NAV-E-SINK OR SWIM FESTIVAL 2016 RACE REPORT

NAV-E-SINK OR SWIM FESTIVAL RACE REPORT 2016

Well, it was that time of the year again. The 11th annual Nav-e-Sink or Swim Festival took place on Memorial Day Weekend.  This was my second year doing this fun 1.2 mile swim race and I ended up having a great time.  There is a 2.4 mile option as well (which I was VERY tempted to try) but I ended up chickening out when I did the preview swim the day before.  Yeah, I know what you're thinking and it's ok.  I'm still pulling a few feathers here and there.  Next year, I'll go for the 2.4 miler...in more ways than one.  I'll explain this cryptic comment at a later date. 

RACE PREVIEW

Thursday afternoon before the race, I met a small group of swimmers for a one mile swim in the Navesink River.  We met at Victory Park in Rumson (where the race begins) and we swam up the river to the "sandbar" and back again. It was really hot outside and the water temperature was in the high 60's. There were no waves at all and everything felt perfect! Our little group got in and started swimming.  As soon as I exited the bay area and entered into the main part of the river, I felt a minor panic attack come over me.  The sandbar seemed so far away.  I started counting strokes "1, 2, 3, 4, sight" and my panic attack subsided quickly.  Counting helped me focus on swimming instead of the baby jellyfish all around me.  Yeah, there were baby jellyfish all over the place. Yikes.  Mollie and I swam together making our way to the sandbar and trying to stay with the group as best as we could.  We reached the sandbar, turned around, swam down-river and back to the beach.  1 mile swim complete! Woo Hoo!

On Saturday (the day before the event) I went back to Victory Park for one more swim in the river.  This time, the group was bigger and it was shaping up to be another hot day.  I felt a pretty intense breeze when we arrived at the river and I noticed the water had a small chop to it but I didn't think much of it.  You know, Thursday was so nice.  Tommy came with me on Saturday and hung out to read while the group swam.  Again I turned the corner of the dock and found myself in the main part of the river, only this time the waves were really choppy.  I was swimming alongside another woman who was doing her first open water swim of the season and was having panic attacks.  I didn't want to leave her but the group was pulling away from us.  She told me she was going to turn around and go back to the beach area where the water was a bit calmer.  I was SO tempted to turn around and go back with her, but I continued up the river instead.  I was swimming alone since the group was way ahead of me by this point. A lifeguard escorted her back to the beach area and then came back to stay with me.  I swore that every time I rotated for air I got a huge mouthful of water instead.  It was coming from my right side and since I don't breathe bilaterally, I got water in my mouth constantly.  I had to stop a few times, reset myself mentally and then continue swimming.  I tried counting strokes but it wasn't working this time.  All I kept thinking was that if the water was this choppy tomorrow, it was going to be a long, miserable race.  By the time I reached the sandbar, the group was already heading back.  I turned around and followed their lead.  Going back was much easier.
 
RACE DAY

Mollie picked me up at 5:30 am and we arrived at Victory Park rather early.  We had no problems finding a parking spot on one of the side streets and I noticed the air felt pretty still...thank goodness. I was hopeful that the water would be calm after my miserable swim the day before.  And it was!  I felt such a sense of relief come over me.  I brought a blanket and we set up a small picnic area and relaxed before the race began.  The men 1.2 mile swimmers were scheduled to begin at 8:15 am, followed by women 1.2 mile swimmers 5 minutes later.   The men and women 2.4 mile swimmers would start 15 minutes after us.

The National Anthem was sung, we lined up on the beach and watched the 1.2 mile men go in.  It was the most civilized swim start I had ever witnessed!  No pushing, no shoving, no kicking in the face.  Beautiful.  5 minutes later the countdown for the 1.2 mile women began.  I lined myself up towards the front of the pack.  There were a lot less swimmers this year compared to last year.  The horn blew and almost all of the women went in calm and civilized. A handful of crazies took off immediately but the rest of the ladies were very calm getting in.

Now here is the deal with the Navesink river.  You don't want your feet touching the bottom for too long.  There's no telling what the hell is on the bottom of that river, but there were a lot of sharp rocks and stones that hurt when you stepped on them.  I'm guessing it was low tide because it felt like everyone was walking, walking, walknig into the river and it didn't seem to get any deeper.  As soon as I could, I started swimming.  I thought "I'm not cutting my foot open on some unknown foreign object if I can avoid it".  And the only way to avoid it was swim more than walk.

So I swam my way to the corner of the dock and made the left turn to head up stream.  I had plenty of room to swim and no one was too close or swimming over me.  Again, everyone was calm and civilized.  We headed up the river and passed 3 orange buoys.  I felt pretty relaxed and just counted strokes. 1, 2, 3, 4, sight. Up ahead I could see the green turn buoy which was located at the sandbar.  I got close to the green buoy and saw everyone standing up and walking around the buoy.  I got as close as possible, but then had to stand up and walk as well.  I heard someone calling me and it was my friend Mollie.  She was laughing that we were walking on water.  The water was ankle deep at the sandbar.  We walked around the green buoy and even continued for a bit walking downstream.  When the water was about 2 feet deep I jumped in and started swimming again.  Now we were heading down river and there was a little current pushing us along.  Everything around me felt quite Zen-like and calm.

