"PRIOR PREPARATION PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMANCE"

The Boston Marathon

Recent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesTom Slick's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageWeek ViewMonth ViewYear View
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

UT,United States

Member Since:

Apr 05, 2010

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

"PRIOR PREPRATION PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMANCE"

Best running times:

5K - 17:45, Nestle, 2008

10K - 43:34, Des News, 2008

1/2 Marathon - 1:32:50, Provo 1/2, 1999

Full Marathon - 3:21:26, St. George, 1999

Best Boston Marathon: 3:29:57, 2006

I  RAN AND COMPLETED MY 12/12/60th BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE. 12 MARATHONS IN 12 MONTHS  (FEB 5,2011 - FEB 19, 2012)

ST GEORGE MARATHON(14)    1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2019 (14)

THE BOSTON MARATHON(14)  2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, (14)

DESERET NEWS MARATHON,(4)  2004, 2005, 2006, 2011 (4)

OGDEN MARATHON(3)  2004, 2005, 2011, 2022 (4)

PARK CITY MARATHON(6)  2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011

TOP OF UTAH MARATHON(4)  2004, 2005, 2007, 2011.

UTAH VALLEY MARATHON(3)  2010, 2011, 2021.

THE COWTOWN MARATHON(1)  2011

THE HOOVER DAM MARATHON (1)    2011

THE DALLAS WHITE ROCK MARATHON(1)   2011

THE SURF CITY USA MARATHON(2)    2012, 2013

THE LOST DUTCHMAN MARATHON(1)   2012

THE LAYTON MARATHON,(1)  2013

THE MT NEBO MARATHON,(1)  2014

THE ATHENS GREECE AUTHENTIC MARATHON (1), NOV 8, 2015

THE GREEN BAY MARATHON (1), JUNE 22 2016

THE CIM (1), DEC 4, 2016

THE HUNTSVILLE "FULL MONTE" MARATHON (2), 2017 & 2019

 

 

64 MARATHONS, From 1998 until 2022  W/ ZERO DNFS

1st Marathon, St. George Marathon, OCTOBER 3, 1998. 

64 total Marathons, The Ogden Marathon, May  2022.

169 OVERALL RACES (5Ks, 10Ks, 1/2s, Full Marathons & Tris) SINCE JUNE 4, 1998 UNTIL TODAY. (ZERO-DNF'S)

 

"PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER"

Short-Term Running Goals:

RUN A 17:00 5K

RUN A 38:00 10K

RUN A 90:00 1/2 MARY

RUN A SUB 3 HR FULL MARY (I know I will never hit this one, but I will keep on trying)

RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON, AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME IN 2022! 

"THERE WILL BE DAYS THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN RUN A MARATHON, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A LIFE TIME KNOWING THAT I HAVE!"

Long-Term Running Goals:

 

2021 RUNNING RACE SCHEDULE: (STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

1. UTAH VALLEY MARATHON, (3rd plc AD) 5 JUNE '21

2. UTAH VALLEY 5k, (1st plc AD), JUNE 2021

3. SANDY CITY 4th of JULY CLASSIC 5K, (3rd plcAD), 3 JULY '21

4. UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HOMECOMING 5K, U5K, (1st plc AD) 9/18/'21

5. SANDY CITY TURKEY TROT & VETERANS DAY 5K, (1st plc AD), 11/13/'21

6. Midnight Madness 5K, 12/31/2021, (1st plc AD)

 

                                
2022 race schedule:

1. The Ogden Marathon, May 21,'22, 5th in Age Division 

2.  Sandy City 4th of July 5k, (29:37) (Age Div 1st plc)

3.  Sandy City Balloon Fest 5k, (30:51) ( 1st plc Age Div)

 

GOALS.....My goal is to be an Age Division Winner and a Boston Marathon Qualifer & Participant as long as I can run this short, fat, tired old man body down the road!!!  This gettin' old crap isn't for the weak of heart, mind, body or spirit!

 

 

 

 

Personal:

 

"IMPROVISE, ADAPT & OVERCOME"

I'm still alive after all these years, All "71 yrs" of them and I'm continuing to live my dreams and I'm doing it my way! Retired Former State of Utah Police Criminal Investigator & United States ARMY O&I Sergeant! 

