Arun Shanbhag ([info]arunshanbhag) wrote,
2007-04-15 14:39:00
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Boston Marathon 2007: 26.2 miles in a Nor'easter!

Boston Marathon 2007: 26.2 miles in a Nor'easter!

We are expecting a Nor'easter here for the Marathon. Not good. Yesterday at the Runner's Expo where we pick up our Bibs, there was trepidation amongst the runners. No one I knew was going to "cancel," but the question on everyone's mind was: "How do I dress to run in this weather?" My training had gone spectacularly well and I was hoping to finish under 4 hours. Now I will be lucky to just finish! Here is part of the Weather Alert email we received from the organizers:

Weather Advisory - 2007 Boston Marathon
The Boston Athletic Association's medical team recommends the following precautions and advice for participants in Monday's Boston Marathon:

FORECAST:
The most up-to-date weather forecast calls for a predicted Spring storm on Monday, including heavy rains (potentially 3 to 5 inches), with the start temperatures in the mid to upper 30's. Wind will likely be East (in the face of the participants for most of the race) in the 20 to 25 mile per hour range, with gusts to as much as 50 miles per hour. This will produce a wind chill index of 25 to 30-degrees Fahrenheit.

RISKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN COLD AND WET CONDITIONS:
Combined with the rain, we are concerned that predicted weather conditions will increase the runners' risks for a condition called hypothermia. As with any athletic competition, as a runner you are assuming the risks inherent with participation. It is your responsibility to be informed about the risks associated with running in the aforementioned conditions, and the risks of injury or illness will increase with these predicted conditions.
...

But heh! Now is a great time to share a couple of pics from last year's Boston Marathon. My first!

For those unfamiliar, the Boston Marathon is the oldest continuously running marathon, one of the most difficult and the most prestigious! For runners, completing any marathon may be a life long dream, and running Boston is equivalent to touching the Holy Grail (whatever that may be!).

Inexperienced, I started fast and did not account for the initial downhill part. With every step I was jamming by toes against the front of the shoes and could feel blisters and stickiness spreading around my toes. At mile 17.4 we turned the corner and started up the first of four hills in Newton. Here I am at Mile 19. Notice the "Run Arun Run" on my shirt.




My running form seems pretty good, but my feet were killing me. And I made another important mistake. I paused and looked at my feet! There I could see blood from my toes had seeped into the top of the shoes. That made me nervous. I had thought it was only a blister! My energy deserted me and when I hit "Heartbreak Hill" at mile 20, I started to walk. Along this particular stretch, the median is lined by Emergency Medical Tents - but I was too terrified to go inside. I worried, they would find something horrible and pull me out of the race.

Along the way, the spectators were simply fabulous. Every time I stopped, someone screamed "Run Arun Run," and I'd pick up my feet and start to run. And thus I slogged trough the rest of the race.




Here I made the turn onto Boylston St and I can see the Finish line about 800 yards away. I was ecstatic! Now its a wall of screaming spectators and I was not going to be walking this stretch. My energy levels were at "zero"; my feet were killing me, all my senses had numbed; I only saw the finish line and a blur of spectators and officials. I don't remember anything else, just the finish line coming up ... incredibly slowly!



And then, I was over the line - A Marathoner!
We are all timed by individual RFID chips, which we tie to our shoes. My official time was 4:29:18; The clock states the total time elapsed, and the difference represents the time it took me to get to the start line.


Tomorrow's Marathon is going to be very different. All of us will be fighting to survive and finish! Nothing new! I will still have my "Run Arun Run" shirt, but on top I will have some thermals and wind jackets!

Go to BostonMarathon.com to get live updates. Race starts at 10:00 am (Eastern Time) and I hope to cross the start at 10:40 am. Enter my last name and bib # (23975) and you will get live feedback from my chip at every 5K intervals.

Run Arun Run
Tags: boston, marathon

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[info]praveenkumarg

April 15 2007, 20:00:21 UTC 5 years ago

I cheer for you. Go ahead and conquer it.
Best wishes and have a great time.

