Monday, October 08, 2007

Boston Here I Come

Thanks for letting me join the Mommies. After three years I finally can say I have run and finished a marathon. It's been a long road of foot problems, shin splints, stress fractures, doctors telling me to find something else to do. Saturday was sweet. I started the day at 4 am. I got up made a bowl of oatmeal and ate a banana. Got to the top of the mountain and met M&M, Suzie, and the rest of the group including my husband. Nervous jitters and lots of excitement. I started the race with M&M and Suzie we sat and talked for the first 5 or so miles. Thanks Suzie for the conversing it was great to get to know you more intimately. First 11 miles we averaged about 9 min. miles. I was feeling really good. Starting to get stiff in the calves. At this point Suzie and I picked up the pace for the next 9 miles we averaged 8.23 min. miles. At some point I looked at my garmin and realized that qualifiying for Boston was attainable. I told Suzie that it was possible I don't know what she said (it's all a blur) but she was right with me the whole way. By mile 25 it was getting hard because I knew we were almost there. Each city block was hard because I kept thinking around the next corner will be the end and it wasn't. I know I wouldn't have kept up the fast pace if Suzie hadn't been with me the whole way. She pushed me along. I don't know if you realize Suzie how much it meant and helped me you being there. Thank you. Finally we reached the last corner and I could see the blue balloons in the distance. The last .2 miles we were sprinting to the finish. Suzie you beat me congrats. My final time was 3:45:07 I did qualify for Boston. It was a great race I was amazed at the organization. They thought of everything, icy hot, vaseline, gu, water, gatorade, blankets for after the race. It was excellent. Everybody did a great job. I think our whole group was happy with their results. My husband did great he finished 4:06:03. I'm still on a high but that is great it helps get me through the very sore quads I'm sporting.

5 comments:

Kelly(M&M) said...

Thanks for your report Kirsten! I am so happy for you and I hope you will continue to post here. You have always amazed me with your pure talent and dedication. You and Suzie rocked St. George. Congrats on Boston, I hope to be there someday. :-)

Kelly(M&M) said...

I forgot to mention, yes, I am jealous. :-)

Team Hanni said...

Unbelievable! Way to go on your huge accomplishment. Thank you for inspiring me to run a little longer today. Someday, I will run St. George. You guys rock!

Ang said...

You did an amazing job! What a great time. Does this mean you are going to Boston for sure? That is so fun that your husband ran the race too.

Suzie Petunia said...

Foxy - (love the name!)

It was a pure pleasure to "help" you qualify for Boston. I didn't know how close you were to your qualifying time during the race, but I knew that we were pushing each other - and it turned out to be the best thing with amazing results for both of us! What a perfect race! The next best thing to qualifying for Boston myself was being there to help and witness someone else attain that goal! M&M - it's OUR turn next time!!

I'm so glad you posted. I hope you continue with us!