Activity	Stats
Running -	3 miles 00:00:00

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Activity	Stats
Running - Aerobic My hood in LaVista	4 miles 00:36:40 (9:10 min/mile)	Shoe: OldSauconyOrange 0 miles on shoe Height: 5' 9

Activity	Stats
Running - Race Boston Marathon Certified? Yes	26.2 miles 03:30:32 (8:02 min/mile)

BOSTON number 14!! I was so happy to return to Boston! Especially relieved that I had a qualifying time for next year's 2020 Boston Marathon as well, from my Eisenhower Marathon nine days prior. Going into the race, I thought that I could just enjoy the experience since I had a qualifier...and also run it easy since I would not be anywhere near 100 percent because of the back-to-back races.

For race weekend, I got to Boston on Friday, went to the expo and met up with Scott, Kristy, and her husband Chad for a nice visit. On Saturday, we had a party of 11 (myself and my Rhode Island/Massachusetts cousins) for a wonderful mini-reunion and lunch. I was especially touched and grateful that my cousin Stacey had come, as she was diagnosed with cancer last year, battled the disease, and came out cancer free, happy and healthy one year later! On Sunday, Scott, Kristy, Chad, myself, plus a family that were friends of Scott's did the fun Boston "Duck" tour on land and water!

Race morning. Luckily, it looked like the predicted rain would be before and after the race, and that is what happened. Thank heavens it was not like last year's nightmare weather of headwinds, heavy rain and starting at 38 degrees or so. I went to get on the bus at 6:00 and who is there among the 30,000 runners but Scott and Kristy! I talked Scott's ear off on the bus ride to Hopkinton. On the trip, the buses pulled over twice due to lightning and heavy rain. Each stop was about 10-15 minutes, and I was wondering if they may delay the race start if this goes on...thankfully this did not happen. At Athlete's Village I always love meeting runners from all over and chatting.

I was in the 2nd corral of the 2nd wave, which went off at 10:25 am Boston time. The temp was 57 degrees, with a 10 mph SSE wind and cloudy. That first mile is always jam crowded, elbow-to-elbow. I was just doing what Obi Wan instructed Luke to do in "A New Hope"...put the blast shield down and go on instinct...translated to the race: going on feel. The majority of the course up to mile 16 is downhill and I was thinking of what Mo taught me for downhill running, and also letting gravity "do the work" so as to conserve energy, which would have been my wise father's advice. Once the crowding dissipated a bit, I also tried to enter into a prayer state, thinking about all of our safety and doing this for God. I always dedicate my races to my dad as well.

First mile split was 7:30 and I thought, "well, that was downhill and just my first mile of 26.2...ease up, kid". My average pace at Eisenhower over the whole thing was 7:36, and I thought there is no way I was going to pull that off again 9 days later. But I kept trying to back off the pace and I kept getting 7:30ish on my Garmin! I was feeling good and it did not feel like I was "pushing" my limits. I heard the Red Sox classic of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" twice in maybe the first 5 miles! Amazing crowds as always! Going though the first few beautiful New England towns of Hopkinton, Ashland and Natick... There was a sign that said "Leaving Natick" and so I yelled out to the crowd, "See ya next year, Natick!!"

I went through each 5K split, wondering how long I could hold the 7:30ish pace. At some points I was wondering if I would do a similar time to Eisenhower...better think twice on that one, kid. Just past the "scream tunnel" of Wellesley was the half marathon mark...I have done some races where I hit the half and it FEELS like I did a half marathon effort...it did NOT feel like this! OK, I knew mile 15 was a serious downhill before the 4 Newton hills from miles 16-21. Just enjoy it, because a very tough road is ahead. I did the first hill of the 4 hills with no walking. But after the majority of downhills previously and the sun coming out...AND that 7:30ish pace...it kind if hit me. Not like hitting the wall, but it was very significant.

I got past the firehouse turn just past mile 17 and did my first walk break. And just like potato chips, the walk break was addictive, and "you can't have just one." I told my cousins later that before the Newton hills, I had a hard time remembering that I had ran a race 9 days before...and after the Newton hills, I DID NOT have a hard time remembering this!! I wasn't cramping in the legs, but I was fatigued. I had my BQ time for next year, so I was not going to overly push today. For the remaining 3 Newton hills (concluding with Heartbreak Hill), I made sure I ran at least part of them. Did some walk breaks after the hills were over also. I gave myself permission for this and did not care. Many in the crowd encouraged me, yelling my number "9642" or "Go, Star Wars", as I was wearing a Star Wars cap! If I was walking, I nodded, waved, or gave a thumbs-up to them that I was indeed finishing this thing, just taking a walk break at the time.

Once past Heartbreak Hill, you go down that famous hill and approach the cheers of Boston College. The worst of the course is over, but you still have 5 miles to go. Then past Coolidge Corner where my cousins Viv, Mary Lou and Stacey were (thanks, ladies!), down-and-up an underpass, right on Hereford, and--would you know it--left on Boylston once again! Got my medal and hugged the woman who gave it to me. I thanked the volunteers and the police for a beautiful and safe journey from Hopkinton to the finish!

I had a joyful reunion again meeting Viv, Mary Lou and Stacey at Chef Chow's House in Brookline. This is nearby where they watch at Coolidge Corner, at about mile 24. Excellent Chinese lunch/dinner and a beautiful time together! After that, I did the Fenway Park post-race party where Jen and Matt took time out to meet me for a lovely visit! The next day, I had breakfast and a great post-race chat with Scott and Kristy! CONGRATS to Matt, Scott, Kristy and ALL the runners!

Thanks as always to God, my family and friends! I could not have done this without all of you. You inspire me and keep me coming back.

Song of the day: "Wonderland" by Nils Lofgren. On this day, the Wonderland was the Boylston finish line!

Activity	Stats
Walking - Walking Mean Streets of Papillion Elevation: Ascent+231 Descent-232 5:44pm Weather: 79°, 7 S, 32%	2.7 miles 00:50:31 (18:42 min/mile)	Shoe: Saucony Guide ISO [20190315] 0 miles on shoe Max HR: 138 Avg HR: 98

Papillion [20190415]: Pet Store Walk

Da Boss and I, to Pets Earth and back; picked up a special treat for our first dog, Ike: he turned 15 today!

Love running in my Guide ISOs; walking, not so much.

Activity	Stats
Running - Standing Bear	5.1 miles 00:00:00	Shoe: GT 2000-5 blue 0 miles on shoe

Activity	Stats
Running - Aerobic Kearney Hike and Bike Trail 4:10pm Weather: 75°	6 miles 00:47:50 (7:58 min/mile)	Shoe: Hoka Clifton 3 0 miles on shoe Height: 6 ft

Activity	Stats
Running - Race Boston Marathon Certified? Yes 10:03am	26.2 miles 02:54:27 (6:39 min/mile)	Shoe: Brooks Ghost 11: Blue 0 miles on shoe Height: 5'8

Activity	Stats
Running - Aerobic Omaha Streets and Trails Elevation: Ascent+403 Descent-515 2:06pm Weather: 75°!!, 8 S, 36%	6.21 miles 00:54:13 (8:43 min/mile)	Shoe: Saucony Guide 10 [20190108] 0 miles on shoe Max HR: 168 Avg HR: 146

Omaha [20190415]: Watched Running; Did Running

Streamed as much of Boston as I could handle (that first place battle in the men's race!); then went out into the summer heat and ran. Twas a remix of a couple routes.

Apparently, though, I was so excited I didn't actually start my watch... until I was @ 78/Center (making this probably closer to 7 miles). Technology is hard.

Activity	Stats
Running - Aerobic Nevada course 4:43am Weather: 46F	7.61 miles 00:00:00	Shoe: pink-grey adrenalines 0 miles on shoe

With Theresa. One nice biker passed us and wished us a safe and good run :). How nice!
Good luck to the Boston runners - I can't believe the bombing was 6 years ago today....

Activity	Stats
Running - Aerobic 7 mile loop CW 5:18am	8.27 miles 01:04:49 (7:50 min/mile)	Shoe: Nike Epic React Flyknit - Oran 0 miles on shoe Height: 5'10

Activity	Stats
Running - north oaks 6:45am Weather: 29, sun	4 miles 00:00:00	Height: 5'2"

Pleasant run this morning AND I found an osprey on the osprey pole at the lake.

Activity	Stats
Running - Aerobic School Loop 5:00am Weather: 40 degrees s 5 clear	4.7 miles 00:00:00	Shoe: Asics GT2000 4-4 0 miles on shoe Height: 6.0

Good luck to all of the Boston runners.