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Miles
11 - 17
As I head out of Natick and pass the 11 then 12 mile markers my legs start
to feel sore. The knees are fine which I found very surprising, but my
muscles did start to ache. I think I started walking a bit more, however,
I made sure not to make it a leisurely walk. I kept focus on my goal and
walked with wide and fast strides. I was now about 21 minutes ahead of
pace and figured I should be doing 12 - 14 minute miles. Still with the
mental math and trying to stay focused on just get to the next mile marker.
At about 12 miles you can start to hear it. There is a narrow passage that the runners have to run through at Wellesley College and the women there make it their mission to be as loud as possible. Some of them hold signs such as "Kiss me I'm a senior", "A hug to keep you going!", "A kiss to keep you running". Numerous runners actually took them up on the offer. I did make sure to run through this section and I did raise my arms to get even a louder scream.
I checked my watch at the half way point and realized that my pace has slowed a bit but I was still ahead with some time in my 'bank'. At half way my time was 2 hours and 33 minutes....22 minutes in the 'bank'.
Once through the college area I came up to the point where I started my 14 mile run two months earlier. I guess I didn't actually do a 14 mile run since it was past the half way point. It was, however, a big boost mentally. I had done this run before. Of couse, I hadn't done 13 miles before it, but at least I had some idea as to what to expect.
My
legs where now getting noticeably sore. No real pain, just noticeably.
The road heads downhill towards Newton Lower Falls and I remember that
I noticed police officers starting to put away the ropes that kept people
back. Hmmmm....cleaning up already!? Do they not think I'll finish? I
will....I will...I will....
Humor also started to play a role in my staying mentally in the race. I recall taking water at a water station and asking the woman which way to Boston. They laughed....that helped. I ended up using that one-liner a few times the rest of the route. (I could use it over and over....it was always a new crowd!). I also started with, "I'm starting to think I might not win!" They don't sound as funny now, but boy did it help. It made me feel like I wasn't alone on the race.
I'm not quite sure where...but I do remember seeing the DiOrio's again in Wellesley. That was great as I wasn't expecting to see them again until Friday night and knowing that they were making an effort kept me focused on making an effort.
It was also along this point that I started counting the street numbers. The next group that I could expect would be in front of 40 Washington St. It was a little discouraging at first since the first number I saw was in the 600's and they pretty much dropped 2 at a time. After a few blocks, I was hoping that 40 would be coming up but I was still in the 500's. The group, however, was certainly worth the run! Judy Corwin, Gordon-Sack family and the Landry clan. I was tired but they were a good boost. I stopped to talk, stretch and I received a small hand made banner taped to a pencil that said, "Go Martin". I kept that with me the rest of the race and still have it on my desk! It meant alot and, again, helped keep me focused.
From this point there is a 3/4 of a mile incline that goes over route 128 and crests at Beacon Street. It was good to know that I was now past the Route 128 mark...I made it this far. I walked alot of this hill and my legs where now starting to get very stiff and I could feel pain starting. The incline was followed by a long deline, past Newton/Wellesley Hospital (jokes about this abounding in my head) that I knew would end up at Commonwealth Avenue....and the hills....