Roman Run

I conquered Rome in a day - by foot, twice!

The first time was a self-guided walking tour of the city.  I started at the Termini once I arrived on the train and took a few moments to orient myself.  I took the long way around, but made my way to the Piazza d.  Repubblica then headed down Via Nazionale.  When I descended the steps, I stopped and grabbed a slice of pizza from a hole in the wall joint (literally) and was blown away by what I saw when I continued my walk: Trajan's Market, Column, and Forum; Victor Emmanuel Monument; and the Forum of Augustus.  I walked down toward the Colosseum and stood in amazement at it size and grandeur.  Since I had a 2PM tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, I didn't have nearly enough time to go inside, but it was impressive nonetheless.  I headed back up past the Forums and climbed the Victor Emmanuel Monument where I took pictures by the Italian Tome of the Unknown Soldier.  My trek countinued and I found myself in the Jewish Ghetto and in front of the Synagogue.

I followed the Tiber River's bends up along until I veered left on Via Della Conciliazione.  There in front of me stood the Vatican: St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, and the rest of the holy area.  After a quick confused moment, I walked along the walls of the Vatican to the entrance of the Museum.  I ascended a spiraling walkway and plodded into a garden area where a cafe greeted me.  After a panini and a cold Heineken (better than a Peroni!), I continued through the Museum, wandering through the Egyptian collection, tapestries, and classical works of art.  At the end of the long walk, I entered the Sistine Chapel.  It wasn't as large as I thought it would be, yet it was still quite impressive as I considered the time and care if must have taken Michaelangelo.  Due to a couple of wrong turns, I actually went through the Sistine Chapel three times, and was baptized once..

Then it was on to the Basilica, where I paid five Euros to ascend to the top of the Dome.  The staircases were winding, narrow, and at time difficult even for someone in as good shape as I.  But, the view was worth the climb!  Seeing the Square below and the amazing ariel view of Rome was well worth it!  After descending, I took a quick loop through the Basiclia, making way for people who were having a religious experience - for me it was just a nice place to witness - but I was impressed with their spirituality.  At around 4:45, I left as I had to meet Steve back at the Termini at 5:40.

The walk back was long, but I impressed myself with my sense of direction.  I traversed Vittorio Emanuele and noticed I was heading back to the Trajan Column.  My sense of direction intact, I climbed back up the stairs and walked up the street to the fountain where my journey began.  The train station was nearby, after a small misunderstanding I met Steve, and we took the bus to the hotel.

After a quick shower and email check, we found a taxi and returned to the Jewish Ghetto for dinner.  Steve's Italian guide, Danilo, had set us up at the hotel of a friend of his who is Jewish who also owns a restaurant in the Ghetto.  We were well taken care of with fish, a falafel platter, a bulki (sp?) that resembled a spring roll, and chocloate mousse.  Of course, I enjoyed a few Belgium beers.  Steve had the tripel as well, but asked for something with less alcohol by content since he spent the day tasting at a winery, so I grabbed him a Gold Star, an Israeli beer that goes down as easily as a Schlitz!

We wandered back past the Synagogue and through the Capitoine Museum area.  We went back to the Colosseum and took some amusing photos of us pretending to be Gladiators, or more accurately, fighters.  As it was getting late, we headed back to the hotel, but along the way got ourselves disoriented.  Luckily, we noticed the walls of the British Embassy which was a known point as our hotel was close by.

I woke early at 6AM to get my run in so I could say I ran in Rome.  Having walked the city the previous day, I had a great sense of a loop I wanted to do.  I wasn't sure how long it would take, but I had ninety minutes or so until I needed to be back to shower and pack as we were off to Florence for the next day and a half.  My running route took me along the same loop as my walk from the previous day, and I held on to it in a solid eight minute pace.  I love running in different cities every chance I get - I hope to be able to lace up once in Florence!