I swam down river, sighting the buoys that would lead me to the finish area.  I typically swim away from the buoys because I don't want to get hit or kicked in the face but my goal that day was to stay as close as possible to them so that I didn't have to swim any further than necessary.  Up ahead I saw the last turn buoy which lead us back to the beach area.  Since I was feeling good and in a rhythm, I tried to pick up my pace a bit.  I heard a drone flying overhead and I saw the first and second place 2.4 mile men swimmers pass me on the right.  I gave them room and let them do their thing. They would have to swim another lap.

I swam as close as I could to the shoreline before standing up.  Once the water was too shallow for swimming, I stood up and made my way across the finish line.  My time was 42:38.  Not a great swim time by any means but I took nearly 5 minutes off last years time, so I was happy.  There were several people with cuts on the bottom of their feet and I heard someone complaining about the amount of seaweed at the start.  That's open water for you! The medal was meh this year (not as nice as last years medal) but I didn't come for the medal.  I came to be with friends and to have a good time, which I did.  Three years ago, I couldn't even imagine myself being able to do this since I had no idea how to swim at all.  I look at this way; I've given myself the gift of swimming and I can swim in open water. It's a gift I never want to take for granted. Ever.

So that's my tale of the Nav-e-Sink or Swim Festival 2016.  Nothing major to report, just a fun morning of swimming with a great group of people.

BOSTON MARATHON RACE REPORT 2016

THE BOSTON MARATHON RACE REPORT 2016

BOSTON – IT’S WHERE HEAVEN AND HELL COLLIDE. 
Well, here it is…my Boston

Marathon race report.  And just for the record, heaven and hell collided somewhere between Newton and Brookline. My difficult journey at the Boston Marathon had been months in the making. What I expected to happen, didn’t happen.  What I didn’t expect to happen, did happen.  I went into Boston with no plan, no goal, plantar fasciitis and in a mentally bad state.  But I did learn several lessons and the biggest one was that I had enough resolve to complete the course.  I admit there were moments when I wasn't sure if I could physically finish, but mentally I was determined to see it through

I often talk about how the marathon is as much of a mental test as it is a physical one.  I have proof of that truth after spending 4 1/2 hours on the course feeling as though I was having an out of body experience at certain moments.  And there are so many little things about the course I didn’t realize until now.  So let me tell you about my long 26.2 mile slog from Hopkinton to Boston.

RACE DAY MORNING – ATHLETES VILLAGE…ITS WHERE THE “ATHLETES” ARE

After a few hours of insomnia, it was time to get up and do this thing. I had been waiting 1 year and 3 months for moment. To be truthful, I wasn’t excited, I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t feeling much of anything.  What was going on with me mentally? I don’t know.  I felt as if I was in some sort of a fog.

Problem #1 is the start time of the marathon.  You have a lot of time in between waking up and getting to the start line of the course.  There isn’t much that you can do about it since it is what it is, but I think it has a major effect on overall performance.  My start time wasn’t until 10:50 am and I was up at 5:30 am.  It was going to be a very warm day so I wore a tank top and compression shorts.  **Sunscreen is a necessity on this course.   At the hotel I got a cup of oatmeal to go (mistake) and I headed onto the hotel bus which would drop us off at the Boston Commons.  Boston Commons is a large park where the BAA has baggage drop off and school buses that will take you to the start line. There are a lot of porta potties there too and the line moved pretty quickly (no toilet paper though).  It’s really an amazing scene to see a line of 30 school buses, caravanning runners to Athletes Village in Hopkinton.  I boarded my school bus around 8:00 am and as the caravan pulled away we all cheered and hollered. Some of the bus drivers even beeped their horns to signal our departure. It felt like I was on the best school trip ever! I finally feel the fog lifting.

After a 30 minute ride we arrived at an elementary school where Athletes Village was set up.  There were helicopters overhead and SWAT teams set up on the buildings.  The line for the porta pottie was ridiculously long, but everyone waited patiently.  When I finally got into the porta pottie there was no toilet paper again. In fact there was no toilet paper in ANY of the porta potties.  Smart folks brought their own toilet paper.  I wasn’t that smart.  Before I knew it, they called wave 3 to the starting corrals.  I had waited so long on the porta pottie line that I had no time to hang around Athletes Village.  Everything happened quickly at that point.

The walk to the starting corrals is about a half mile away.  Dana Farber Institute was offering free sunscreen to anyone who needed it so I grabbed a bit more, just to be safe.  It was 10:30 am and I could feel the sun beating down on me.  The corrals are line up on a small hill. Once you crest the hill, the starting line awaits.

There was music (I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy was playing) and an announcer getting everyone into their place.  We were all chatting and making small talk and the next thing I knew, the cannon fired and wave 3 was on its way.  I continued walking up the hill with everyone else until we got close to the start line.  I crossed the starting mat, turned on my Garmin (this time I didn’t forget) and I began video taping the beginning with my phone.  I wanted to remember as much as possible of this day.

