Boston 2.24 Race Report

Firstly, Boston 2.24 is not the race in Boston, MA, it's just the one in Fredericksburg, OH. That's near Wooster, and also well into Amish country. I like the course. It's out and back on the Holmes County Trail. There is a full marathon and a half, all with Boston MA themes, such as the sign for Heartbreak Hill, which is a small graded uphill section at about mile 21 and the Citco sign near mile 24. I realized a week ago that, after arriving home and being unwell for a time, a marathon was not a good idea for me. I was simply not ready. (I am now on antibiotics for the upper respiratory problem.) Thus secondly, I would not be running a marathon today. Just a half.

How would this old, not-so-well guy do at such a race? He's done this little race before. This year, it's even littler. Just a small, friendly run in Amish-land. The trail heads mostly South, towards Millersburg. At first, the headwind is strong and it begins to look like it will be a tough day. But then, as we approach a buggy with some Amish folks around it, the winds seem to calm down and it warms up a little. Speaking of buggies, we'd been warned to "avoid stepping in the mud, because it's not mud." I think I am able to keep my shoes mostly clean.

My pace is pretty close to nine minutes per mile. There are a few others that seem to be in the same boat. If I can keep this going, my time will be just a little under two hours. My time at the 6.55-mile turnaround point is 58:30 - just about right. Now, things ought to get easier, methinks. I'll have the wind at my back, and everything will be fine, methinks.

Am I able to unleash the beast, you ask? Put the peddle to the metal? Sprint to the finish? Not quite. It's all I can do to just barely maintain that nine-minute pace. Just barely. It even gets hot as the expected tailwind doesn't do its job. I cross the finish line in tenth place with a time of 1:57 and change. Just made it (under two hours and at 9-minutes-per-mile).

I love me these nice, tiny little races. The only thing is, it seemed much tougher than it should have been. I want to get back to running this pace for a full marathon, not just a half? Think I'll get there? Just wait and see.