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
T-1 Lifetime Miles: 928.65
P2 Lifetime Miles: 233.50
P2a Lifetime Miles: 978.15
Other Lifetime Miles: 806.47
P2.5 Lifetime Miles: 392.45
P2.12 Altra Provision Lifetime Miles: 232.50
T-3 Lifetime Miles: 368.41
IQ Lifetime Miles: 414.75
IQ2 Lifetime Miles: 295.79
IQ 3 Lifetime Miles: 153.55
IQ 4 Lifetime Miles: 93.94
IQ 5 Lifetime Miles: 64.31
IQ 6 Lifetime Miles: 31.13
Race: The Boston Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:46:42, Place overall: 14385, Place in age division: 192
Total Distance
26.20

"Slicks Boston!"

What can I say other than,"Not too bad for an old guy!" This years adventure at Boston was probably the best ever and it will be hard to top. 

I took the red eye out of Salt Lake City on Friday night and arrived in Boston early Saturday morning, so early that nothing was open, not even the Expo. I dropped my bags off at the B & B in the Back Bay Area and started wandering about the area. Couldn't check in to the B & B till about 2:pm.

I went over to the finish line on Boylston and watched the going ons to kill some time looking at all the preparations for the marathon on Monday, so many inspirational signs and banners, everywhere. I actually stumbled on the Minister and some of the Church Ladies at the Old South Church preparing to give out scarfs to the runners as part of the Church of Christ's Year of Remembrance and Hope, Marathon Scarf Project 2014. I guess I was lucky, the Minister gave me a blessing and a scarf. I didn't think they were going to do this until Sunday at the Old South Church when they did the "Blessing of the Atheletes" service. 

After this I went over to the Expo and collected up my race bib packet and goody bag and wandered around the expo until I could get into my room. Hillbilly Runner Ronnie showed up later in the day and we returned to the Expo to pick up his race packet.

Sunday morning we attended the Easter Services at the Old South Church at 9:am along with some 2,044 regular worshipers and Marathon Runners. During the Easter Service the Minister held the "Blessing of the Athletes" where the runners were also given a beautiful hand made scarf knitted in the blue and gold colors of the BAA signifying hope and courage for the Athlete in the up coming Boston Marathon. Attending Easter Services and the Blessing of the Athletes was a real delight for me, and I will make a point of attending in future trips to the Boston.

Race day morning was exceptionally peaceful and rather non hurried and we made our way to the Boston Commons to get on the busses and depart for the Athletes Village in Hopkinton. I actually sat next to a fellow that was sleeping on the bus which in turn made my ride quite peaceful where I reflected on my own projected race plan that was just hours away. At the village I tried to be calm and continue to reflect on my race plan while takling to my friends, taking photos and waiting in the line to the "Temple of Doom". 

Around 10:30 am the call came out for the 3rd wave participants to get up and move out to the main street of Hopkinton and join the other runners in their corrals before race time. I remember getting up from my resting place and taking my

I don't recall how close it was to 11:am but the 3rd wave seemed to take off as scheduled. I got in line with the rest of the 3rd wave and started moving my feet towards Boston. I kept with my plan to start the race slow and avoid bouncing around ducking and weaving to advance ahead of other runners. From previous experience I know that the wave would thin out and I could start getting in some serious running about 4 or 5 miles down the road....it did.

At the two (2) mile mark on the left side of the roadway there was the Biker Bar and all the partiers having' a ball. Wow, the smell of beer was thick in the air and it only made me want to stop and have a couple with them.

The temperature at the starting line was about 53 degrees and the wind or breeze was barely discernable. A rather nice start. I would have preferred about a 43 degree start but it wasn't my choice. Wow, the 5k mat seemed to come up rather fast and I was past it. I looked at my Garmin and I was at about 25 minutes and thought, I am right on plan.