Scars Fade

Early in my running career, I was just beginning to discover what kind of runner I was and could be.  With one marathon, a ten miler, and a ten kilometer under my belt, I was training for my second marathon with a friend who was coaching me.  We picked the 2005 Leesburg 20K as a good measure of my progress as it was about two months into my training and two months before the marathon.  The day was hot, like most August days, and I went out too fast.  At first, I thought I was doing great, pulling down 6:10 miles, but by the third mile I started to feel it catch up with me as the course turned onto a slow, long uphill trail.  The best thing I did that day was ignore my inclination to quit - I slogged it out and trudged across the finish line in 1:47, nearly fifteen minutes slower than my projected time.  I was confused, upset, and disappointed in myself - my only silver lining was that I did not quit.

It has been seven years since I raced that course where I was humbled.  And so it was earlier yesterday that I returned to the Leesburg 20K in an attempt to erase my earlier racing mental scar.  I've grown quite a bit in the intervening years, changed much about myself, and earned some personal and professional scars.  Part of me used the course to train for my upcoming fall marathons; part of me to take on the course that beat me.

My racing plan called for a pace of around 6:45 and to finish near 1:25.  The weather seemed to cooperate as it was a cool yet humid 70 degrees at race time with overcast.  I started out holding myself back for the first two miles around the town.  By the time I hit the trail for the climb uphill, I felt all right yet the toll of a 60 mile week and speed work only three days earlier crept into my mind and was felt through my sore legs.  Miles 3 and 4 were in the 7 minute range, and I wondered if I was going to be terribly off pace today.  Yet, as a woman surged past me, the third overall at the time, my legs started to feel better as I shortened my pace, focused on form, and unclenched.  Once in my groove, I was able to ascend the W&OD Trail with the best effort I had in me.

And then, I remembered the JFK 20K.  Held by my club, DC Road Runners, in the past it has been raced as an out and back on the Capital Crescent Trail.  Similar to this stretch, it is an incline on the way out and a decline on the way back.  I recalled how I raced that in the past - hold steady early on and then use a strong kick after the turnaround to take advantage of the descent.  Once I hit mile 8 which ended the final hill, a smile crept on to my face secure in my race experience as I let my legs go to work. My strides were short and mostly consistent, my head and back straight, and my arms tucked and pumping.

I settled into a spot in the race where I had a target ahead of me (that same woman who would place third for the women) and a chaser behind.  I neither caught nor was caught, but I did get within seven seconds of catching her.  A solid finishing kick cemented my course personal record of 1:24:06, 23 minutes faster than my only other time, and only about 30 seconds slower than my PR which was run in ideal conditions.

6:49/6:47/7:00/7:11/6:53/6:51/6:51/7:07/6:46/6:34/6:24/6:18/2:35

(Photo courtesy Laura Goldin)

As we drove back to DC, I glowed from the feeling of conquering a course that had defeated me years earlier.  I thought about some of the things that have happened in my life since then: the challenges, heartaches, and failures but also the accomplishments and personal highs.  Maybe some scars never heal, but with time, they can fade to where you barely notice they ever existed.  We need them to remind ourselves so we can really appreciate the achievements and cherish those who support us and share in our joy.

Grandma's Marathon Race Report

Minnesota was very kind to me - I guess that's why they call it Minnesota Nice. I flew in early to Minneapolis and drove my rented car about two and a half hours north to Duluth. The road was scenic, even the large stretches of road that was under construction. The view of the city on Lake Superior as you enter was breathtaking - the way the bridges and the water meet as you come down the road - it was all very picturesque. The packet pick up was easy and well organized. Since I got there around lunchtime, I decided after I picked up my packet that I would grab lunch at their pasta dinner. It was there that I received the call from my mother saying my Uncle Evan, who had been battling lung cancer for months, wasn't doing too well. She told me that I should run tomorrow as best as I can and to think of him. I sat at lunch contemplating.

I stayed in Moose Lake, Minnesota, which is a solid forty-five minute drive south of Duluth. I really didn't want to stay for two nights, the minimum of most hotels in the area, and the price here was reasonable. When I pulled into the parking lot around 2PM, it was completely empty of cars. I had visions of the Shining... Inside, I was able to check in to my room, where I grabbed a nap, then a dip in the pool and jacuzzi. I like to soak before my marathons - it keeps me loose. After, I found a tiny place to grab my pasta dinner, went back to my hotel room, and watched Oceans 13 while soaking in the tub in my room. It was a suite - sweet!

