Right Now

Boston Marathon

from JoeUser Forums

Right now, this second, my husband is running the Boston Marathon.

He is running with professional athletes from all over the world.  Professional meaning, they are sponsored and paid to run these races.  Hey, its a good gig if you can get it.

This is the first time he is running against people from Africa and Italy.  Even as a "recreational" runner, he admires the sheer speed and endurance of these athletes.

The runners are wearing GPS on their shoe strings.  (Shocking considering most serious runners want to go with the lightest weight shoe...even paying $200 for what amounts to no more than a 10 ounce throw away shoe...it is so light it wears out after 26 miles.  I can't believe they'd actually add a couple ounces for this gps thing.)  Anyway, they tie it to their shoe and then go.  I get email updates that tell me where he is and how he is doing.

I think that is so cool.  This is my latest update:

110th Boston Marathon 2006
 
At 12:43 PM, Rob at 10K.
 
Pace: 04:15
Projected Finish Time:  2:58:39 (Net)
 
Not too bad considering he is running with a stress fracture on his right ankle.  But I am sure those guys and gals from Kenya are passing him like he is standing still!  Buwhahahaha.
 
If you want to check out the sight...its pretty cool..lots of info.
 
 
 
4,645 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

Men's Prize money

1. $100,000
2. $40,000
3. $22,500
4. $18,000
5. $14,000
6. $12,000
7. $9000
8. $7400
9. $5700
10. $4200
11. $2600
12. $2100
13. $1800
14. $1700
15. $1500

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

I guess my hubby is about 30 seconds behind these guys in minutes per mile...which after 11 miles would mean they are about a mile ahead of him?  Give or take....

Leaders:

12:53: 11 mile split is 52:49 (4:42). The leading trio remains Maiyo, Merga and Keflezighi. Culpepper is 13 seconds down and losing ground. This is Merga's marathon debut. He clocked a 60:44 course record in the Paris Half Marathon in March. He is a training partner of Haile Gebreselassie.

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Damn!  Less than 3 hours?  That is good!
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well he just finished....3 hours and 3 minutes was his final time....He'll be mad he didn't break 3 this race..hehe.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

3 hours and 3 minutes was his final time

That is still damn good!  I mean the winner usually takes 2 hours and 15 minutes.  SO he was only 3/4 of an hour off the winning pace.  And for an amature!

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

SO he was only 3/4 of an hour off the winning pace.

HAHAHA.

In a race the reporters cover in "strides" (he is three strides behind, four strides ahead) 45 minutes is an eternity.buwhahaha.

He loves to run....but it is killing his body....I don't think running so much is healthy....and I must say marathoners are a whole different breed.  When I go to marathons with him, and we go to get his bib the day before...that is when all the runners mingle and I get a chance to check them out.

I can always spot the "real" runners because they have a glint in their eye and they tend to be really thin and have a runners chin...I call it that...a chin that is ALL angles.....haha.  I think they're all crazy...my husband included.

I am glad he made it without completely fracturing his ankle.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
1.  Robert Cheruiyot  KEN 2:07:14
2.  Benjamin Maiyo  KEN 2:08:21
3.  Meb Keflezighi  USA 2:09:56
4.  Brian Sell  USA 2:10:55
5.  Alan Culpepper  USA 2:11:02
6.  Kenjiro Jitsui  JPN 2:11:32
7.  Peter M. Gilmore  USA 2:12:45
8.  William Kiplagat  KEN 2:13:26
9.  Wilson Onsare  KEN 2:13:47
10.  Clint Verran  USA
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
23,000 people raced.....my man scored around 1,400th place....hahahaha...but that's like the top 7-8%...not too shabby....to bad it doesn't pay! hehe
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hi Tova

Welcome back!! Missed you!!! Your man did well. I just read the results to my hubby. He used to be one of those marathoners so I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. When I met my Bob he was running 100 miles per week and I thought he was nuts until I started running...hehehehehe.

I guess if you can't beat em' join em'!!

While I have never done a marathon, I have done 1/2 marathons and my time is always around a 1:44. I never was really interested in doing the training for a full marathon and like you said...it beats the body up.

I know a guy here who is 72 and he runs ultras like 24 hour races. He was telling me the stories about how you can run 165 miles in a 24 hour time if you're good. He's just like you described....very thin with a very thin face with the angles. He's a member in our running club.

Hey off topic....Bri may be commissioned by Bush himself in DC. He's waiting to find out. He's in the running to be one of the ones named. It just keeps getting more bizarre.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Welcome back!!

Thanks.  Good trip....just long enough to feel "gone" but not so long all my plants died. ha.

Bri may be commissioned by Bush himself in DC.

That will be wonderful!  I hope he gets it.  Keep me posted.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Congrates to Hubby! And to you KFC, I knew we must have something in common! I used to run 26.2, but now run mostly halfs, with occasional 5 and 10ks tossed in. The year before last I did a half a month, last year every other month. This year is an "off" cycle, though I will do two halfs, one in July and one in December. As a partially paralzed person, I run in a strange, stumbling sort of way, but I manage to finish. Be well.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

Congrates to Hubby!

Thanks!  He is back and feeling fine....said his ankle didn't bother him too much...he also said the Boston is easy compared to the AF marathon...he laughed at heart break hill because it was so small.  He kept wondering when the hill was "really" gonna start....hahahahahaha.