I continued making my way along the course trying to maintain a steady pace that would result in a BQ at Boston so I can return here in 2015. I hit the half way point at 1:48:02. I had hoped to be there at the 1:38:00 mark, but this was satisfactory. I took time to reconsider my situation and found that all was well and my tire old man body wanted to play. I had a moment of mental let down about mile 14 where my brain asked me what the hell I was out here doing? I collected my thoughts and put a positive spin on and took off on down the road as I was entering the Natick and Wellesley hills. I tried to attack the hills going up, rest and maintain on the flats and kick it up on the down hill side.

I t was amazing to see all the spectators, fans and freedom loving people lined up the entire length of the marathon. The crowd support was second to none this year. Even the "Scream Tunnel" at Wellesley was probably twice as loud and long as ever before.

Then it was time to enter the hills of the "Killer Chain" in Newton. These hills are nothing compaired to the mountains that I train in, in Utah. But none the less, they are there and must be contended with. I again worked on maintaining a pace of between 8 and 8:30 minutes per mile as I attacked the hill upward, rested on the flat and picked it up on the back side. With this plan in mind, all of a sudden I was up and over "Heart Break Hill" and looking forward to some gentle down hill running into Boston. 

The temprature was at about 66 degrees, little or no noticeable wind and about 5 miles to get my 11th Boston Marathon finished. I ate my last double caffeinated Power Gel, chased it with a cup of water that was offered by one of the very young Patriots' Day / marathon fans  and continued to race my plan. At 35k I was at 3 hours and 6 minutes into it and I felt really good and could see that I had done my plan right and I would be able to finish this race well.

I started looking for the Citgo Sign that is prominently situated at about 1 mile from the finish line and kept my pace steady and focused. And there it was! And there were all the people that had filed out of Fenway Park after the baseball game standing on the marathon route cheering and supporting all the runners. 

Now the next milestone in my race was to round the corner and turn right on Hereford St. and then get my "Victory Dance Cigar" out and make the left onto Boylston and head to the finish line that is in sight from the corner. 

While making my final push to the finish line I reflected on how well the City of Boston, the people and the Boston Marathon had recovered from the tragedy  only one year ago and had come together as "Boston Strong" and made a stand against Terrorism and Tyrany for Freedom, Justice and Liberty for All.

I stepped over the line at 3:46:42 and was completely satisfied with my race which also yeilded a "BQ" for 2015.

Thank you to all my friends and my new friends and all the people that have made the Boston Marathon the success that it is! May the Boston Marathon continue for all time to come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PC2 Miles: 26.20
Comments
From timp on Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 13:20:04 from 159.63.144.194

great work in the prep and the execution. outstanding job, Slick!

From Rhett on Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 13:22:33 from 24.121.0.8

I love the report Slick, it gave me chills and made me want to do Boston again. Congrats on your 11th. Sweet!

From I Just Run on Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 14:27:31 from 67.79.11.242

Great race report and congratulations on another BQ! Only thing is I think it's for 2015 not 2105. :-) ...or you have a long wait to run the next one!

Sure wish I could have caught up with you guys for a little more time together...maybe next year.

From I Just Run on Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 14:27:59 from 67.79.11.242

Oh...BTW, we need a picture! :-)

From Hillbilly Runner on Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 05:26:36 from 207.162.186.109

Wow, You're a tough old Bird but you put the training in and went out and executed the plan. "Great job" and "Great report" I am so proud for you. We had a great time in Boston this year.

From SlowJoe on Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 06:54:29 from 66.69.93.8

Great report, Tom. Congrats on a really good race (perfectly executed) and on the BQ for next year!

From DaleG on Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 16:51:14 from 152.216.11.5

Nice job, man!!!

From jtshad on Wed, May 14, 2014 at 14:15:48 from 141.221.191.225

Great report and awesome Boston experience!

Add Your Comment.
  • Keep it family-safe. No vulgar or profane language. To discourage anonymous comments of cowardly nature, your IP address will be logged and posted next to your comment.
  • Do not respond to another person's comment out of context. If he made the original comment on another page/blog entry, go to that entry and respond there.
  • If all you want to do is contact the blogger and your comment is not connected with this entry and has no relevance to others, send a private message instead.
Only registered users with public blogs are allowed to post comments. Log in with your username and password or create an account and set up a blog.
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
Recent Comments: