KCTrack running Boston today

[Zat0pek]

I'll try to post some updates during the race. He called me yesterday from one of pre-race events he attends because of his race director capacity. He was commiserating with some former elites. Send good thoughts to Boston beginning noon Eastern time!

Weather calling for a high in the mid/upper 60's with winds from the ENE at about 10. Not ideal, but not horrible either.

[Zat0pek]

70 degrees at the start.

[Zat0pek]

22:36 for 5K. Projected finish is 3:10:49.

That's a fairly conservative start for what he wants to run, even more so considering the downhill first few miles at Boston.

[TrackDaddy]

Sup Zat.

Good Luck, KC!!!!

[Zat0pek]

He's through 10K in 45:10, running extremely even splits to this point. Projected finish is still 3:10:49.

[Zat0pek]

He's picked it up a smidge. He's through 15K in 1:07:00 and his projected finish now 3:08:38.

[MoMo]

Half-way:
Stephen Kiogora, Kenya, 1:06:13

[Zat0pek]

KCTrack is through the half at 1:33:43. Projected finish down to 3:07:19.

[MoMo]

Wow. Hope he keeps it up!

[TJPatriot]

What is his goal time?

[Zat0pek]

What is his goal time?

Upper 2:50's as I recall.

We were at dinner a couple of weeks ago and I asked him how he felt about his preparation. He then spoke these two consecutive sentences without a hint of irony: "Pretty good, I'm just low-keying it this time." That sentence was followed immediately by, "I ran a 100-mile week a few weeks ago."

When I pointed out that 100-mile week is not exactly low-keying it at his age, he quickly pointed out that week was a real exception and his normal mileage was much lower.

[TJPatriot]

Haha. I figured it was sub-3:00, since you said it was "fairly conservative" and was just under 3:10 pace.

But I would have no idea how to pace myself to speed up in a race with 5-10 miles left lol...

[Zat0pek]

Still picking it up.

Through 25K in 1:50:15. Projected finish now 3:06:27.

[MoMo]

Women: Catherine Ndereba, Kenya, 2:25:13, fourth win.


(Zat, KC's in his what -- early 40s?)

[MoMo]

Men: Hailu Negussie, Ethiopia, 2:11:44

[Zat0pek]

(Zat, KC's in his what -- early 40s?)

Closer to 50 than 40; 47.

[Zat0pek]

Still picking it up. . .

30K in 2:12:05. Projected finish 3:06:01

His projected finish has dropped almost 4 1/2 minutes from the first 5K. Great pacing.

Headed into crunch time; 35k split will tell a lot.

[jaygray]

Go KC!

[Zat0pek]

Still hanging in there!

35K split was 2:34:02. That gets him through the Newton Hills, I believe, and still no slow-down!

Projected finish still 3:06:01.

Only about 4 miles to go.

If he keeps it up, I'm pretty certain this will be his first negative-split marathon ever.

[TrackDaddy]

How are you able to monitor his progress?

T.V.?

[andoverxc]

Good Luck KC!

[MoMo]

Gps? ;)

[TJPatriot]

Telepathy.

[MoMo]

Actually, with the name or bib number, you can track
the runners at bostonmarathon.com.

[Zat0pek]

And at the finish...

3:07:23! (chip time)

Nice run on a not-so-easy course and warmer than ideal conditions.

[MoMo]

Great job, KC! Congratulations!!!

[KenA55]

!!

[Filipe]

Nice run KC!

[Zat0pek]

Actually, with the name or bib number, you can track
the runners at bostonmarathon.com.

Yep. He gave me his bib number yesterday, so I didn't even have to look him up by name.

[DreamingEl41]

Good run, KC!

[Zat0pek]

KCTrack just called. He said he just ran conservatively because of the temprature and had to stop in the final mile for bit, but other than that it was a really great experience. I'll let him fill in the details and tell the story.

[herr]

Great race for KC. Given all the difficulties that he has had in Chicago, running negative splits and coming close to 3 hours on a much harder course must feel gratifying for him. Knowing how he trains and what he looks like and what his experience is, I have to think he is (conservatively) a 2:50 marathon waiting to happen.

[Kalaby]

KC - Well done. That's an impressive performance.

[jaygray]

Yeah, baby KC! Thou art indestructable. Can't wait for the details when you get back on.

[TrackDaddy]

Gps? ;)LOL@MoMo

Great job, KC!!!

[jersey_guy]

Congratulations KC. What's your marathon PR?

[Zat0pek]

Congratulations KC. What's your marathon PR?

I'll answer for him because it may be a couple of days before he can get back online. 2:28, more than once as I recall. No doubt he could have gone sub-2:20, but he has a history of being snake-bit in the marathon compared to other distances.

[exjersey1]

Awesome, KC. WTG.

[Dyenimator]

All hail KC!

