Woke up and got ready. Butterflies galore! I was doing this! Boston! I'd dreamed SO long about this, and here it was. I was going to run Boston! I met Smooth in the breakfast area and had some eggs and fruit and juice. I honestly can't remember all of it :) but, I did pack a pb bagel for the hours of sitting in the athletes village and some yogurt. When you don't run for another 4 hours I needed something to munch on. I also had a water bottle to keep fluids going. Rode the T to Boston Commons to pick up the bus with Smooth. Oh my word! I've NEVER seen such a crazy, long, winding line! We seriously could NOT find the end of it! I don't think there was an end. So, we just jumped in...merged in :) The people around us were SO fun! It was a pleasure to visit and have a good time while waiting for the bus. I still had crazy anxiety about all of this, but I was having a good time. How can you NOT have a good time with Smooth?!? :)  Smooth and I had the same shoes....something happened to one of my feet! :) Or, I have two left feet :)
It wasn't too long of a wait until we got on the bus. There were 6 seats left and we got 2 of the last ones, so we had to split up, but were on the end of rows together. I sat by a guy named Martin from Ireland. He'd lived in the US for quite some time, but I loved his Irish accent. We chatted about life and he had qualified for and run Boston 10 years ago, but this time he said about 10 weeks ago he'd had one too many to drink and well...here he was :) Made me laugh. We talked about a little bit of everything and when he said he wanted to finish in under 4:00 I told him that after I had Adam I had 10 weeks of training and ran SGM in 3:45, so I KNEW he could do it. If he ever lost faith I told him just to think of the crazy pregnant lady who could do it and push through so he could still have his pride. We had some good bonding over that. I now wish I would've gotten his last name. He owns his own Electric Co in South Boston. I hope he finished. We got off the bus and WOW! The amount of people, porta-potties, volunteers, everyone...everything. I was HERE!! Boston Baby!!! It was real, I was going to do this. We hit the pop and found a perfectly short corner line with lots of real estate. Perfect timing! BUT, I went to leave...NO TP!! What?!? My bag was outside...I had nothing...NOTHING! There weren't any stray papers on the floor or anything. Craptastic. Well, desperation took over. I peeled the top layer of cardboard off the rolls and used that. HA! Oh, man, new experiences at every turn. On our way over to where Smooth meets her friends they had a moment of silence for the Sandy Hook Victims. It was amazing and wonderful to see everyone go quiet. Made me tear up! They had food, water, samples...everything a runner could want there! Crazy!!! I was just SO impressed! The fields were muddy, but we made our way to the Hopkinton sign and got our pics, then Smooth found a friend and we laid our stuff down and I went to find Paul.On my way there, the water company Poland Springs were doing pictures with a white board that said "I run because...." and you filled in the blank. Anyone that knows me knows I say I run so I don't kill people :) HA! Funny, right? Well, it was then, but now has become a source of a little guilt that I wrote that on my board and had my picture taken to post to the world. However, I think if more people ran there WOULD be less violence! Anyway, off my soap box. Guilt for later. It was funny and I got some good laughs! 
 Me and SO many runners!!!
Found Paul and drug him back to Smooth and had him take a pic with the Hopkinton sign too. Then we did one together. Paul said he was going to stay with me the whole race, but I didn't want him to. I knew I wasn't going to be able to be as fast as he wanted. My legs just hadn't been feeling the speed love lately and I didn't want to ruin his experience. I tried to tell him over and over again if he wanted to that he could just leave me, but he said he just wanted to have fun. Okay.... We dropped our bags in the buses (cell phones included. Smooth told me I didn't have a thing to worry about anything in there!) and walked and walked and walked to the start line! Half way there a resident had put out a table with every last minute thing you could need! I took advantage of the free sunscreen and sharpie :) This was the first amazing feat of spectator love I felt and witnessed that day! We made a last minute stop at the pops at the finish line, and boy am I glad I did! I needed to get out the last of the fluid I'd taken in, plus...I checked for TP. I've never been so grateful for TP!!! We made our way to corral 2 as they were getting ready to release wave 2, this was real! The guy that sat next to me on the plane on the way out came and found me and Paul and I were hamming it up for the cameras that were scanning the crowd. Jumping with my "Look at me!" Poor serious runners around me :) I could hardly stand it!!! This was the most amazing feeling I'd ever had in my life! I WAS ABOUT TO RUN BOSTON MARATHON!!!! Shortly afterward the gun fired and we were off! YIPPEEEE!!! I hung to the right side of the road and shortly after the start line I started hearing my name. "Go Rachel. Go Paul" "Rachel, you look cute!" "Rachel, Rachel!" It was amazing! I was high-fiving everyone and I remembered people saying don't waste all your energy on the high-fives, but I couldn't help it! They were cheering for me and WANTED me to give them five. Cute kids and all! So, I did. I had a perma-smile! It