Race morning started like most race mornings. I drove into town, parked, and hopped on the train that took runners to the starting line. The train was packed, and I had nice conversations with the people around me when I wasn't trying to sleep. The only trouble with the train was that it arrived a little too close to the start of the race for my comfort. I wanted to go to the bathroom one more time, but the lines were too long. Also, there were state police officers manning the area near the bushes to prevent runners from going there. I'm guessing they drew the short end of the straw that morning when assignments were doled out!

I seeded myself based on my expected finishing time and started chatting with the guys near me. I really did not know what I was capable of that day since the starting temperatures were warm and in the 70s, but it was the humidity that worried me. I was sweating in the first few miles which is never good. After starting off a little faster than I should have, I found a groove around 7:30 pace. Lake Superior was on my left for most of the race, so I enjoyed staring off into it. The crowd support was decent as we ran toward Duluth, and I joked with a few spectators, "Which was to Duluth?" "That guy stole my wallet!" and "Are they still chasing me?" I knew early on with the heat that this was not going to be a personal best day, so my plan was to just to have fun and run the race I was capable of and get the bad memory of the heat and struggle of the Boston Marathon out of my mind. I needed to remind myself that Boston was a fluke and that I am a good marathon runner. That was a goal I was determined to accomplish.

In mile 15, I passed a guy who started walking, so I made it my goal to try to motivate him to stay with me. He told me he was a triathlete and this was his first marathon. I encouraged him and gave him some good mental imagery, but he faded after a few miles. I did this with a few runners, and some stayed as long as they could and others said thanks but they were fine.

Heading into mile 19, I noticed that my last few miles had crept in 8:00 minute per mile pace. The temperatures had dropped a bit as clouds came in, and it was then I decided I was going to try to lay down the hammer for the final 10K. As I neared the 20 mile mark, I picked up my pace, sharpened my form, and turned over my legs with better efficiency. Plus, I kept in mind what my mother had told me, so I said to myself, "Okay, Uncle Evan, you're running with me the final 10K!" And, it worked. I dropped nearly a minute per mile off my pace the next mile. I started to feel good and my legs felt capable of holding this pace, so I tried to maintain it as best as I could, all the time repeating in my head, "Stay with me, Uncle Evan!" I passed people and the crowd saw me surge and cheered louder, which only fueled my mental game. At one point in the 22nd mile, I became so overcome emotionally thinking about my uncle, I started to cry! I had to tell myself to stop crying because I needed to breath calmly and normally. The thrill of passing people late in the race was exciting and I was on my mental game. As I passed the 23 and 24 mile markers, the end game was in sight. All I had to do was hold this pace. There were a few small hills remaining, but it was nothing that was going to deter or slow me. The 26th mile was when I started to fade again, but by then I had come too far and was too close to the end to passively back off. I went into my "sprint" for my finishing kick and held off a few runners I was pretending I was competing with, and I crossed the finish line a few seconds over 3:20.

Splits:
7:04/13/18/22/27/29/23/32/36/18/27/32/38/53/37/34/41/8:02/8:08/8:24/7:27/45/48/46/47/59/1:59 (.2) - 10K 45:32/ Half 1:37:22/ 16.2mi 2:01:22 / 19.3mi 2:26:35 / 23.1mi 2:56:04 / 25mi 3:10:46 - 487th out of 5785 finishers

For the temperatures that day, I was impressed with my effort. I had erased the scar of Boston, and reminded myself I can run a marathon without walking and feel strong.  It was the 19th marathon I completed in my 11th different state.  I am well on my way to finishing the 50 state club by the time I am 50.  I did experience a weird situation with my eye after the race. I couldn't get them to both focus for about ten minutes. I almost went to the medical tent, but it cleared up, so I grabbed a snack for the road and water and Gatorade. Then I took off for Minneapolis where I caught the Twins v Brewers game.