WELCOME TO HOPKINTON – AND THEY’RE OFF

As soon as you cross the starting line you run downhill and its a pretty good descent.  My foot with the plantar fasciitis hurt a bit, but it was tolerable.  No other pain (yet) to complain about. We ran down hill and the crowd of spectators were amazing.  The first thought that struck me was how narrow and crowded the road was and that this marathon, the most prestigious marathon in the world, basically runs through someone's front yard.  I don't know how else to describe it because it felt a bit surreal.  Homeowners dust off their lawn furniture, set up shop on their front lawn, spark up the barbeque and cheer you on.  It's wonderfully weird.

The first couple of miles out of Hopkinton aren't bad. You go up an incline, come down an incline, run flat for a while and then repeat the process all over again. It's mostly smaller up and down inclines.  I tried staying towards the right side of the road because that was where the shade was. Throughout much of the course, you'll find yourself in direct sunlight and there's little shade to be had.  The spectators are a continuous line along both sides of the road screaming, cheering, chanting, playing music, singing, dancing, even praying.  It was all out there. A glorious 26.2 mile party.

WELCOME TO ASHLAND – WHERE ITS STILL ALL GOOD

Ashland is the second town (out of 8) that you run through.  As soon as you cross into Ashland, TJ’s Food and Spirits is on the left and features a rowdy, fun crowd.  Music is blasting, people are cheering, everyone is having a good time! Me include.

I was running along, minding my own business when I see a young woman take a nasty fall.  I, along with another woman, stopped to help her up. The other woman began apologizing for tripping her up. Uh oh, this isn’t good. The young woman  was visibly upset and said “you hurt my ankle”. The woman continues apologizing while I, like the good runner that I am say “ok, bye” and I go on my merry way. I didn’t want to get caught up and blamed for something I didn’t cause. I just hope she didn’t have to drop out of the race because of her ankle. The early miles are a tight cluster of runners.

I tried keeping a slower pace since I hadn’t been running much over the last 8 1/2 weeks, but it’s really difficult to take those early downhills slowly. I wanted to make sure I had enough energy in the tank to get me through the entire race. The rolling hills weren’t bothering me just yet. The vast spectators and signage kept my mind occupied.  The first few miles clicked away steadily and I was feeling good. No pain in my foot, I was happy.  The BAA has Gatorade and water stations setup on both sides of the road at every mile marker.  It was a hot day (for running) and I wasn’t prepared (or even thinking about) a fueling and hydration strategy. I just sort of free-styled it.  And that’s where my mistakes begin.

WELCOME TO FRAMINGHAM – HERE’S A WARNING SHOT ACROSS THE BOW

My first warning shot that everything was about to head south happened in Framingham, around mile 6.  I’m pretty sure my mind betrayed me and sent a message to my body telling it that we’re running another marathon.  Suddenly my stomach felt awful, it felt full, as if everything was bouncing around.   I tried not to think about it and hoped it would go away, but no such luck. I alternated between Gatorade and water at random. I wasn’t sure how to handle the heat or what to drink and when to drink it.  The Gatorade tasted too sweet, so I stuck with water more than I should have. Throughout the entire course a  lot of spectators offered cut up oranges. Just looking at them made my stomach turn.  Many other spectators offered tissues, wet paper towels, cups of ice, water, bananas, ice pops and yes, beer.  I rejected everything. You do have to be careful where you’re running.  The course (especially near the water stations) is covered in debris. Cups, tissues, paper towels, and orange peels! OMG, there were orange peels are everywhere and pieces of bananas on the ground. Yeah, you have be careful where you’re stepping.

As we passed the Framingham Train Station I noticed it was much less rural looking.  It isn’t “city” looking, but now you’re passing more stores and business. You no longer feel as though you’re running through someone’s front yard.  The nice thing however is that between the thousands of runners and spectators, you’re never alone.  Between miles 5 and 6 the herd of runners has thinned out and you have a bit more room to yourself.

I noticed a man with an ‘MSK Fred’s Team’ shirt and it said SURVIVOR on the back.  We chatted for a bit and he told me he had Stage-4 Melanoma.  I told him about Tom and he said “please tell your husband to hang tough and fight”.  He was a wonderful inspiration, even though I’m sure he would have hated me saying those words to him.  Tommy feels very uncomfortable whenever someone says he’s an inspiration.

WELCOME TO NATICK – ITS A VERY NICE TOWN

I really liked the town of Natick.  The scenery changes from stores and business to a more suburban feel here.  Pretty homes line both sides of the street and the crowd of spectators remain.  The road also flattens out here so you have some time to recover.

As you come into the town of Natick you really get that New England town feel.  American flags hang from lamp posts lining the street and the people along the course are enthusiastic. I really enjoyed running through town.  Plus, I was kinda-sorta hanging in there with my stomach.  It didn’t feel great, but it was manageable.

And then boom. Suddenly I’m not feeling so well.  I’m around mile 10 and my stomach goes from bad to really bad. I start getting a nauseous feeling.  I tell myself that my goal is to get to the half way point before I start walking.  I stick with my goal and continue running, although I have to slow my pace down.  I try not to overthink my stomach issues.  I tell myself that I’m about to leave Natick and enter the town of Wellesley.  I had been looking forward to meeting the girls of Wellesley College.

WELCOME TO WELLESLEY – GET READY FOR THE SCREAM TUNNEL

Just like Natick, Wellesley is another nice town.  I had heard so much about the girls of Wellesley College and I was anxious to find out if the rumors were true.  I was told you can hear them screaming from a mile away.  I continued running and reminding myself that I could walk after Wellesley College, if I really needed to.

As I approached the school, I could hear the screams off in the distance.  I got my cellphone ready because I wanted to record the college students as I ran by.  True to their word, the girls of Wellesley do not disappoint and yes, you can hear them from what feels like a mile away.  I recorded the crowd and if nothing else, it made me forget about my stomach for a little while.

Unfortunately as soon as I was done recording I couldn’t ignore the ever growing feeling of nausea within.  With every passing mile the sensation grew worse and worse.  I tried forcing myself to drink Gatorade and water, I tried forcing myself to consume gel packets at 4 mile intervals.  I knew it was going to be a challenge to keep the Gatorade, water and gel down.

As you exit the town of Wellesley you get a nice downhill descent.  I couldn’t afford to lose it here, so I took the downhill slowly and carefully.  I still had a lot of miles ahead of me and reality would be setting in very soon.

WELCOME TO NEWTON – WHERE IT’S ALL UPHILL AND SHIT GETS REAL

Newtown is another nice looking suburban town.  I was really worried about this part of the race. My stomach wasn’t doing well and I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle the hills.  We passed a hospital on the right and I think we crossed over a highway.  I wasn’t focused much on the course but I was very focused on my stomach. My lips felt terribly dry as if the skin was peeling off.  I grabbed a wet paper towel from someone and sucked on it just to wet my lips.  And here it comes…

I turned the corner at the infamous firehouse and I know what’s waiting for me; the first of the Newton hills.  I felt a bit lost on the course because there’s so much going on. By this point in the race, I’m running alongside happy runners and struggling runners.  There are runners who feel great and there are runners who wish the suffering would end.  The collision between heaven and hell begins here.

The firehouse had a big yellow blowup tunnel that would wet you down if you needed to cool off.  I opted not to go through the tunnel because by this point in the race a headwind had kicked up and the air temperature was getting chilly.  I didn’t want to get that shocking cold feeling by getting wet.  I had this back and forth sensation of being hot and cold with some chills.

The hill after the infamous firehouse was probably the most brutal hill for me.  It isn’t nearly as long as Heartbreak Hill, but it’s a pretty decent climb at mile 18ish. And considering where I was with my nausea, I buckled up for the ride.  “Ok body, listen up! We’re going to slowly run up this hill and our reward will be a bit of walking once we reach the top”.  And that was what I did.  I slowly trudged my way up the hill, running, running, running and got to the top.  There’s a nice little drop afterwards so you get a break.  By this point I’m trying not to walk too much, but I am taking short walking breaks and my running pace has slowed.  I would savor my walking break but then I would get back to running as soon as possible.

Somewhere around the very end of mile 18 into mile 19, you guessed it…another hill.  At first I think its Heartbreak Hill but then I looked at my watch and realize “no you dummy, this is not Heartbreak Hill”.  It was a decent size hill but I stick to my ‘run up slowly, walk a bit when you reach the top’ plan.  I decided that come hell or high water, I’m going to run up the hills of Newton.  I was going to test my mental strength on these hills. This is what the Boston Marathon was about; at least for me.  The journey continued on and I knew what was looming ahead. THE HILL. The mack daddy of the Boston hills. The one we’ve all been waiting for; Heartbreak Hill straight ahead.

I make my way to mile 20 and I'm ready for it.  I'm determined to run up Heartbreak Hill entirely.  And here we are.  Heartbreak Hill and I are about to get it on.  I begin running up and keeping my eyes focused on the ground ahead of me. Lots of runners are walking, lots of runners are running.  Tap, tap, tap, my feet go.  I see a guy on a stretcher to the right of me being taken away.  Tap, tap, tap, I continue on up. I notice the houses on the right, I notice spectators on the left. Tap, tap, tap, I give a quick glance up to see how much further I have to go.  I’m almost there!!! Tap, tap, tap, my feet keep going until I reach the top.  I ask a spectator “is this the top of Heartbreak Hill”? They look at me as if they don’t speak English. And then I see what appears to be an angel holding a sign that says “HEARTBREAK IS BEHIND YOU NOW”.  I stop and ask if I can take her photo and she’s totally cool.  I could have kissed her I was THAT happy. If truth be told, I had a harder time with the first hill, the one at the firehouse.  Heartbreak Hill isn’t steep, it’s just a ridiculously long incline that comes very late in the race.  But there are SO many people cheering you on that you get lost in the moment. Its completely doable.

After Heartbreak Hill, its downhill from there.  You have a descent that will take you down and into Boston College territory.  Everyone talks about the loud cheers from the Wellesley girls, but let me tell you…the Boston College students are loud and proud as well.  By this point I’m not doing well at all.  I’m starting to wonder if I’m going to finish.  I remind myself that I’m so close and that I could walk (and vomit) the rest of the way if absolutely necessary.  And the students of Boston College pull me through!  They came at the point when I REALLY REALLY needed them! They encouraged me to fight and keep going.  These wonderful college kids motivated this old lady to keep going.  My heart and gratitude belongs to them!  And sadly, they’ll never know how deeply touched I was by their encouragement.