was simply amazing. I really can't even describe how I felt...you just have to do it yourself :) I couldn't go 50 feet without hearing my name cheered along. There were military men every 100yds or so and Paul and I made sure to thank each of them, as well as the officers. A lady from CO soon joined us and said "I want to stay with you guys. You are having fun and are the only other people thanking the officers!" So, we chatted and named her our silent partner. Since everyone was cheering Paul and Rachel, she was the silent partner :) At mile 2 I yelled "Slick says hello!" I got a cheer, but I don't know if they really heard me or not. I still had my perma-smile and told Paul that my legs might be fine, but my face was going to be sore from smiling SO much!!! As far as how I was feeling physically at this point...well, it wasn't as good as I'd liked. My IT bands were achy, hams tight and knees creaky. I just kept thinking...warm up, it'll all go away, just warm-up. Unfortunately, due to the rolling course I never really felt like I got into a groove and physically it didn't get better. I kept a good sub 8mm for those first few checkpoints, but my body wasn't going to give me more. That was my comfortable. The crowd never ceases...NEVER! Cheering, high-fives, oranges, popsicles, water, licorice, tissue...everything you could want every 100yds. Not to mention the cheering. I don't remember any of the scenery, just the faces and the exhilaration I felt the whole time! The course kind of stinks. They don't know Utah downhill :) Their downhill rolls...up and down. I wasn't expecting that much of a rolling course, but it wasn't horrible. Just not what I expected. I'd heard how emotional Boston would be, but my biggest emotional time was around mile 5. The train tracks go just behind the homes you're running in front of. Anyone that has followed me for a while knows that I have a thing with trains. My dad loved trains! He passed over 6 years ago and sometimes when I hear the trains I know my dad is there watching. Well, unexpectedly the train blew its whistle and I just broke down. I knew my dad was watching and cheering for me. My biggest fan. I knew he was proud of how hard I'd worked and got to be with me and watch me finish this accomplishment of a lifetime. I couldn't stop the sobbing and tears. I love my daddy!
I think around mile 10 I was getting to an exhaustion point. Paul offered some ibuprofen and I decided to take one. Take the edge off what wouldn't warm up. I wasn't sure at this point that mile 13 would ever come. I tried to just live in the crowd and forget about my legs! Gu down the hatch at mile 9, 15 and 21. Anything else I wanted when I wanted it along the way. Mile 13 came with Wellsley. Oh my word! People aren't kidding about the noise! Those girls won't have a voice the next day, but man oh man! I think I high-fived all of them, but didn't kiss a one. Saw plenty of kissing going on, but I took the safe route. My face hurt from smiling so much again and I forgot about my pain :) I loved crossing the mats that sent texts to a million people...all my superfans! I knew people would be cheering for me at home and it was just another amazing part of the race. Just after 16ish I saw Terry's friends that had taken us to Mike's Pastries the night before. I had made friends with their 8 year old and it just made my day to see his face light up and cheer for me when I went by!!! Someone who really knew me and was excited to see me! I seriously just cannot explain how wonderful this race is with the never-ending crowd! I saw the missionaries and gave a Utah hello to them. Saw someone holding a sign referencing a D&C scripture and gave them a shout out too. I LOVED all the signs and little kids just clamoring to give you five or an orange slice or licorice. Man alive, Boston is THE BEST RACE EVER!!! Then came Newton with its hills. I really didn't put much stock into the Newton Hills, because c'mon...I train in the foothills in Utah. How bad could they be? Well, they were a little tougher than expected :) Not a veyo by any means and they were all short, but the rollers beforehand took enough out of you to make them just a little worse than what I'd expected. I just tried to feed off the crowd and kept moving! Just after mile 18 timing mat my knee buckled under me. This is the same issue that I had at Ogden and SGM last year. It only comes on in fast marathons and it stops shortly after I stop running. I've been to see someone about it, but since I can't pin point the pain after I've stopped running they can't diagnose anything. It really stinks. Well, Paul came to my rescue with another 2 ibuprofen. I threw them back and then I loved the hills, because it was less pressure to run UP than down. The hills gave the meds enough time to work and to keep me out of a ton of pain. Perfect solution. I slowed down here, and walked a few water stops, but Paul stuck by my poor, slow, crippled side. After heart-break (which wasn't any worse than any others) it was all downhill :) okay, not really, but after the tougher hills it was a nice release! Especially with Boston College! It was definitely my favorite stretch of the race. Those co-eds must've been drunk around 10AM and they were just having the best time. Another solid high-five line for a solid mile at least. Boys yelling "Rachel, I love you!" I'd blow a kiss back or point and say "I love you too!" It was SO great to work the crowd and have them cheer for you. Again, I had sore cheeks from smiling so much!
