The Boston Marathon

It has been a busy week for sure. Last Saturday was Morgan's Banquet/Prom and it was big fun for sure. She looked beautiful (that is a dad speaking, but really, the girl is beautiful and so is her sister) and Ethan looked pretty good too. They enjoyed all the pictures, food, dancing (I am not even sure they danced), bowling, food, and the company of the other DCA students and dates.

Sunday morning early I flew to Boston, hit the expo, got the packet, shirt, walked around the expo exhibits, climbed in the car and headed to the hotel. Made contact with Ron Kramer, my BAA friend who takes care of me on race day, and Allyson Clark who was wonderful and provided transportation to the start and took me back to the hotel after the finish. She was a wonderful asset to the whole experience. Now let's talk the race - it is mostly downhill the first 16 miles, a series of 4 hills through mile 21 including the famous Heartbreak Hill, and then more downhill from 21-26. I felt decent at the start (the starting line that is) and by mile 4 knew that this was not my day. It seemed the more I tried to get my legs to turn over and do that 8 min/mile pace the more futile it became. The half was respectable (1:49ish) and about 4 min off of pace but I knew I was tired and could push and get really frustrated. I ran with a young lady from Toronto for about 10 miles starting around mile 10 and bid her adieu about mile 20. She smiled and kept going. She was 36, coming off an injury and I remembered the Downtown Y mottoes, "Everyone for themselves" and "there is no shame in losing to a girl."

In the imfamous words of my friend Ron Kramer, (mentioned above), Sometimes Boston jumps up and bites you in the backside - he chooses to use the word that also can be used for knuckleheads and donkeys. Boston bit me. It was great to be able to run. The crowd, the volunteers, the race crew are all top notch and make Boston a great experience regardless of one's personal performance. I am thankful and blessed to be able to run.

I had meetings on Tues in Boston and Weds was a travel day to Metro Youth Ministers meeting in Destin, FL and a great dinner w/ friend Chad Childress at NAMB. Great guy and strong encourager. Presented this morning to the Metro guys, had lunch w/ Jared Gregory who is the youth minister at Village Baptist in Destin and now boarding a flight to home via DFW. Ready to see my bride and sleep in my own bed.