Boston Marathon 1 (Top Ten)

I think I'll break up my Boston trip into a short series. Today, let's talk about the race. Also, you can see pics of me in the race by searching here. Choose "Boston Marathon 2008" from the race selections, then put in my last name (Basham) and my bib number (4006).

But, first, I have to thank my friend Ceci for making the trip practically stress-free in regards to obtaining a place to stay, food, transportation, etc. All of the external things that can create added stress to an event like this were handled for me by a good friend who knows the city, the marathon, and how to drive in Boston. She set me up at a friend's house who has hosted many athletes before. It was GREAT to have a real, home base in Boston instead of a hotel. Thanks, Ceci and Sue!

OK, I think today I'll go with the Top Ten Things You See While Running the Boston Marathon.

10. BLUE. The Hynes Convention Center in Boston was bedecked in blue trimmed with yellow for the runner's expo and race packet pickup. And, the pickup (indeed, the entire event) was a model of organization and efficiency. There were literally thousands of runners there when I picked up my number, race bag, and race shirt, and I was in and out of there in just a few minutes. Incredible.

9. During a 1.5-hour start-and-stop bus ride to the starting line in Hopkinton, you see people jumping off the bus and sprinting to the woods to relieve themselves (#1 and #2). Or sometimes, NOT sprinting to the woods and just going right next to the highway. Think about it: you have 25,000 people on buses who have been eating and hydrating to run 26.2 miles for days. In light of this information, it's not surprising that many could not wait to get to the port-a-potties after being forced to sit for 1.5 hours on a cramped bus. Still, kinda weird. But, everyone was in the same position, so it simply seemed like part of the process. Everyone laughed it off.

8. A man dressed as Minnie Mouse. Not a spectator: a RUNNER. 26.2 miles in big mouse ears, white gloves, and a red polka-dot skirt? To each his own, I guess. For what it's worth, I passed "Minnie" about Mile 22 even though s/he started ahead of me. However, an Eagle scout (in full khaki unform) blew past me at about Mile 24. There were all kinds of interesting outfits.

7. Team Hoyt. Dick Hoyt, who pushes his son Rick (who has cerebral palsy), through triathlons and marathons including 25+ Boston's. If this is news to you, I implore you to watch this video. If this does not inspire you or move you, I fear that you are beyond hope.

6. The start line. 25,000 people waiting to embark on a 26.2-mile journey to the most famous marathon finish in the world.

5. The Women of Wellesley College. Wellesley is at about Mile 12 in the race, and the women treat the runners like rock stars. The shrill screams of 2,300 college women is enough to perforate eardrums. For at least two minutes, I know what Elvis must have felt like every day of his life. Several had signs that said, "Stop running and kiss me!" I politely declined, opting for the safer occasional high-five. Several other runners around me took them up on their kiss offers, though.

4. Newton Fire Station. When you make the hard right turn here, you know the teeth of the course is coming. It's a disheartening feeling to be getting tired at mile 16 and know that the hard stuff is yet to come.

3. Heartbreak Hill. Actually, it's the series of hills in the Newton area. Heartbreak is simply the longest hill and it's the final punch in that flurry of hills from Mile 16-Mile 21. But, it sure does break hearts. Lots of runners were stopping, walking, cramping, even sitting and lying flat. If Heartbreak were the ONLY hill, it would merely be "just a hill." But, the hill after Newton Fire Station tenderizes you a bit, then a series of smaller hills beats you up before Heartbreak's attempt at a knockout punch.

2. Boston College. When you hit Chestnut Hill, you know that the worst is over. It's 5 miles of downhill running at that point. The question is, how much do you have in the tank? In my case, not much. Enough to set a PR and finish well, but I was leaking oil.

1. Finish line. The home stretch was packed with spectators and the roars were amazing. As tired and exhausted as I was, the sound and energy of the crowd really helped push me home. It was quite a feeling finishing the race.

Boston Completed

Just a quick update to let you know that I survived Boston in 3.06.04. This was a personal best at the marathon distance.

I will post a detailed story of my trip tomorrow, but for now:

1. My knee was never an issue. I think it healed up right on time. It simply was not a factor.
2. My sinus infection was nearly gone, but it was a small factor. Not bad, though.
3. I have some UGLY toenails. REALLY painful late in the race. Two of them are pitch black today and three others are purple. Probably gonna lose a couple. That's just part of the deal for me when I marathon.
4. But, I'll take my toenails and smile because otherwise I feel OK. I am extremely sore, of course, but there is no significant damage. Hips and feet and really stiff/sore, but that will fade in a few days.