WELCOME TO BROOKLINE – WAIT, I’M NOT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON YET

I came down the hill after Boston College and the scenery began to take on a more city-like look. I turned left at the corner and crossed over the trolley tracks.  I notice the signs that say BROOKLINE on them.  I’m like “what”??? I thought I had already passed Brookline. I felt instantly deflated when I realized I still had to run through another town.  I thought I had entered the city of Boston.  I really had no sense of where I was on the course. By this point I had to pull over and take a break because I wanted to puke (sorry for being gross).  But there’s nothing in me to puke.  I catch my breath, walk a bit, then muster up some energy to run a bit.  I do a lot of walking and very little running between miles 23, 24 and into 25.  I stop every time I feel the urge to puke.

As you run through Brookline you have the trolley on your left and pretty row houses on the right. I could see the Citgo sign off in the distance and like a moth to light, I ever so slowly made my way towards it.  Of course, I had to stop and take a picture of it.  I know I’m about a mile and a half away from my medal.

WELCOME TO BOSTON – ITS EVERYTHING YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING OF

Finally, I enter the city of Boston.  There’s a highway overpass that has the Boston Strong banner hanging from it. I take a quick picture of the banner hanging from it and I continue
along looking for Tommy and Caitlin. I knew they were somewhere in the 25 mile area.

“Arletta…Arletta”…I know that voice anywhere.  Tommy and Caitlin were on the left side of the road and I happily run over to see them.  Tommy decides it’s a great idea to film me as I nearly collapse on poor Caitlin.  She both hugs and holds me up at the same time.  I tell Tommy that I’m not doing well and that I’ll probably go to the medical tent afterwards.  I want to be cautious because of my Crohn’s Disease, but I realize now how ridiculous that even sounds.  If you’re so damn worried about your Crohn’s Disease, then why the hell are you running a marathon? Anyway, it’s time to finish this thing that I’ve started.

Tommy tells me that I’m just around the corner to the light of day.  There’s a Boston Marathon medal waiting for me less than one mile away from here.  I give Caitlin a final hug and continue on.  Just seeing them has motivated me to run to the finish line.  No more walking, no more stopping, no more whining, lets just do this! I run down the highway ramp and back up again. I make the right turn on Hereford and a left turn on Boylston.  The crowd…OMG…the crowd is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!  I see the finish line up ahead and I use my cellphone to record the final stretch of spectators.  I get closer and closer until finally I reach the end and cross the finish line that dreams are made of. I throw my hands up and rejoice in completing my first Boston Marathon.  My official finish time was 4:31:54.  Certainly not the time I had “hoped” for but considering I was seriously doubting my ability to finish, I was beyond elated! I walked ahead and bowed my head to the volunteer allowing him to place that beautiful medal around my neck.  I am a unicorn, I am Boston Marathoner!

IN CONCLUSION – RANDOM THOUGHTS AND ADVICE

Hotel – Reserve a hotel room early and expect to pay through your teeth.  This is a very expensive run-cation.  Hotels around Boston average anywhere between $450 to $700 per night (USD).  We stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge and that was over $500 a night.

Try to find a hotel that provides free transportation to and from Boston Commons. Boston Commons is where you will board the school bus that takes you from the city of Boston to Athletes Village in Hopkinton

I met a woman who, in 2015, stayed at a hotel near Logan Airport figuring it wouldn’t be that bad to commute to Boston on race day.  She said it was an absolute nightmare.  She had to take a boat and a bus to get to Boston Commons. I guess that’s why the hotel rates are cheaper around Logan Airport.

If possible, make dinner reservations around 2 weeks out if there’s a particular restaurant you want to eat at.  Tommy and I stuck with chain style restaurants on both Saturday and Sunday evening.  We ate at Uno’s on Boylston Street and the wait wasn’t bad.  The closer you get to 6:00 pm however, the wait becomes very long.  The expo is across the street and closes at 6:00 so Uno’s was super crowded by the time we left.  On Sunday we ate at Bertucci’s in Cambridge (not far from our hotel) and again we arrive at around 5:00 pm and were seated immediately.  By 6:00 pm there was a wait.

DO NOT FORGET YOUR RUNNERS PASSPORT!!!!!!! About 3 weeks before the marathon, the BAA sends you a runners passport.  YOU MUST TURN IN YOUR RUNNERS PASSPORT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR BIB!  

Don’t forget to wear sunscreen, especially on race day!

Expect huge crowds at the expo and all around Boylston Street for the entire weekend
They’ll have plenty of Boston Marathon jackets at the expo. I’m glad I didn’t pre-order one because the women’s “medium” was a bit large on me. I ended up purchasing a size small.

Yes, you can hail a cab on the streets of Boston however if you’re hailing a cab in Boston, it needs to be a Boston cab. If you’re hailing a cab in Cambridge, it needs to be a Cambridge cab.  You can’t hail a Cambridge cab if you’re in the city of Boston, for example.  Average cab fare was $10 between the expo and our hotel (not including tip).