It started at 1:05, but I managed to scalp a club level ticket for half the ticket price since the game was already in the third inning. Inside, a fellow Sox fan bought me a beer, impressed that I ran the marathon then made it down to the game. In addition to running a marathon in every state, I also want to catch a game at every active ballpark. This trip I was able to do both. At night, I went to a sports bar called Sneaky Pete's which was pretty decent. I sat next to a farmer in from North Dakota to visit his girlfriend who was in the hospital after cancer surgery. When the bar turned into a nightclub, I met two girls that are cousins. But, that's a different story for a different type of blog. ;-)

In the morning, I grabbed breakfast at the airport and was texting Keith while trying to find the Larry Craig Memorial Bathroom stall when my Dad called to tell me Uncle Evan had passed away just minutes earlier. I paused, reflected, and said a prayer, then called my brother who booked me a flight from Baltimore to Providence. I would like to remember the words of wisdom he gave to me the night before Boston and his confidence in me that I'd finish as well as the thoughts I had during my race. Life is funny sometimes as there are no guarantees, and each race and every run I pause to appreciate what I have and how fortunate I am.

2012 Marathon Calendar and The Blue Card

If all goes according to plan, my 2012 marathon calendar will be as follows:
April 16, 2012 Boston Marathon, Massachusetts - finished in a time of 4:07 on a very hot day (nearly 90)
June 16, 2012 Grandma's Marathon, Duluth, Minnesota
October 6, 2012 St. George's Marathon, Utah
November 4, 2012 New York City Marathon

The New York City Marathon is going to be especially meaningful for me this year.  I ran it in 2010, having gained entry through being rejected three straight years (a provision they are phasing out).  After I ran Boston, I received a tweet from The Blue Card asking if I was interested in running the NYC Marathon with their charity team.  Upon further investigation, I learned this organization collects money for Holocaust survivors who are in need.  I felt it tied together perfectly my love of running with my recent trip to Poland with family.  My solicitation letter is attached, and if you consider donating, I would really appreciate your support!

Friends and family,

I want to thank you for generously giving to the Blue Card.  As you know, I'm running the New York City Marathon this year to help raise funds for this incredible charity.  I'm sending this update to thank those of you who have already given and ask those who have not had the chance to consider supporting me.  You can donate through imATHLETE at the following website:

[DO NOT REMOVE - the link to your donation page will be inserted here]

As many of you know, last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Poland with my family.  Organized and led by my uncle, David Wluka, whose parents survived the Holocaust, we shared a tremendous journey.  Joined by our family from the U.S., Australia, and Israel we visited the town of Nowy Dwor, where Uncle David’s father, Icek “Hank” Wluka is from, toured the town, attended and participated in the re-dedication of the restored Jewish cemetery, and took a trip to Auschwitz.

The Wluka family had been an integral part of the Nowy Dwor Jewish community since at least the early 1800s, which is what the recovered records show.  Uncle David’s grandfather, a blacksmith, died before the war and was buried in the cemetery.  The story as I understand it is that his grandmother was among those who fled Nowy Dwor and died in the Warsaw Ghetto.  Hank Wluka along with his seven brothers and sisters were trapped in the Nowy Dwor Ghetto.  All were part of the transport to Auschwitz in May of 1942; Hank was the only survivor.

Having been moved deeply by this experience, I returned home to D.C. in search of a meaningful way in which to contribute.  When the opportunity arose to run the NYC Marathon this fall with The Blue Card, it seemed like a perfect fit with my passion for running.  As a veteran of over eighteen marathons in ten states plus the District of Columbia, this will be my first marathon running with a charity.

The Blue Card was established by the Jewish community in Germany in the early 1930s, to help Jews already being affected by Nazi persecution through loss of jobs and other forms of oppression.  In 1939, The Blue Card was reestablished in the United States to continue aiding refugees of Nazi persecution resettling in America. To this day, many of their Board members are the children and grandchildren of The Blue Card's original founders.  After the Holocaust, the mission of the organization was expanded to help survivors of the Shoah from all European countries. It continues its work to this day.

