The Marathon Support Acknowledgement

Hail my running brothers and sisters!  As I mentioned yesterday, I owe a blog to my family, friends, and bloggy buddies for all your support and encouragement this past year and a half.  As I the final days till my marathon tick off, I feel that I really have to thank everyone for bearing with me as I’ve made my way.  Especially my wife and kids.  No one has had to sacrifice as much as they have with my all my training, lack of patience and never-ending “Joel-ness.”  I can’t express how much I truly appreciate how everyone has suffered me for this long and have continued to support me, despite myself.  So as I get ready to race here in my hometown, among my people, my friends, and my family, I hope to honor you all with a race run well, performed to the best of my ability and courage, no matter how I finish.  Thanks.

Now enough with with sappy stuff.  Today was the 114th running of the Boston Marathon.  Congratulations Robert Cheruiyot (KEN 2:05:52(CR)) and to Teyba Erkesso (ETH 2:26:11) and to all the finishers.  It was an amazing race, and though I cheered for US favorites, Ryan Hall (2:08:39) and Meb Keflezighi (2:09:26), I can’t deny the strong kick at the end by Cheruiyot to take the men’s title.  Likewise I thought Tatyana Pushkareva (RUS 2:26:14)(Also the women’s winner of the Country Music Marathon last year) had me cheering her on for an unlikely upset/comeback from behind, but Erkesso managed to hold her back.  These competitors (all of them) are simply amazing to watch.

Now for  the hard numbers:  I got in my last long run before the race with a 10.25 mi run with 7 mi at marathon pace.  My average pace ended up being 8:01/mi.  I probably wouldn’t have run so hard if I hadn’t read an article in Running Times (I know, I know.  I shouldn’t have even looked at the article, but I’m an asshat.  Sue me.) that called for the workout to keep up your confidence and intensity going into your race.  I have to admit I’m feeling pretty confident.  Score!  So just a couple more short, EASY (I swear) runs for the week, and then I should be good (i.e. ready for the race.  I’m always good.  Not in the sense of morally good, but more like awesome-good.)  Okay, I’m out.  Later kids!