There’s an after party that’s held in Fenway park after the marathon. If you’re running the marathon you’ll receive a free entry ticket.  If you want to purchase additional tickets for family or friends, you have to pre-purchase them at the expo.  They do not sell entry tickets at the door.  The cost of a ticket was $25 per person.  We did not go to the after party but my friend went and said it was a lot of fun.

The BAA knows how to run the show. Everything is very well organized and clearly stated. As race day approaches they send you emails and keep you in the loop.

MY FINAL RAMBLING

Try not to go into the Boston Marathon with no plan or schedule (you know, like I did).  I didn’t put much thought about fueling and hydrating because I wasn’t racing. I should have focused on that a bit more and set a time goal for myself as well as a schedule for fueling.  No goal, no schedule resulted in a poor race for me.

Understand that you’ll be starting the marathon at later than normal time.  This needs to be factored in to your plan.  My wave didn’t start until 10:50 am and I think eating oatmeal (which I hate) at 8:00 am was the beginning of my troubles. I probably should have brought a bagel with peanut butter because I could feel the oatmeal sloshing around my stomach.  After eating the oatmeal I didn’t drink any water because I didn’t want to have the urge to pee.  I started this race entirely wrong. Plus with my plantar fasciitis injury I was nervous about my foot giving out, which it never did. Go figure.

Try to get to athletes village as early as possible. The porta-potty lines are insanely long.  There was NO toilet paper in any porta potties so bring some type of toilet paper or tissues along paper with you. By the time you reach Athlete’s Village and go to the bathroom, your wave is already lining up.  Everything seems to happen really fast.

Learn how to run hills; especially downhill.  Your quads will be crying after the Newton Hills and you still have a good amount of distance to cover.

Don’t forget to smile and celebrate when you cross that finish line! You’ve come a long way baby and every step is worth it in the end! It’s a glorious feeling!

THE BOSTON MARATHON AND PLANTAR FASCIITIS

ONE WEEK UNTIL BOSTON AND PLANTAR FASCIITIS

So here I am...ONE WEEK AWAY!  I qualified for the Boston Marathon in January 2015 and let me tell you, it's been a LONG time coming!  Where am I at with training?  Well, here's the scoop and it's not good.  It's not horrible, but it's not where I had hoped to be.

8 weeks ago I started feeling a dull pain in the bottom of my left heel.  The best way to describe it was that it felt as though I had bruised my heel bone.  I was able to run and I even completed a 20 miler but I decided I should be proactive and consult a podiatrist.  After an x-ray and ultrasound, the podiatrist diagnosed me with plantar fasciitis.  His advice? Cancel my hotel reservations..."you're not running Boston".  My reply? "Uh, I'm running Boston so you need to give me a plan B."

PLAN B:

I could "try" to run the Boston Marathon as long as I didn't run for the next 2 months.  Essentially, race day would be my comeback run.  I didn't feel good about this plan at all, but according to him it was my only hope for staying in the game.  He gave me a shot of cortisone below the ankle and told me to purchase Super Feet Orthotics.  After a week of wearing the orthotics I discovered they were making my PF much worse.  Up until I started wearing the orthotics I was able to run and I even completed a 20 miler.  A week after wearing the orthotics, the PF became so inflamed that I couldn't even walk.  I finally had no choice but to ditched the "Super Feet" and find another alternative that worked for me.

TREATING THE PLANTAR FASCIITIS:

Now don't laugh but I went to Kohls and purchased an inexpensive pair of New Balance running sneakers that were very cushioned in the heel. I also found a heel cup at Shoprite that worked well for me.  This combination, my New Balance sneakers and ProFoot heel cup, was the ONLY setup that allowed me to walk without agony.  Mentally I was in a bad place.  The countdown to Boston was on and everyone was posting their long run days, except for me. And yes, on more than one occasion Tom reminded me that at least I didn't have cancer. Thanks Tom.

For the first three weeks after diagnosis I had to stop running completely.  I replaced running with bicycling and instead of having a long run day, I had long cycling day. Since my long run days took me anywhere from 3 to 3 1/2 hours to complete, I cycled on the trainer for that amount of time.  Bicycling didn't aggravate my foot at all, but I would have stopped if I was in pain.  I tried to stay off my feet as much as possible.  Someone mentioned purchasing a boot and while it sounds extreme, PF is a very nasty injury and I don't think it's an over the top idea. My aunt is lending me her night splint so after Boston, I'll give it a try.  She said it helped her to get over her PF.  It's worth a shot.  I made sure to ice my foot 2 to 3 times a day, I didn't walk barefoot anywhere in the house (especially on hardwood or tiled flooring) and I used Voltaren cream twice daily.  Voltaren is a prescription cream that's a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).  After 3 weeks the pain began to subside and the intensity of the pain eased up.  Initially the pain wasn't just in the arch of the foot, it went towards the back of the heel and up towards the ankle. The pain felt "big" as if it covered a large area outside of the arch. Put a rock in the arch of your shoe and try running with it.  That's what it felt like.

