Nougat 6ix with no common sense

"Common sense at the Nougat?" said one of the co-race directors. Yeah, I figured it out I said. If I kept going, I would have gotten back here a mile premature. 

He and Gregory promptly headed out to mark the trail that I said was missing a marker to advise which way to go......

I showed up at the widely advertised (taking sarcasm from the race site that is so far underground, you’d be at the core of the earth) Nougat6ix at Lynn Woods on Saturday 10 minutes before the start at 7:00. Simple race, 50K (4 loops) or 100K (8 for the mentally bored). Bring your own, no race entry fee (sorry, $1.00 for International runners), invited only sort of event. Go ahead read the site, look around. It is hilarious.

I raised my hand for 25K which was 10 miles on the left and 5.5 on the right. Each loop would return to the start. I recruited for some company the day before. I got one taker, Stephen Trainor. Thank you sir!

A group of twenty or so took off at 7:02 and Stephen and I took off after 30 seconds. We got into the lead at the top of the first hill. It was very casual and we were taking it easy. Heads were on a swivel, keeping alert for white ground arrows on top of leaves or orange streamers hanging from branches. The pace was conversational. Miles went by, the sun went away and the wind picked up. I waited for Stephen as he needed a potty break after 6 miles. I got a little anxious at the as we went by Stone Tower and opened the stride a little. No marker at the bottom of it was concerning. I went right, Stephen followed, and I corrected my error after 10 seconds, noting common sense that I had almost 1.5 miles to reach the start. So I turned back and ran up to Steel Tower and then to the start which gave me just over 10 miles. Stephen fell way back, a minute or so, when I reached where we started. I took a Gel and Red Bull Seltzer mix that I planted at the aid station. 

Stephen was cooked so I headed out to the right side for the 5.5. It took me on new trail that I never saw before. It was very technical so I just rolled with it getting out to Rt.1 wondering where the GAC crew was along with Linda Fitzpatrick. They are usually in for the ultra races. Well, guess who I bumped into 10 minutes later. Yup. Linda and a few friends. I grabbed her hand, noted a story of a hunter crying that she recently shared, and ran off. A power line or two went over head and found my way heading back to the start or in my case, my finish. I was pretty tired. 15.64 miles and 2:11:39. The effort is a DNF because I and most others did not do the minimum 50K. It fits the sarcastic, underground, non-commercialization of the super secret event. Huge props to those tackling each loop twice. The 5.5 mile loop on the right side is as technical as it will get in Lynn Woods. Once was enough for these bones. Twice and I would end up breaking one or two. 

Gregory Esbitt, co-race director and my tired bones
Photo taken by a kind soul with my phone

Live for another day

Passing by the SRR Cheer Zone at 30km
Photo taken by Joe O'Leary

The long and short of my Boston Marathon effort was a DNF (did not finish). I got to mile 21 and accepted my last calf cramp since they began half way through the race. The right calf cramp triggered more frequently as I approached Boston College. The left calf started to cramp at some point. Mile 20 to 21 slowed to 8:01 mile (my race was determined to be over). I had a few bouts of practically stopping in my tracks to release the cramps on the last of the Newton hills. I refused to do the marathon shuffle or death march over the last five miles. The mix of running, stopping, stretching, and repeat was not appealing so I pulled the plug. Muscle fatigue and electrolyte depletion is misery. I took on water or Gatorade at each opportunity after skipping the first one. I took a Power Gel around mile 7, 14, and 17.5. I even grabbed a half banana as I ran down into Newton Lower falls hoping that the Potassium would help fight off the cramps.

Family, coworkers, and friends got the following text updates:

10km: 41:35, Pace 6:41
1/2 marathon: 1:27:14, Pace 6:39
30km: 2:05:24, Pace 6:43

Several were concerned with no update after 30km - hoping that the text alert program was having technical issues. No, it was just electrolyte depleted calves....thanks to all that have checked in and gave positive words. This is behind me. Huge thanks to the spectator who let me use his cell to call Krissy for the rescue at Waban Hills and another spectator for a bottle of Gatorade. Patrick Taylor biked from the North Shore to mile 21 to take in the race. He came over to bust my chops and kept me company while Krissy drove from her finish line perch to pick up my sorry ass.

A screen copy of my mile splits once I crossed the stating line in Hopkinton are included. While home tapping at the keyboard, watching the post marathon coverage on the tube - I am reminded that it is not about me. So my whining here on this "about me blog" shall be minimized. I am at peace considering what happened one year ago and what it meant to 36,000 registered runners today and even more beyond that. Taking back the finish line was accomplished today. It meant a lot to Boston and the running community. I can't wait to see, hear, and read how friends did today. To add, Meb Kefleghizi, won today as the first male American to do so in 31 years. Shalane Flanagan PR'd with a 2:22 and change in an incredible fight for 7th place.