Boston Marathon 2014

Boston Marathon 2014 is the special year for many many people including myself after last years tragedy.  I had to be there with my friends, Lucy, Yukiko, and Akemi our usual Boston Gangs. I know I made myself crazy race schedule back to back: April 21 Monday Boston Marathon 26.2 miles, and flying to Japan April 25 Friday UTMF-Ultra Trail Mt Fuji 104miles, but  I had to be there.

The City of Boston was all Blue and yellow Boston marathon color with" BOSTON STRONG"when we get there.  It was so excited, motivated, and inspired with all stories you can imagine!

At finish line the day before the race.

Sunday, day before race was our EXPO day, time to shop shop shop! The expo was insanely busy with people all over the world. There were many Japanese runners from US and also Japan.  There was a Japanese gathering at the Cafeteria close to the Expo, thanks to Jo Yoshiko and Yuko Kosugi from east coast - both are insane Super runners.  I met a littel cute Shigeko from Japan in the picture below, she just flew from japan to run BostonMarathon, then going to run UTMF!!!  I found another person doing same thing as me!  I was so excited.  She ran Boston in 3:23 amazing runner!

Shigeko and I

Yukiko, Akemi, Shizuo, me, and Lucy

Shizuo Kanamura, is 67years old, His Boston time was amazing 3:06:19 !!  Superman!  He will be one of superman lists. I would like to be like him when I am his age( getting closer... ).

Our pre-race dinner was at our usual little Italian restaurant in the Northend.  We finished our dinner earlier in the evening and get back t the hotel and ready for the race.  I had my gear lined up with RUNNER's ROOST gear, and Mizuno "Sayonara"race shoes! Thank you to my sponsors!

Race day, we took the race official bus from Boston common to Hopkinton in aerly morning.

We hang out at the race venue for couple of hours till race starts.  I was in Wave 3, 1st corral this year.  It is very dangerous to be in 1st corral because you are right in the front row, behind leading vehicle.  I tend to get excited and run too fast on the first downhill.  Sure enough, as soon as gun went, my legs were start moving faster cadence than I wanted. (You get high in sea level!!) I ran half in 1:40: 23.  I was keep repeated " Slow down slowdown" in my head, it was absolutely hard to do.. I felt great and felt like " I can do this!! " suddenly some my very respectable runner friends' voice came into my head " You have Mt Fuji race in 4 days! slowdown"!! I followed the voice and I slowed down little bit. As I approached to 30K, I changed my goal from 4-4:30 finish to under 4hours so i can at least qualified for next year, then at 35k, I decided to go for under 3:40 so I can register 1st day.  It was hard enough pace to make my left leg stiff after the race. I ended up running in 3:33:28.  I knew I would pay price for this at Mt Fuji.

Akemi from my home town Sapporo was there to chase us during race since she could not run this year due to knee injury.  I am so happy she came!

We all made it to finish safely.  Lucy ran in her BOSTON PR coming out from long time injury!  Amazing! Yukiko also had her BOSTON PR, and going for another goal time upcoming race this summer!  way to go!  I am in my mission to give her another strength training menu!

Okidoki!!  One done!  gotta catch flight to Japan for my "A" race UTMF 104mile trail race in my home soil. Wish me luck!  I am scared...