Once I got the pain to subside I was able to begin a stretching and strengthening routine.  I did a series of plantar fasciitis and calf exercises 2 to 3 times a day.  I also went back to doing my one-legged squats, front and back lunges and side leg lifts.  I couldn't do too many of these in a row, but I kept at it until I built my leg strength up again.  I also started deep-water-running 3 times a week. My longest deep water "run" was 2 full hours with some speed intervals thrown in.  My chiropractor (Dr. Joe Palonis aka Evil Genius) mentioned K-Laser treatment and how it seemed to work well for PF.  Now I know it sounds too good to be true, but I honestly believe the K-Laser treatments accelerated the healing process.  After the first 3 treatments I noticed the pain didn't radiate out as much and the area of pain got smaller and smaller. I was down to one small area of discomfort on the bottom of the foot and I was ready to try running again.

My first run was a very slow 6 miler and yes there was some mild pain.  I did another 6 mile run a few days later and then I did a 10 mile slow run. I did two more 10 mile runs (giving myself a couple of days off in between) and then I tried a very slow 16 mile run two days ago.  Towards the end of the 16 miler my foot did become uncomfortable, but I wasn't in pain.  My breathing? Well, that's a whole different story.  I feel as though my breathing is terrible and completely off since I stopped running. I get winded very quickly and I haven't been hydrating like I used to.  No matter how much bicycling and deep water running I did, nothing seems to replace actual running. Although I didn't mind the deep water running as much as I thought I would.  I may even continue incorporating it into my schedule in the future.

AS OF TODAY IT'S ONE WEEK UNTIL BOSTON

So this is where I'm at right now:  The Boston Marathon is exactly one week away and I'm feeling pretty good again.  I forgot to mention that I came down with a brutal cold 2 weeks ago but everything is coming together now.  When I was first diagnosed 8 weeks ago, I would have never imagined being this far along with PF.  My spirits have lifted and I now believe I have a chance at completing the entire course. I know it'll be slow and painful, but I'm ready to earn that medal.  This injury damaged more than my ability to run, it damaged my spirit a bit.  This is the longest amount of time that I've been unable to run because of an injury.  I also heard my fair share of plantar fasciitis horror stories and I felt like I would never get beyond the initial pain.  I've met people who have been dealing with it for well over a year. And yes, I know it's a recurring issue and that worries me.  So while I may not be 100%, I guess nothing in life ever is.  I'll run with whatever I've got and hope for the best.  And as my friend Mark stated
"The Boston Marathon isn't a race, it's a victory lap of your accomplishments".

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH OPEN WATER SWIMMING

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH OPEN WATER SWIMMING

Unlike some of my more recent blog posts, this one was a bit more fun to write.  January was my two year swim anniversary. Somehow (and I'm not sure how), I stuck it out in this God forsaken sport! I had three major meltdowns along the way and all things considered, I don't think that's a horrible average.

December Open Water Swim in Long Branch NJ

My last (and worst) meltdown happened in April 2015.  I had a panic attack in the pool over the thought that I couldn't swim long distance without stopping.  After a year and thee months of dedicating my time to swimming, I believed I should be more than able to complete distance without stopping, yet somehow my mind didn't believe.  This non-belief weighed me down.  And it was at that moment, on that very day, when I bumped in to a triathlete friend who talked me off the ledge.  His advice? Force myself to swim 1 non-stop mile.  Just do it!  If you don't push yourself, its never going to happen.  I found the first 1/4 mile to be the most difficult and it did require mental pushing, but after that I was able keep going comfortably.

After that day everything about swimming suddenly improved, including my mental attitude.  I learned something about my inner-self.  I had a new belief in myself and that I was put on this "swim journey" for a reason.  What the exact reason was, I wasn't 100% sure.  But there was something there.  After Tommy's cancer diagnosis, swimming became my biggest salvation when everything felt out of control.  Running and bicycling helped to clear my mind but swimming...there was something about being in the open water that fulfilled my soul in a way that running and bicycling didn't. It felt, for a lack of better words, magical. Like I had crossed into another world.

And that's a feeling I never anticipated experiencing two years ago. I never thought I would fall in love with open water swimming, especially since swimming was my enemy for the longest time.  And just when I was at that breaking point in April, a little miracle happened. I discovered the raw beauty and peace that open water swimming offered. If you are able to let go of the mental chain that holds you down, it becomes an unexpected gift.  Maybe it was the way the horizon would gently light up as the early morning sun rose over the ocean.  Maybe it was the way the water glistened with each spectacular sunset.  Maybe it was the way the dolphins swam and jumped through the ocean waters without a care in the world. Maybe it was the way the water would rush past my face as I swam across the lake surrounded by fellow triathletes. There was something new that wasn't there before.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT SWIMMING OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS?

* First and foremost, you are NEVER too old to learn to swim. It may be a bit more challenging when you're older, but it's worth it.
* If you are swimming in triathlon realize that you are not a pool swimmer. You are an open water swimmer.
* Understand there is a significant difference between pool swimming and open water swimming, especially on race day.
* When you think you've finally mastered a swim technique, you haven't.
* When you're positive you've mastered a swim technique, there's another technique that needs your immediate attention.
* Learn to correctly exhale when your face is in the water.
* Do not lift your head up when you rotate for air. Pretend your head is resting on a pillow.
* You will need some private swim lessons with a good swim coach at some point in time.
* You will probably hate swimming for at least the first year and maybe longer.
* Someone will say something about your technique that will hurt your feelings. Cry in the water where no one can see your tears and get over it.
* You will be terrified during your first few open water swims. Its normal! Just keep on repeating the process and it will get easier and easier each time.
* Be gentle with yourself and don't beat yourself up mentally. Its a long journey.
* If you can get used to swimming in the ocean, you will overcome some big mental hurdles.
* Your fellow triathlete friends are the best gift you will ever acquire in this sport.  There is no medal, trophy or age group placement that can ever compare or replace their friendship.
* If you can embrace open water swimming, you will learn to love it.