Thanks to all for all of the support. More tomorrow.

Track Me In Boston

Here is the link! I'm in Boston, and have my race number. Everything is set.

Follow me here (my bib #number is 4006):

http://www.baa.org/2008/cf/Public/EntryLists.cfm

One Week 'til Boston

Just wanted to post a quick update on my Boston training.

1. My knee pain seems to be responding well to simply running on it. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes, the elevated heart rate creates sustained blood flow to minor dings and injuries that can actually help the healing process. Anyway, it seems to be getting better. I am planning about an hour of easy running later, so hopefully the pain level will be even lower than Saturday.

2. Simon and I have been sharing a nasty cold for the last few days. The good news is that my cold is in its "exiting" stage, so it should be gone by next Monday.

3. For the first time ever, you can watch the entire Boston Marathon online at WCSN.com. Coverage begins at 9.25 am ET (8.25 am CT) next Monday. The race starts at 10 am ET (9 am CT).

4. I will post the link for tracking my progress during the race on Thurs or Friday. The tracking page will eventually be here. Simply enter my bib number (#4006) and my name will come up.

5. Forecast for race day in Boston is currently 55 degrees and mostly sunny. PLEASE let that hold up! That would be a made-to-order temperature if the winds stay down.

Arithmecrats 2

Christopher Beam from Slate.com tells us that the math for Hillary is even tougher than you might think.

Say Clinton wins all the remaining contests by a 10-point margin. (That's impossible, barring revelations that Obama does lines on the campaign bus, but bear with us.) Obama would still be ahead in pledged delegates, 1671 to 1563. Add on their current superdelegate tallies—226 for Obama and 251 for Clinton, according to Politico—and they’d be at 1897 and 1814, respectively. Even then, Clinton would need to win 211 of the still-uncommitted 300 delegates, or about 70 percent.

This is worth restating: Even if Hillary Clinton wins every single one of the remaining contests by 10 points, she still needs to win 70 percent of the remaining uncommitted superdelegates. Given that since Feb. 5, Obama has netted 69 superdelegates and Clinton has lost a net of five, it’s fair to say the pendulum is not swinging her way.

Oy. It's STILL eleven days until Pennsylvania. Clinton currently has a slight lead in the polls, and it's probably going to be a very tight race.

Simply Christian

Last night, our church finished a study of N.T. Wright's Simply Christian. We took it chapter by chapter for 16 weeks and each chapter was led by one of our Session members. I am somewhat saddened that it is over because it was such a great study. However, this book is one that not only informed me, but changed the way I see everything, so it's not really "over" in that sense. I will try to be brief in my attempt to communicate Wright's fundamental message.

There are three basic ways that people seek God:

Option 1. God is everywhere and in everything including me, you, the trees, and your pet rabbit. This is the pantheistic view.

Option 2. God and His heaven exists in some faraway place unreachable by humans. This earth is vile and corrupt and will be destroyed and replaced at some point by this faraway God and His heaven. Thus, earthly things and physical things do not matter much in eternity. This is sort of a Deist view.

Option 3. Heaven and earth interlock and overlap. The Christian life is primarily focused on doing God's will in this world and bringing it closer to the ideal--the way God intended it to be. God is not a tree or a pet rabbit, but those are part of His creation. God is also close and visible at times in this present world, but his full renewal is not complete.

Wright goes with Option 3. My tradition growing up and most Christians that I know/knew lean more toward Option 2. Seeing the world as an "Option 3 person" changes everything. This view seems much more consistent with the story of the Bible (Israel being constantly renewed and called to reconciliation with God). The redemption of the world is not only future, but also past and present. As instruments in this world, we get to participate in its restoration now and in the future.

That's my feeble attempt at a short summary. I am really making an effort to value brevity in my speaking and writing these days. For more, please do read Simply Christian. I am confident that it will challenge you.

13 Days Until Boston

Recently, I have hit some major Boston Marathon training milestones.

1. The hard training is complete. No more 20+ long runs for me. My training went very well, as I rarely had to miss a day for any reason. I cut a long run short last Sat due to some minor lower leg pain, but that was a "bonus" long run anyway. Nothing really lost by cutting that one short. Pray for the leg pain. I don't think it's serious, but I am taking a couple of days off to try to get back to 100%.

2. I received my Boston packet in the mail last week. It has my bib number (#4006) and all of the race info. I get to go off in the first wave of runners at 10 am on race day (Mon, April 21), so that is nice.

Pics of Boston documents below.















3. I have plans to visit the Old North Church while I'm in Boston, and I hope to get to Fenway Park, too.

More updates as warranted.