[luv2run]

Congrats, KC.
Can't wait for the details when you get back on.

[KCTrack]

Hey everyone and thanks for the well wishes...

Where to start...I first have to say this is one of the best races in the world...it most certainly lived up to is billing...if you love marathoning and you get the chance to run Boston by all means do it...I had such a great time it was one of the all time great weekends...most of that is because of the race itself but my wife and I also fell into some good fortune as I will discuss shortly...

First I have to say that my wife being a race director is paying off...we recieved passes to the Race Director's party and the Mayor's Reception...both held on Saturday shortly after we arrived in Boston...so it was off to the Race Director's reception where I saw and old friend of mine (this is imp[ortant later on)...after that reception we headed over to the Mayor's Reception...which was a Boston marathon who's who...in attendence were the folowing...Bill Rogers, Rod Dixon, Uta Pippig, Craig Virgin, Amby Burfoot, Jacquline Garreau, and several other big Boston names...after holding court with a few of these guys Mrs. KCTrack and I headed back to the hotel...Sunday morning we head down to the Freedom Run and I run part of the run with the Mrs. and then do my day before 4 miles...then it was back to the hotel for a quick shower and then to the expo to pick up the race number, t-shirt and jacket and other expo goodies...while there we werre invited to the Runner's World party to be held that night...after seeing about as much of the expo as possible we headed to the North End for a little sight seeing (took in the Old North Church and a little freedom trail and a great Pasta meal...then I went back to the hotel while Mrs. Track went shopping...after a nap we went to the Runner's World Party...this is where the weekend took a huge turn for the better...

While at the party we hook up with my friend and his wife again...we spend much of the evening hanging out with him and then we get to talking about the race and he asked how was I getting to the race...I said the buses and he said I have an idea...meet me at the Fairmont at 8:00 am and go with me...

Race day for me started at 6:30 am witha quick shower and I heada to meet my friend..at 8:00 am I am getting worried as I see nobody (other than Shayne Culpepper) and begin to panic as I have no clue how to get to the busses if this plan fails...8:10 my friend shows up and I hang with him as he gets his credentials and we get on some plush busses not the school busses everyone else is on...we are on different busses and right before take off he runs to my bus and hands me a sticker...he says you will need this and takes off...all of the sudden 10 motor-cycle cops pull of with lights flashing and we get a police escort to the starting line...the whole interstate was blocked off for us as we went toward Hopkington...I have to say it was all pretty neat...upon our arrival at Hopkington we are taken to the High School and we get to go inside the school where a special area is set up for us...there is all the things we would need to eat and drink plus our own set of port-a-potties...no lines or anything and we are just hanging out...needless to say I was real happy to have that sticker on as the day became a lot easier especially as we could look out side and see the athlete village and all the people sitting out in the sun and the lines to the port-a-potties...I was very thankfull...

I know this is long so I am going to write about the race in another reply...

[MoMo]

wow, good stuff, KC.
next time i do a marathon i'll have to have you introduce me first to the Mrs... ;)

[KCTrack]

To the race...

The interesting thing about this race is that it starts at noon...so my deliema was what to eat and drink leading up to the race...on the way out I eat a Granola Bar and drink a bottle of water...at the gym, which was filled with anything you may want I decide to have a couple glasses of Gatorade half of a power bar another bottle of water and three Advil...they make a call to the starting line so one more pit stop and off I go toward the starting line...

The sun is straight up and I can already tell it is not to my liking as I ma already sweating and I have not run a step yet...I walk with the flow of people and stop by this lady's house who has people sign a canvas showing their name and where they are from...she has them hanging all around her house and she takes them to grade schools and they look at where people are from etc...anyway after a quick KCTrack autograph I make my way to the starting line...I jog about a mile but and I try to look for a friend of mine who is going to get me into the front shoot but I quickly realize that is not going to work as the security was quite tight and there were so many people...I scrap that idea and move to my corral which was number 7...I grab another water and down in and make my way to the corral...I crawl through the bars and begin my wait...I am now sweating heavily and begin to change race strategies...as Zat said I thought I would try to go under three hours as I had some indications I could but with my miles being up and down I was not sure but I thought I would give it a try if the weather was cool...at 72 degrees in Hopkington I scrapped that and decided to run as even as possible...for those of you who know me that is not one of my trade marks...but I was determined this time and it mainly had to do with the weather and also trying to learn the marathon...they begin the countdown with the National Anthem, a tribute to Johnny Kelly accompanied with "Young At Heart" and a moment of silence and then a flyover and the race was on...kind of...I was standing still for a few seconds and then slowly begin to move forward taking 3+ minutes to reach the starting line...going by the mats made it official and off I was on what was to be a grand day...