The Blue Card is a fantastic group which assists Holocaust survivors live in dignity.  I hope you will support my efforts to help this worthy organization.

Thank you for your support!

Kenny Ames
Washington, USA

P.S. My next marathon is this Saturday, June 16, in Duluth, Minnesota.  In my quest to run a marathon in every state, I am registered for Grandma's Marathon which hopefully will be my 11th state and 19th overall.  You may track my progress by visiting http://grandmasmarathon.com/site/index.php?page=runner-tracking, and enter my name and follow the instructions.  THANK YOU!!!

My 2012 Boston Marathon Recap - Heat Wave!

I finished the 2012 Boston Marathon. That's the good news. After eight years and seventeen marathons, my eighteenth (chai!) marathon fittingly was the Boston Marathon - the race I've wanted to run since I was a kid who got Patriots Day off and wasn't sure why it was a holiday. It was also my tenth different state (CA, ID, OH, GA, VA, MD, PA, NY, RI, and MA) which enters me as a standard member in the 50 State Marathon Club - a goal I hope to finish before I turn 50.

The bad news was the race hit almost 90 degrees and my race plan was useless around the 10K mark when I felt like I was at the 20 mile mark. In the week leading up to the race, I watched the forecast with dread like many of my fellow runners as the predictions kept climbing higher. Naively, I thought I could slow down by 15-20 seconds off my projected time and still bang out at BQ, or at least post a respectable time. I was wrong, but at least I think I learned something with this race.

I traveled up on Saturday morning, receiving a ride to BWI Airport from my friends Max and Eve who were headed to Baltimore to grab brunch (thank you!). A short flight to Green, my folks met me and we headed straight into Boston to stop by the expo where I would pick up my bib and packet. I was brimming with excitement and energy all the way there. After we found parking, my iPhone camera came out for several photos I would take (at the entrance, picking up my bib, along signs in the expo, etc). Picking up my bib was fellow runner and 2010 Wineglass companion, Jennifer Sample, who surprised me with a photo. Later, I ran into my friend and 2011 Pocatello, Idaho, traveling companion, Grace Leonard. The two of us along with my parents wandered through the expo. I resisted many urges to buy everything in sight; my mother was sucked toward the Adidas store where she attempted to buy what she could for my niece. I don't think my folks had ever been to a marathon expo and my Mom was taking advantage of the free samples and handouts while my Dad found a place to sit down. Grace and I chatted and then helped our friend Alex with her bib so she could take advantage of the deferment option since she wasn't going to travel due to the heat predictions.

Once I had enough of the expo, my folks and I grabbed some lunch at the nearby Legal Test Kitchen; it was a bit of a challenge finding something to eat for our last kosher for Passover meal, but we were successful. Then, we headed home to relax, eat some Chinese food to break Passover, and I enjoyed some time with my niece and nephew. Molly looked very cute trying on the shirt I bought her and wearing my visor and jacket.

Sunday, the day before the race, was a low key day. I made a bagel run, watched my Dad play tennis down at the Sharon Tennis Club, and had lunch with my cousin Abby who was in town for a wedding. We watched the Sox play a little ball, and then headed to my Uncle Evan and Auntie Sheila's with my parents and Auntie for the carb-loading pasta meal. My aunt and uncle live in Milford, MA, which is a short drive to the start of the race in Hopkinton. After dinner, Uncle Evan and I watched the Celtics versus Bobcats game on TV and had a very good conversation. He's battling an illness, and he gave me some great advice and inspiration. It dawned on me that compared to what he was going through and how bravely he was handling his situation, having to run 26.2 miles on a hot day wouldn't even compare. He predicted I'd finish but in a slower than expected 3:17 - boy I wish he were right about the time!

I actually had a decent night's sleep which for me is odd since I get a little nervous prior to marathons. I woke early, showered, and was ready to roll around 6:30 when my aunt drove me to the runner's village. It took a bit, but we finally found the drop off point and she was able to exit well before the roads closed. I soaked up the feeling of just being there, proudly strutting in my DC Road Runners Club jacket. I was probably a little overly excited to find a port-o-john that was fresh earning the weirdest picture I took of the day. I remember so many moments as I enjoyed just earning the right to be there and soaking up the experience of being in the runners' village, hanging out in the tent, and chatting with fellow runners. I found Matt Anderson in my club and Grace made her way over as well; the three of us found a spot under the tent to avoid the sun and relax and shut our eyes. I had been trying to find Ben Richter from my club who had my racing shirt, and I caught him just as I was headed toward the corral.

When my corral was called to the race, I headed toward the start, dropped my bag off, chatted it up with fellow runners, and found a port-o-john to release the last second jitters. Again, I tried to soak up everything, the experience of entering the corral, of taking my place among the qualifiers that I had earned, and thanking and fist-bumping the volunteers. It didn't seem like I was there that long as the start came faster than I expected, but soon we were walking and then jogging, then actually running across the starting line - my first Boston Marathon had begun! I did try to hold back to a 7 minute mile, which was what I had discussed would be fine with my coach. But, neither one of us really understood just how hot it was going to be. In retrospect, I should have gone out at a 7:30/8 minute pace, but it really didn't matter since I wasn't going to set a personal best or finish with a time near what I had hoped. My goal quickly became just to finish and I pulled back a little. It was around then I realized I was having trouble breathing and my legs were feeling slightly heavy. After, I heard other runners also had breathing troubles due to the heat. I had thought it might at first be because I was anxious and nervous. I was also looking at the crowd wondering if I would be able to spot family and friends and hoping they would spot me.

I hit mile 9 not far off a decent pace, which is where I saw Carl Ford of my club. I remember passing a body of water on the right and just held on to a solid pace as I approached the Wellesley campus. You bet I stopped and kissed three girls (on the cheek)! Some had interesting signs like, "Kiss me, I'm a (fill in the blank)." I remember one said runner and others said pre-law or pre-med, and I remember a girl with a sign that simply said "Gay." Shortly after making out with the hot college girls, I heard and spotted my cousin Jessica, Uncle Evan and Auntie Sheila's daughter, who was posted right before the half. I happily stopped to catch a break and some water they had. I said hi to her crew that included her daughter Missy, and we took a few pictures and chatted for a minute before I was ready to resume.

After passing the half, it occurred to me that based on how I was feeling, it was going to take quite an effort of body and mind to make it through the second half. The thought of quitting never seriously entered my mind as it was not an option - not after speaking with my uncle, not after telling everyone I know I was running as I wasn't about to answer them in the days after that I quit, and not with the thought of my Mom, Dad, brother and niece waiting for me near the finish line. This was a mental-gut check, and I do not have a DNF and do not want one! My plan to finish evolved over the second half of the course. I allowed myself my first walk break at mile 14 as I walked through the water stop then started running.

My strategy was going to be to run three miles and walk through the water stop. The plan was to do this at 14, 17, 20, and finally 23. But, that plan quickly fell apart. I did make it to 17. Then around 18.5 there was a hill I just couldn't climb so I walked it. I ferried on until mile 20 and walked through the water stop and hoped to run two miles then walk through the next water stop, but that turned into one mile and then run what you can and walk until ready again. I was determined to run up and down all of Heartbreak Hill, and I did shuffle along in what is technically considered running. From there, I tried to run through as much shade and water that I could. Grab a cup of Gatorade and a cup of water - drink the Gatorade and dump the water on my back.

I vaguely recall passing Boston College and feeling a bit better as the students were very supportive (and the downhill helped). I remember shuffling along in Brookline, walking as needed and running when I could. I stopped and said hello to Steve Zukoff in my fantasy baseball league. We shared an awful picture - but, I only had another two plus miles to go. I barely remember running passed Fenway, but I do have a picture of me hamming it up for the camera with the Citgo sign in the background. As I hit one mile to go, I knew somewhere my family would be, and I did not want my niece Molly to see me walking. I did manage to run almost all of the last mile (sneaking a break in an underpass where no spectators could see) and then me gearing up for the final finish.

Turning into the last straight-away, I approached the finish line when I heard my name and turned to look on my left where they were. Molly's facial expression was one of shock and excitement - I can only imagine what she thought after being out there for hours and seeing so many people run by her to see her Uncle Kenny as one of the runners. I finished as strongly as I could across the finish line, and quickly put hands on knees just yards after.

The dirty secret they don't mention is once you finish, you still have close to a mile to walk it feels like to get your belongings and meet your family. I hobbled and grabbed my bag and sat by the post for family meet-up with the last letter of the name as "A" and waited for my folks to find me. My friends Jim and Kelly met up, and Jim joined my folks for a beer and lunch at a bar somewhere near the Back Bay stop. I couldn't eat or drink, but I did my best to put something inside me. We then parted after lunch, entered the station, and got on the commuter rail back to Stoughton, MA. And like that, my first Boston Marathon was over.

Every marathon I learn something new. My first marathon taught me I could do it, my second taught me qualifying for Boston was going to be harder than I thought, another taught me that under poor conditions it is wise to back off, Pocatello taught me that all my hard work did pay off, Savannah taught me that I can still improve, and Boston 2012 taught me to be humble. Before the race, the organizers said that due to the heat, we shouldn't view this as a race but as an experience. It was an experience unlike any other. Of course, immediately after, I began looking forward to next year's Boston Marathon as well as thinking which marathons I can run the rest of 2012. 40 states to go, and hopefully I'll be able to run Boston every year from now until I cannot run anymore.

