THE BOSTON MARATHON (PR)

 

One of my biggest fans supported me during this race.  The best daughter ever- Ginny Lash!  I can say that because she is my only daughter!  I also have 3 wonderful boys and an amazing husband but they could not make it to Boston.  Ginny and I had an amazing long weekends visiting colleges for her (lol!) and hanging in Cambridge and Boston.  Best Celiac Spot hands done was Violette GF Bakery!

And this I did and I am so excited about it!  I was in a mild Crohn's flare and I reached out to my Team Challenge Crohn's and Colitis Foundation peeps for help.  I was thinking I should take an enema the night before the marathon.  I have done plenty of those but never before running a long run or race!  But I was in a bad state.  Last 10 mile run the Wednesday before the marathon had me with bathroom stops 6 times I believe.  I could not have that happen here.  So based on some feed back from the Team Challenge peeps I decided to do an enema the night before the race.  So glad I did.  I still got up the morning of and ran .5 miles on the treadmill (usually do at least a mile) and then took my prescription strength Imodium after the treadmill run and also before I walked out the door to get on the bus.  It was successful. Yes!  I was not tapered for this race as I am training for Ironman Florida and although my amazing coach, Susan Airheart with Tri with Heart coaching, had me only running 1 mile on Saturday (after my normal IM training up to that)  BUT I walked 10 plus miles on Friday and Saturday visiting schools with Ginny.  And likely 6 niles on Sunday just trying to find celiac friendly gluten free food (yes there is a difference bw GF foods for those who decide they feel better on a GF diet and a person with celiac disease who have major GI issues if there is a trace of gluten in their food!).  So I start the marathon and it was so amazing.  I have done Boston many times before but I have always been a head case about it and crashed and burned.  This marathon was just a long run for training for IM Florida.  And guess what I did.  I had my Boston PR (which is slower of course than my normal marathon times or else I would not be running Boston).  Just running for fun.  It got warm out there.  I poured water over my head and down my back!  I talked to lots of people along the way.  Talked to the amazing volunteers.  And the Boston Marathon volunteers are truly amazing.  Had a pit stop.  Danced to some music.  Clapped for the people cheering us on.  It was just AMAZING!!!!!!!!