100 yards into the race men were bailing out as the wait in the shoots was to much for them and the trees looked like a place to stop to relieve themselves but I kept going down a small two lane highway heading out of Hopkington...the first loud ovation came at a biker bar where everyone was in their leathers yelling for the runners...it was really quite amusing...I hit the first 5K split in 22:36 (which was to be my slowest)...the miles just seemed to click off quickly even though I knew I was not running very fast...in front of me was a long line of people on a narrow two lane rode and it looked like a multi-colored snake winding through the country side...I saw no breaks in the people and I figured I must be around 6000th...each town we encountered brought new enthusiasim and many times a smile to the faces of the runners or a kid who would put out a hand wanting a high five...2nd 5K in 22:34 and I am still feeling pretty good...there is no place in this course to really get intoa good rythem as it twist and turns throughout with many hills so I trudge on continuing to look for gaps in the people in front and there are none...although I don't sense anyone passing me and I feel like I am passing people with every step...third 5K in 21:50...the aid stations are on both sides of the road and so I stay pretty much in the middle and look forward to watch the line of runners...if it veers to the left I move to the left and if it veers to the right I go to the right, I figure if I can cut down on a few strides it may come in handy...4th 5K in 21:57...I have stopped at every aid station by now and at each stop I drank one water and one gatorade and one water over the head...we are running into a head wind so even though it feels cool the sweat is evaporating quickly and I am starting to see salt lines on peoples uniforms so I continue to drink and pour water on my head...I am determined to not fall apart in this race...coming up on the half way split and I hear a roar in front of us...it is Wellesly coming up and the ladies are in full force...it was interesting as we neared the campus the men start veering to the right and the ladies to the left...I would soon find out why as the ladies were yelling and wanting the guys to stop and give them a kiss...many signs saying everything from "Kiss me I am a virgin" (I am guessing no relation to Craig) to "Kiss me I am Florida Orange"...many guys are stopping and kissing the girls and I figure it is some kind of tradition so with a quick little peck I am off...that 5K was in 21:18 (my fastest)...I say it is because it was down hill and in the shade but I will let you make your own conclusions... :o ...it is getting hot and I run by some people handing out ice in little bags...I grab one and stick it under my hat...this was a life saver as it is getting hot and as the ice would melt it would drip down on my face keeping me cool...I think this may have been the one most important thing I did...we are heading towrds "Hell's Alley"...many of the all time greats have talked about this section being harder than heartbreak hill so I am cautious but I fill great going up the hill and record a 21:55 5K...as we made our way toward heartbreak hill I see a canvas back drop of the "Green Monster" in Fenway Park...it had the scores posted of the Boston game and I see that the Red Sox are winning so I figure that has helped the mood of the people...we are heading toward "Heart Break Hill" and I gear up...again the up hills are going fine and I work my way up fine...a 21:58 5K through heart break and I feel like I have made now...there is a big sign on top of Heart Break saying there is 5.5 miles left and I know it is down hill and flat the rest of the way so I start to pick it up and head for home...going down the hill we go over a set of rail road tracks and go right by a "T" stop and there were several cops in fron of the entrance...I think to myself they must be stopping another Rosie icendent as this was the 20th anniversary of that dibacle...my pace is really going as I am now running close to 6 minute miles...the crowds were unbelievable and another runner and I are passing people like crazy...I am so excited I can't stand it and begin to get a little a head of myself...now I have stopped at every aid station for at least 2 glasses of water and have had 3 gels...at about 25 miles my stomach begins to boil up and I dry heave a little...I did not want to throw up in front of all these people and I know I was not breaking three hours so I stopped to walk and let myself gather...but I walked at a fast clip...as soon as the stomach calmed down I took off again passing everyone who had just passed me...one more boil up and then a third...three stops but went into power walking mode and sub 6 minute pace mode...a right hand turn and then a left and there was the finish line so I had walked for the last time...I headed home with my last 5k split being 22:07...I finish and then start walking with the crowds...now remember the "V" on the number...I was escorted into a special area where there were no people and chairs to sit on under a tent...I take off my chip recieve my medal a quick massage and I am off to meet the Mrs. and we walk back to the hotel...that night we go to the post race meal and dance (I even danced a few songs)...so that ended a great weekend...my splits for the race were about as even as I could go as my second half (which is harder) was three seconds faster than the first so at 47 I had my first negative split...I learned a lot about the race and about myself...

15 degrees cooler I thing I run under three hours but now I know I can and with the right training maybe even faster...we will see...

Next race Marine Corp Marathon...again thanks to my wife...

[MoMo]

Great post, KC. Very well told. Amazing you were able to keep the pace so even, despite the various problems.

So you're definitely running the MCM, huh?

[KCTrack]

Great post, KC. Very well told. Amazing you were able to keep the pace so even, despite the various problems.

So you're definitely running the MCM, huh?


Another story but yes I am in...any ideas on where to stay...the race director said to get any hotel that was close to a train station and you would be okay...any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

[luv2run]

Congrats on the even pace, especially at the end.