 

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Congrates to Hubby! And to you KFC, I knew we must have something in common


Thanks and imagine that!!! It's not religion that's for sure....LOL. I'm not giving up on you tho. I'm a junkyard dog with a bone. I'll just pray for you. That'll be your demise!! Who knows? Maybe you'll be another Paul and get knocked off your horse. But then again....you can run away.

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
he also said the Boston is easy compared to the AF marathon


The Air Force Marathon in Ohio? I've always wanted to run that one. Hills are what I run on mostly, well actually, mountains. My house in the mountains is at 7500 feet and there are very few flat places. I'm glad your hubby's ankle is OK. Running on a stress fracture is not a good idea.

Maybe you'll be another Paul and get knocked off your horse. But then again....you can run away.


KFC, you are a hoot. Though my horse just died...I had 15 good years with her...I never was tossed off her back. There is a book I am reading now about Paul as a mythmaker, essentially creating Jesus in his view for the world. Its written by a Talmudic scholar. I'll share some as I get through it. I read your piece on the synoptics. Nice job. I am one of those "few" who not only read them, but studied them as well. I'll comment soon. Be well.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
I read your piece on the synoptics. Nice job. I am one of those "few" who not only read them, but studied them as well. I'll comment soon. Be well.


Thanks...I'll look forward to reading this when you do.

Be Well (really well)
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sodaiho

The Air Force Marathon in Ohio? I've always wanted to run that one. Hills are what I run on mostly, well actually, mountains. My house in the mountains is at 7500 feet and there are very few flat places. I'm glad your hubby's ankle is OK. Running on a stress fracture is not a good idea.


Yes the one in Ohio. My hubby heard the Columbus Ohio Marathon is the easiest course on the "circuit" (I think that means that has big cash prizes?) Anyway, he was told to get his "best" time he should run that one.

If you run mountains than you should run the North America Marathon in Alaska.....Actually I can't remember the exact name of it...its billed as the "toughest course in North America" hahahaha.

When you start they tell every runner....expect to tack 30 minutes onto your time. That's because only part of the course is on pavement/gravel/dirt. Then most of it is on a little deer trail up the side of a mountain, then back down the other side through brush and what not. Most of the winners were bleeding when they finished. There wasn't a cash pot though so it doesn't draw the big names. It does draw people from all over the world just because its really tough.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
KFC, you are a hoot. Though my horse just died...I had 15 good years with her...I never was tossed off her back. There is a book I am reading now about Paul as a mythmaker, essentially creating Jesus in his view for the world. Its written by a Talmudic scholar. I'll share some as I get through it. I read your piece on the synoptics. Nice job. I am one of those "few" who not only read them, but studied them as well. I'll comment soon.


HAHAHA You are so brave!

Was that a gauntlet?

Can't wait to read the article as well as the exchanges!
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes the one in Ohio. My hubby heard the Columbus Ohio Marathon is the easiest course on the "circuit" (I think that means that has big cash prizes?) Anyway, he was told to get his "best" time he should run that one.


For my money, the fastest course is Las Vegas. I ran that one a few years ago. Flat and well staffed, no humidity to speak of, and the altitude is not a factor. The hardest would be Pike's Peak in my opinion. They actually run up the peak then back down. I ran the Garden of the Gods one year at its base and took the train to the top of Pike's Peak. After a few minutes walk, I really needed some oxygen. To attempt to "run" that climb and then back down would be, well, crazy! There is a marathon in Alaske though that is intriguing to me. I can't recall the full name but it has to do with the mayor of a town and midnight.

Be well.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I can't recall the full name but it has to do with the mayor of a town and midnight.


Yeah that's the Mayor's Midnight Run Marathon....Link

The big draw is you are running at midnight and the sun is up...it is a scenic run, very pretty. And you meet runners from all over the world.

But its not challenging as far as courses go.

And after living in Alaska for several years and enduring the endless days of summer, literally, and the endless darkness of winter...well its not a "draw" for us!
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
The one I'm talking about in Alaska in The Equinox Marathon...its in the interior...Link

Of course they bill it as the "toughest in NA" but I don't know if that's official...most of this is literally deer trail..or was 5 years ago when my husband ran it. As you can see there are no flat spots!
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Some photos from the race....











Not exactly pavement runnning!hahahahaha
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hey! Great pics. I took a look at the website, as well. It seems there's not a course cut-off time, but there are not a lot of runners in the field either. Interesting. I love running on trails or cross country. I will consider this race. Thanks! Any idea when the 2006 race will be run?
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top

Any idea when the 2006 race will be run?


September 17th every year.


Heres the link.http://www.equinoxmarathon.org/01-raceinfo/2005/RaceInfo.htm

Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
Tova, My son would love that tough run in Alaska. I'm going to tell him about it although he can't afford really to go right now as he is a poor struggling college student.

He's running Div 1 right now but I see him in the future running ultra's. He ran Mount Washington in NH which attracts some of the biggest names in Mountain Running in the world. It's 7 plus miles straight up. The temp changes drastically. Last year he ran up in a tee shirt and almost got frostbit at the top. It can be very dangerous at the top. It was his first year doing this and he won his age group. He hated it he said when he came back down but guess what? He signed up again this year. It's a lottery system to get in unless you do well the previous year and then you get an automatic pass.

You couldn't pay me to do this. Maybe walk up but run...ya, right. I'll stick to 10K's on horizontel turf. The vertical stuff is for the birds...