There are more items I can add to the list above, but I'll leave it at that for now.  If you're struggling with swimming the way I was, please don't lose heart.  Take a step back, catch your breath, don't beat yourself up and come back to a day or two later.  But whatever you do, try not to quit completely.  There's a great love affair out there in the open water and maybe its calling your name.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD

EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD

I know it's been a while since I've blogged about anything, so I'm starting with an update on Tom.

TOM UPDATE:

As you may or may not know, Tom began treatment for his stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma at the end of August 2015 after his surgery in early July.  He was accepted into a clinical trial through Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and began a 2 drug immunotherapy treatment plan.  Every 3 weeks, he would receive an infusion of two different drugs.  After 4 treatments (12 week), one of the drugs was taken away and he continued to receive treatment of one immunotherapy drug every 2 weeks.  I know, its confusing.  After his first 4 treatment he underwent a bone scan and CT scan which showed the tumors had shrunk significantly.  So it seems as though the immunotherapy is doing its job.

Recently however, he has begun to notice several side effects.  Because immunotherapy activates a patients immune system to fight the cancer, he was warned that one of the side effects was the possibility of developing an autoimmune disease.  It seems as though Tom has developed psoriatic arthritis and sensitivity to light which is effecting his eyesight.  He had an outbreak of psoriasis on both legs and his knees are quite swollen and painful, making it difficult for him to walk. Obviously, he hasn't been running and he is just so bummed out over it.  On top of it, the radiation he received in early August for the tumor in his tibia bone seems to have caused soft tissue damage to the leg. He tried running a 5k in December and ended up on crutches afterwards. So running is off the table. Since there aren't many treatment options available to him, he has to either continue treatment and deal with the side effects or leave the clinical trial.  So, he continues to receive treatment and he continues to deal with the side effects.  *UPDATE ON THE EYE:  Tom recently visited an eye doctor because his eye situation continued to deteriorate.  Turns out that he has an abrasion on his eye.  There are several possible causes, however the doctor believes the immunotherapy may have dried his eyes out so much so that it caused an abrasion.  She put a special contact lens into his eye so that it would protect the abrasion and he had to use antibiotic eye drops for 24 hours.  He then went back to the doctor and had the contact lens removed.  Upon re-examination, the abrasion on his eye healed significantly.  He'll continue using the antibiotic eye drops for 7 days and be re-evaluated again.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP SOMEONE, JUST TRY AND UNDERSTAND!

So far, one of the biggest lessons I've learned through this journey is discovering who is really there for you.

The ones who are truly there for you make their presence known.  They're the ones who proactively call or text to see if you need anything from the grocery store.  They've offered to drive Tommy into Manhattan for his treatment.  They've offer to drive our daughter to school if I'm at treatment with Tommy. They've meet us for lunch on a random day, just to spend time with us.  They're the ones who leave a tray of food on our doorstep so that I don't have to cook dinner. Or they text me every other Tuesday like clockwork, just to see how Tommy's treatment went.

A friend of ours, who herself had a very difficult battle with cancer, came over to visit and openly shared her story.  Her journey, her battle and her inner strength was the most amazing source of inspiration for us. It was her way of making sure we know she is there for us. She understands.

So you see, you don't have to cook, clean or go grocery shopping if that isn't your thing.  But there is another way you can help; just be present and try to understand.  Understand that they're swimming through some very stormy waters of life. Understand that you may not get a favor returned to you anytime soon.  Understand they may be experiencing something terrifying to them.  Understand that they see things, changes, that you don't see and you don't know about.  Understand that they may not want to voice every detail of their thoughts and fears.  Understand that the storm has changed them. Understand that they don't need to hear your platitudes. Understand that saying things to make yourself feel better doesn't necessarily make them feel better. Just try to understand.

If you're close to someone and you want to help, here is what you can do: First, do not say "if you need something, call me". Odds are they're not going to call you because most of us don't like requesting favors. Instead be proactive and choose something that you can, and more importantly, want to do for them. "Can I drop off some home made chicken soup"? "Do you need anything from the grocery store"? "Can we meet for lunch/dinner next week"?  "Do you need a ride to the doctors, I have the day off".  And if you aren't so close that you feel comfortable becoming physically involved, that's okay too! A simple text, email, phone call, fb message saying "I'm thinking of you" is enough to warm someone's heart.  It lets them know that you're present and you haven't forgotten about them. A friend of mine from the YMCA said "I want you to know that I think of you so very often these days".  Warmed my heart.

In the end, I think the most important and gracious thing you can offer someone is time and understanding.  Just try to imagine yourself in their place and feel the stormy waters they're navigating through. Placing yourself in someone else's position is the only way to understand them. And lets be honest, we all have a need and desire to be understood. So be present and try to understand.