How many marathons does that make for you?

[KCTrack]

Congrats on the even pace, especially at the end.

How many marathons does that make for you?

I think around 18...quick rundown...

St. Louis...2
Dallas White Rock...2
Mission Bay...1
Sacramento...1
LasVegas...1
Chicago...3
Phoneix...1
Kansas City...4
NAIA in Texas...1
Junction City KS...1
Boston...1

Eight different states...best time 2:29:32 (I ran 2:29:30 something 3 times)

Highest place was a 2nd in Las Vegas...best effort was at Sacramento where I ran sub 5:20 pace for 23 miles and realized I was not going to break 2:20 to qualify for the trials so I stopped and waited for a friend of mine and we jogged in in 2:31...I thought then I would run more but I didn't run another for 10 years and now I wished I would have continued as I probably would have hit about 2:23...by the way in that race I was only 1 and a half minutes behind Mark Conover when I quit he went on to win the 1988 Oly Trials in the marathon...his time was so slow because we were running in a storm and head winds...they asked him how he could be a 2:19 marathoner and win the trials and he said his 2:19 was a 2:12 effort and at 23 I was but a minute and a half behind...zat said I was kind of snake bit in this event...I probably caused most of the venom... :mad:

[KCTrack]

I hope this works so here goes...

http://jimrhoades.com/05/boston/1m/index.html

You have to go to page 51, second row, last picture...

[luv2run]

http://jimrhoades.com/05/boston/1m/images/DSC_0626.jpg

[Kalaby]

[QUOTE=KCTrack]I think around 18...quick rundown...

St. Louis...2
Dallas White Rock...2
Mission Bay...1
Sacramento...1
LasVegas...1
Chicago...3
Phoneix...1
Kansas City...4
NAIA in Texas...1
Junction City KS...1
Boston...1

Eight different states...best time 2:29:32 (I ran 2:29:30 something 3 times)
QUOTE]

So when are you running the NYC Marathon???

[KCTrack]

[QUOTE=KCTrack]I think around 18...quick rundown...

QUOTE]

So when are you running the NYC Marathon???

This fall I want to run the MCM...then the next year... :)

[MoMo]

KC, I'll send you some suggestions on hotels... maybe tomorrow.

[jrun]

http://jimrhoades.com/05/boston/1m/images/DSC_0626.jpg

KC being bib 7790 (guy on far left), I believe...?

Great race and thanks for the story.

Just wanted to say that bostonmarathon.com is a very good site. Very easy to navigate.

[KCTrack]

KC, I'll send you some suggestions on hotels... maybe tomorrow.

Sounds good...thanks...

[MoMo]

Actually, KC, now that I think about it, you'd probably be best off consulting the hotel chart they have at the MCM site --- http://www.marinemarathon.com/thetravel.php --- which will tell you price range, proximity to the race site and to the Metro, whether they have shuttle service to packet pickup and to the race, etc. Being right in Arlington is probably most convenient, although the Metro will get you there easily enough from D.C. or Maryland suburbs like Bethesda.
Also, you definitely want to fly into Reagan National Airport if you can, rather than BWI or Dulles. From National you can hop dierctly onto the Metro and get to Arlington in 10 minutes, and not need a cab.
Hope this helps.

[KCTrack]

Thanks MoMo...I probably better get started right away...

:eek:

[TrackDaddy]

KC, I know this stuff is kind of old hat for you...but I want to thank you because in reading about this, you have truly inspired me.

Not to run a marathon (yet).

But to just to get up and do something that's hard.

I'm going to stop talking about what I'm going to do and just do something.

Something hard to do.

[luv2run]

KC, I know this stuff is kind of old hat for you...but I want to thank you because in reading about this, you have truly inspired me.

Not to run a marathon (yet).

But to just to get up and do something that's hard.

I'm going to stop talking about what I'm going to do and just do something.

Something hard to do.That's awesome. This is why I love running ... good luck, whatever you do.

[TrackDaddy]

Thanks Luv.

[KCTrack]

Again I want to thank all of you for the nice words of encouragement...

Quick update...I ran the Trolley Run in KC the Sunday after Boston...it is a four miler mostly downhill...I ran 22:41 which is a 45-49 age group PR for me...

I was a little sore the next day though...

[MoMo]

Glutton for punishment!

[patti]

Great memories for you KC. Congratulations on Boston! Gee, they didn't have the the plush buses when I ws running. UGH! Maybe if I ever even thought of runing it again, (not on your life) I'll try to remember to get "V"!






___Saw this and well.......? I liked it. LOL!_______________
You may be faster than me,
You may be stronger than me,
You may be smarter than me,
But can you beat me?

[luv2run]

^
|
|
Thanks, one of my few original thoughts!

P.S. Welcome to dyestat.