I don't remember exactly when I saw that Citgo sign. The one everyone talks about that I'd seen the day before when I went to Fenway, but I finally knew where I was. This was the portion of the race where people started reaching out as far as they could from the barricades just to get a high-five. You felt like a rock-star. When people reach out and just want to touch you so they can feel a piece of your greatness? I know I'm nothing spectacular, but I thought about how long I'd idolized Boston runners. How long I'd wanted nothing but a BQ after my name :) How long I'd waited, wished, dreamed and worked for this. I gave them a piece of that dream. I'm nothing spectacular, but the dream of running Boston IS! That is what they wanted...a piece of that dream. I even had a guy push an officer back just a bit to put his hand out for a five. I'm tellin' ya...this race is amazing! Yes, we were still thanking all the uniformed military on the course as well as officers, fire fighters and EMTs we saw. Just before the underpass after Fenway, I saw Larissa, Julianna and Beth (Smooth's daughter and her friends...my roommates) They said my name so loud I looked :) I ran over to them to give them five! It was SO exciting again to see someone I knew and to hear them cheer for me. I think this was the only part of the race that I was ahead of Paul. I'd pulled a little ahead at a water station and I was finally feeling good again (thanks to the IB) and was just busting it out enjoying every minute! I knew any time goal of 3:20-3:30 was long gone, but now it was time to just revel in the experience! Here is my one picture (not from the professionals) from the race thanks to Julianna. 
Not the cutest picture of me, but I love it! This was my happy! This is how I felt the WHOLE race despite my physical crap I was dealing with. It was BOSTON! I was running it and enjoying every minute! That last mile that usually drags just flew by! Cheering increasing and I'd realized that saying "Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston" - I could see that right hand turn. It was coming. That finish line was coming!!! I just RAN. Ran and Ran and soaked those last few minutes in! I hit Boylston and you can see the finish line for a good half mile! Not running tangents well, I had 26.5 on my garmin, so the full last stretch on Boylston was over my 26. I spotted Larry right in front of the flags like Smooth had said. He didn't see me, but I called HIS name and finally caught his attention. I just smiled and sprinted that full half mile. I'd been told this is where the emotions would flow, but I was just Happy! Happy! Exuberant! High on life! I just can't even describe it! I'd worshiped that finish line and this race. I'd worked so hard and here I was. No longer a dream, I was crossing that finish line as a finisher of the Boston Marathon. The oldest race in America. The most coveted experience to a runner. I was here and I was finishing. I just can't even describe how exceptionally wonderful I felt. My quintessential happy! This was it. I crossed that finish line and just couldn't believe it was already over. I'd done it. I'd done it!
All those early mornings. All those speed workouts. The hills...ugh, the hills. The long runs in cold, snow, heat, throwing up, the good the bad the ugly...this was where it all came together and was worth it! I seriously just can not describe how much this meant to me and how wonderful it all was!!! Paul and I gave our Boston fist bump and were just SO excited to have done this...and together. What a wonderful friend to hang with me despite all my physical failings this race. If I wouldn't have gotten that IB from him it wouldn't have been the same last 8 miles. I was happy to have him by my side and to share this amazing experience! Awesome, just awesome! Boston Baby!! The finish chute is FOREVER long. You walk 100 yds past the med tents (where Smooth's son Eric was and I was glad to not go in and see him!), then get water. Another 100 yds to your blanket. Yes, they keep the wind off and keep you a tad warmer. It was perfect weather, but just cool enough with a biting breeze that when you stopped it got cold...fast! Shaking uncontrollably, but still just happy! Shoulder to shoulder with other runners like another herd of cattle trying to get to our bags after a wonderful race. You got a sticker to go on the blanket to hold it together (without hands), Then then next 100 yds were the medals! I got my medal!! I know there were 27,000 of them sitting there...but one of them had my name on it! It was mine, I earned it and deserved it! Another 100yds for bananas and a bag of food, then finally the buses with the bags. Of course my bus was one of the last ones on the street, but I got right there and they handed it out the bus window to me. I love how organized it is! I grabbed some warm clothes and my Boston jacket and then of course I needed my finish line picture!  There it is! See that smile?!? That is my happy! That is where I was SO elated and happy I could've run another 10 miles of a victory lap! :) The Boston finishers picture. Nothing come close to comparing!!! Then of course I had to have one with my running partner: 
After grabbing Paul's stuff from the bus we headed back towards the finish line to meet up with Larry where I'd seen him to cheer in Smooth, Lowell and Terry who were still out on the course. This is where I'm going to end this report. Not that more didn't happen, not that it isn't memory worthy, but I don't want that memory scarring my Boston Happy. If you want to read about what happened on our way back to find Larry, you'll have to read Tuesday's entry. I'm leaving my Monday Boston Happy right here! TT: 3:41:21 Splits (on garmin): 8:05, 7:55, 7:49, 7:45, 7:55, 7:51, 7:52, 8:06, 8:17, 8:15, 8:14, 8:10, 8:23, 8:12, 8:32, 8:10, 8:51, 8:53, 8:55, 9:09, 9:34, 8:51, 8:31, 8:38, 8:34, 8:25, 7:15 (last 1/2 mile! Love the last split to be the fastest!) splits from Boston:
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