Tracking Boston

Six days to go... Here is the email I sent to my friends and family. Friends and family, First, thank you to my wonderful and supportive friends and family through all the years of training, racing, and competing. I'm very lucky to have everyone of you in my life. As you know, I've pretty much been training for this one race, the Boston Marathon, for about eight years since I ran my first one (Marine Corps Marathon 2004) days after the Red Sox won their first title in 86 years. And, to this day, my mom and dad still ask when I tell them I'm running a marathon: "Which one are you running - the Marine Marathon?" So, as I get set to run the "Marine Marathon" again, here is some useful information to watch the race and my progress. To watch the race online, I believe you can stream it through: http://universalsports.com/2012/04/09/universal-sports-network-presents-multiplatform-coverage-of-the-2012-boston-marathon/ Attached is the Boston Marathon spectator guide as well as the course map. To track my progress, sign up for text alerts. TEXT - Simply text the word RUNNER to 345678 using your US mobile phone. You will then receive an sms text response with instructions on how to submit a runner’s bib number. (You will be opted in to receive 4 messages during the race. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel, Text HELP for help. This program is available on the following carriers: AT&T, Boost, Nextel, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon Wireless.) http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/att-athlete-alert.aspx My bib number is 4186. It will confirm with the reply: "Boston Marathon Alerts: Ur signed up 4 race alerts 4 bib 4186 (Kenny S. Ames) & entered to win a VIP race experience. Txt STOP 2cancel." Also, if you plan to be along the course, please email me your planned location to watch so that I may look out for you. Again, thank you everyone for your support and encouragement through the years. My quest has taken eight years, over fifty pairs of running shoes, through seventeen marathons, run a marathon in nine different states (CA, VA, ID, OH, GA, PA, VA, MD, NY, RI), raced 80 races ranging from the 1 miler to 5K to the ten miler and up to the marathon, and a few bumps and bruises - all in my strive to race the Boston Marathon - the greatest race in the greatest city! It's finally almost here - and I have to carbo-load on matzah until Saturday night! But, I'm looking forward to mom's pasta sauce as my secret weapon! See you along the route or at the finish line... Kenny Ames P.S. The photo attached is from the marathon in Pocatello, Idaho, where I first qualified for Boston. It was the most amazing feeling... "Success does not come to the most righteous and rigorously disciplined but to those who continue running." - Amby Burfoot "The real purpose of running isn't to win a race; it's to test the limits of the human heart." –Bill Bowerman "We find time for the things that are important to us. Period." - Scott Douglas, Scott's Original Miscellany, Running Times - March 2011 "Anybody can be a runner. We were meant to move. We were meant to run. It's the easiest sport." - Bill Rodgers "Even when you have gone as far as you can, and everything hurts, and you are staring at the specter of self-doubt, you can find a bit more strength deep inside you, if you look closely enough." - Hal Higdon "What I've learned from running is that the time to push hard is when you're hurting like crazy and you want to give up. Success is often just around the corner." - Sir James Dyson, Inventor of the Dyson vacuum cleaner "Man imposes his own limitations, don't set any." - Anthony Bailey "A marathon is like life with its ups and downs, but once you've done it you feel that you can do anything." - Anonymous "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." - Steve Prefontaine "We all know that if you run, you are pretty much choosing a life of success because of it." - Deena Kastor "Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow." - Henry David Thoreau "Winning has nothing to do with racing. Most days don't have races anyway. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up." Amby Burfoot "When you run in the morning, you gain time in a sense. It's like stretching 24 hours into 25. You may need to sleep less and get up earlier, but if you can get by that, running early seems to expand the day." - Fred Lebow, founder of the New York City Marathon "There's no magic to running far or climbing Everest. Endurance is mental strength. It's all about heart." - Bear Grylls, Host of Man vs. Wild “If you can find meaning in the type of running you need to do to stay on this team, chances are you can find meaning in another absurd pastime: Life.” - Robert Towne, screenplay for Pre "You feel good while you're running and you feel even better when you're finished." - Fred Lebow "The expression 'misery loves company' is meant for winter running. As I'm lying in bed on dark, cold mornings, it's a lot harder to talk myself out of getting up when I know I'm accountable to other people." - Jason Lehmkuhle, of Team USA Minnesota, runner-up at 2008 U.S. Half-Marathon Championships "Running should be a lifelong activity. Approach it patiently and intelligently, and it will reward you for a long, long time." Michael Sargent "Run into peace." - Meister Eckhart, 14th-Century Philosopher "There's no such thing as bad weather, just soft people." -Bill Bowerman "The distance race is a struggle that results in self-discovery. It is an adventure involving the limits of the self." Paul Weiss "Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence." - Colin Powell "Running, one might say, is basically an absurd pastime upon which to be exhausting ourselves. But if you can find meaning in the type of running you need to do ... chances are you'll be able to find meaning in that other absurd pastime - LIFE." - Bill Bowerman “Remember, the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running.” - Sarah Condor “Running is a statement to society. It is saying 'no' to always being on call, to sacrificing our daily runs for others' needs. When we run we are doing something for ourselves.” Phoebe Jones, runner “The obsession with running is really an obsession with the potential for more and more life.” - George Sheehan "I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible." - John Hanc, running writer "It's the one thing that's mine. My runs everyday are my thing. It's my therapy, my hour to myself. Nobody can really take it away from me... It's such a huge part of me. I love to say that I'm a runner." - Summer Sanders, Olympic gold-medalist "There is something magical about running; after a certain distance, it transcends the body. Then a bit further, it transcends the mind. A bit further yet, and what you have before you, laid bare, is the soul." - Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog at Runner's World “When you run, you log on to yourself. You flip through the pages of your being.” - Kevin Nelson, The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration "Training for a marathon started out as a life-list thing, and it turned into a lifestyle." - Mike Post "Racing is the greatest sport. Your competitors push you to run better, stronger, and faster; and you can only fail by quitting." Kenny Ames 2-6-12

One week to go...

With one week to go until Boston, I am being needlessly worried by weather.com predicting weather in the 80s for Marathon Monday. Accuweather, however, has the day listed at 62 degrees. Wunderground has the high at 64. I'm not going to panic until Friday at the earliest since it is too soon to tell. I will simply go on with my taper and hope for the best. I do think about the race pretty much every hour. I can focus on the immediate - ie work and life - but in my spare time, like walking, or during down time - I think about the race and what it will mean and how great it will be. Let's hope the weather is great and my training and strategy pays off.