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:28:03 UTC 5 years ago

thanks :-)

[info]plazmah

April 15 2007, 20:17:29 UTC 5 years ago

Amazing stuff, and good luck! :)

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:28:32 UTC 5 years ago

thank you. Even this will pass.

[info]karthika

April 15 2007, 21:12:47 UTC 5 years ago

Marathon's Mecca!!!!

For a second I thought it was today. Rushed to the website to check what your timing was. Doh!!
Totally rooting for you Arun. Will be praying for reasonable weather. Do bundle up.
Now I am gonna share your post with my friends. So darn inspiring.



[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:29:59 UTC 5 years ago

Re: Marathon's Mecca!!!!

yes! Truly a Mecca!
Yoo Hoo! Thanks.
Stuffed with Carbs! and ready to go!
Hope I don't let you down.

[info]karthika

5 years ago

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[info]karthika

5 years ago

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[info]arunshanbhag

5 years ago

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[info]smriti

April 15 2007, 22:14:15 UTC 5 years ago

20 to 25 mile per hour range, with gusts to as much as 50 miles per hour. ... windchil 25-30

All the best braving the elements! What kind of shoes are those?

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:31:21 UTC 5 years ago

Many thanks!
Those are Brooks - Adrenaline GTS6
I washed and still used them a lot during my training.
:-)

[info]smriti

5 years ago

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[info]arunshanbhag

5 years ago

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[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:31:59 UTC 5 years ago

Absolutely! Hope I do OK!
thanks for your wishes

[info]flutulip

April 15 2007, 22:22:47 UTC 5 years ago

The bloody sock

The bloody sock is a proud tradition in Boston! (Except it's in baseball.) But now I want to know, what was the diagnosis on your feet AFTER the race last year? How long did it take them to heal? Hopefully it was worse in your imagination (during the dregs of the race) than it was actually.

Not sure if you can carry anything during the race, but dry socks in a plastic bag would be my recommendation! Our back yard (near Hartford) has turned into a lake, and I'm sure there will be many puddles.

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:34:57 UTC 5 years ago

Re: The bloody sock

Ha ha! yes, bloody socks is not good in running. I checked in at the Medical Tent after the finish. Turns out, I had actually split the end of my toe, and on the side too. Still no idea how it happened. So this year I am making sure I tighen the toe box of the shoes securely. It worked fine during a training run. Lets see how it does in the rain tomorrow (yuck!)

Good idea about the socks; will do and see how it goes. Thanks for the tip.

[info]arunshanbhag

5 years ago

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[info]rileen

April 15 2007, 22:53:16 UTC 5 years ago

Nice to see those pics - and all the best for overcoming the weather and the distance tomorrow!

The only time I had a bloody sock, was thanks to a bloody leech!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:36:35 UTC 5 years ago

Yikes! Leeches are bloody.
thanks for the wishes! Maybe the wind will push the clouds North or South or anywhere else! :-)

[info]zigma_an

April 15 2007, 23:13:05 UTC 5 years ago

Go Arun! I will be rooting for you and refreshing the site every few minutes. Looking forward to your post after the marathon.

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:37:47 UTC 5 years ago

Yoo Hoo! Hope you don't wait for too long!
My total time will be four hours plus! :-(
and Thanks for the wishes.

[info]zigma_an

5 years ago

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[info]arunshanbhag

5 years ago

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[info]thorn_in_side

April 15 2007, 23:54:12 UTC 5 years ago

yay!!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:38:18 UTC 5 years ago

Yoo Hoo!
Thanks
:-)

[info]fovia

April 16 2007, 00:24:29 UTC 5 years ago

Nice shirt! Not so nice bloody shoe & sock... ouch...

[info]arunshanbhag

April 16 2007, 01:39:05 UTC 5 years ago

thanks - I love that shirt!
yeah! Hope to avoid bloody socks tomorrow!
:-)

[info]on9thheaven

April 16 2007, 01:58:06 UTC 5 years ago

Run Arun Run!

And this year Annika cheers you too :)

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 11:44:10 UTC 5 years ago

Re: Run Arun Run!

With Annika cheering and dancing in the wings,
I did it! (3:59:17)
Many thanks.
:-)

[info]on9thheaven

5 years ago

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[info]arunshanbhag

5 years ago

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[info]surendra

April 16 2007, 02:45:17 UTC 5 years ago

Yes! Run Arun Run!

Wishing you all good luck for the run and sending good weather vibes your way from Chicago!
Will keep track of your progress while I am at work and hope that you meet your under 4 hr mark.

Anonymous

April 16 2007, 19:39:09 UTC 5 years ago

Re: Yes! Run Arun Run!

Congrats Arun for finishing under 4 hrs in that weather.
Now get some rest and let the feet heal!

[info]arunshanbhag

5 years ago

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[info]_untranslated_

April 16 2007, 03:09:05 UTC 5 years ago

your "bloody shoes"!

wow..!
Good luck on this one, stay dry!
:) we are pretty flooded here in the Big Apple.

P.S.
what was your training program for the marathone? how did you prepare yourself?

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 12:36:13 UTC 5 years ago

Re: your "bloody shoes"!

Heh thanks for your wishes.

We generally follow Hal Higdon's 16 week training program. Works like a charm.
See the novice program here! Go to his main page for other info.
http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00novice.htm

But this still assumes you are in good shape to start with. You should be able to do 40 - 50 min of some cardio work before even starting this program. A little strength training is necessary too.

You can do it!

BTW, I have signed up for the NYC Marathon Lottery - Join me then! :-))

[info]_untranslated_

5 years ago

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[info]arunshanbhag

5 years ago

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[info]kookygoblin

April 16 2007, 03:12:13 UTC 5 years ago

Hey! Best of luck!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 12:37:22 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks Aditi - it worked.

still to reply to your mail. Will do later today.

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[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 14:59:32 UTC 5 years ago

Re: Run Arun Run!

and thank you for your wishes!

I like
go arun go!

[info]solzaire

April 16 2007, 05:41:39 UTC 5 years ago

Wow. All the best sirji.
Conquer Arun Conquer.

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:00:51 UTC 5 years ago

thats exactly how I felt on the hills!
Conquer! Arun Conquer!

thanks buddy!

[info]rfc9000

April 16 2007, 06:40:19 UTC 5 years ago

Best of luck!!!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:01:21 UTC 5 years ago

Yoo hoo! it worked!
Thanks

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[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:02:01 UTC 5 years ago

many thanks for your wishes , DD

Did IT! phew!

[info]ssheidi

April 16 2007, 08:16:40 UTC 5 years ago

good luck!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:04:07 UTC 5 years ago

many thanks Shwetha!

[info]pratibha75

April 16 2007, 08:29:48 UTC 5 years ago

Good Luck!! Shall wait for your LJ updates!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:05:45 UTC 5 years ago

Yoo hoo!
did it!

thanks and see the update!

[info]deelight

April 16 2007, 10:34:46 UTC 5 years ago

Run Arun Run! Go for it dude...*Hoots*

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:06:44 UTC 5 years ago

Yoo Hoo!
Did it!
hugs to you!

[info]deelight

5 years ago

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[info]warmpinkglow

April 16 2007, 12:58:52 UTC 5 years ago

I admire you. It amazes me.

Run Arun, RUN!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:07:50 UTC 5 years ago

heh! Many thanks!
Just trying to stay healthy,

... and outdo today, what I did yesterday!
:-)

[info]lalunadiosa

April 16 2007, 13:49:12 UTC 5 years ago

You must be already running by now!
Will keep sending you good wishes through the day!

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:02:52 UTC 5 years ago

Look like your wishes reached me!

Did it! Many thanks!

[info]lalunadiosa

5 years ago

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[info]shri

April 16 2007, 14:18:27 UTC 5 years ago

Go ahead and best of luck! Run, Arun, run!! :)

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:08:37 UTC 5 years ago

THank you shri!
... so excited about doing a leh ladakh trip!
will keep you updated.

[info]sillifluous

April 16 2007, 16:25:05 UTC 5 years ago

Godspeed brave knight. Ye shall succeed in
this quest too. :)

[info]arunshanbhag

April 17 2007, 15:05:04 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks for the knighthood
*bows*
Yes! Success was ours!

[info]sillifluous

5 years ago

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