a friend on your way at that stage, specially a scouse one!

Km 30+: Walk through SorenessLand

Km 30+ again: Laughing with Ian

Km 42: Boston, finish line, at last...Cathy has been waiting for awhile now!

This journey in Massachusetts is without a doubt the hardest and physically most painful I've ever taken, but after a couple of days of recovery, I'm already thinking of what will be our next marathon. The adventure was so joyful particularly with those crazy americans cheering along the way! I can't wait till the next time! As for the charity part, I have to say, I wish we had more support from the charities we were running for that day...

Thanks to Ian and Cathy that got me into this adventure, and thanks alot to Berni who took great care of me during my stay in Boston!

Running friends, I'll see you soon! But until then keep on running!

Alex

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