My goose (duck) was cooked, but healthy and happy today

So, I'm back at the office today...legs are very tight in major muscle areas, but overall am doing fine.

The marathon yesterday was not as horrible weather-wise as they were predicting; however, there were a couple of good, dousing rains and a few sustained blasts of wind (especially in the city itself). Despite finishing 40+ minutes slower than last year, I did have fun. Unfortunately, my legs tightened up and I started blistering a bit on my left foot even before the half-way point, so my pace declined quite rapidly over the 2nd (hilly) half. I spent a few water stops along the way massaging my quads and basically punching the muscles to loosen them up, so my final 10 miles or so was pretty much a battle of mind over matter (and given where my mind was wandering, "matter" proved to be a worthy adversary).

I CAN say that I finished the entire marathon wearing an inflatable duck around my waist (see pic on the blog page) ; and the optimist and quasi-superstitious guy in me thinks that the duck played a role in keeping the horrible weather at bay. And, once I realized that I wouldn't be setting any time records, having the duck proved to be a lot of fun for the brave souls lining the streets ("Hey, Duckman!" "Rubber Ducky, You're The One!" "Go Paul. Get the duck going!" these are a few examples of the gems I heard...kept me smiling, and that helped to conceal my wincing). Also, it was fun 'high-fiving' kids that were smiling at the duck as I waddled by.

Anyway, the competitor in me feels lame (lame duck?) for not doing better time-wise, but I gave what I could, when I could, this spring for training and throughout the race, and I did finish, so I'll take that.

As I told Lena, I felt more like the rodeo clown than the cowboy at this show, but I guess everyone plays their role and in the end 'the show' comes together. I'm just glad to have played some part and am happy to have been able to do this again...participating in the Boston Marathon is truly a wonderful and energizing experience. It's also especially rewarding to know that my kids have learned a little bit more about how deeply fortunate we are as a family, and how important it is to do what you can, when you can, to help another in need. Raising awareness and funds for the Food Bank, Pine Street (last year) and having them share in the experience, were/are my greatest motivators.

Thanks for your interest and your support.

Sincerely, Paul

PS: For those asking "what's next?" My hope is the 2007 NYC Marathon in November, if I'm accepted (I've entered the lottery and will learn by June whether/not I'm 'in'.) If not NYC, then I'm considering the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC or The Hartford Marathon in Hartford, CT as other options for my "fall marathon").

it's "go" time

OK - for those of you tracking me in 'real time', you should have received a 'test' e-mail today from BAA.

For those who want to log on to track progress, go to http://www.baa.org/ and my bib # is: 20618.

For any brave souls lining the route, my bib # will be pinned to my left thigh.

I will be wearing my black knit/fleece hat or hood (if wind allows, will have a red, Red Sox visor wrapped around my winter headgear), black pants, blue jacket, but with a white T-shirt over it (I've ironed a small GBFB logo and "Can Do. Attitude is a Decision" on the shirt); but, if you still can't see me, I'm also going to be wearing a yellow, inflatable duck (wrapped around my waist), b/c, it will indeed be a good day for...well, you get the idea. Be warned...if the wind proves to be too much, I'm ditching the duck along the way, so headgear and/or my bib # is best way to spot me.

So, as I prepare for bed, I wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who's been so supportive so far, and please keep me (and a tailwind) in your thoughts and prayers for Monday.

Also, please remember as you think about how crazy this is...there is someone homeless that deals with far worse conditions for more than 4 +/- hours per year, and there are people in your neighborhood that are struggling to find the resources to feed themselves and their families... thank you for doing what you can to help wherever and whenever you can.

Much like last year, I am filled with the positive energy, gratitude, and humility that this experience brings to bear. (yellow duck not-withstanding) :-)

Be well, Paul

Follow Me! (on Marathon Day)

Since many of you have asked:

If you'd like to receive an e-mail update or text message as I progress through the route on Marathon Day (Monday 4/16 from about 10:30-2:30 ET), please send me an email at: paul.r.joseph@comcast.net and I'll add you to the notification list called: wherespaulnow@googlegroups.com

Include the e-mail address or the text message address where you'd like to receive the notifications (something like 5555555555@yourmobileprovider.net). Check with your mobile service provider if you require additional information

Thanks, Paul

Running...out of time!

So I'm working late and NOT getting my planned 10-mile run in today...I was hoping to run Heartbreak Hill one more time, in the rain, to simulate the conditions predicted for Monday. Oh well. Stayed dry and was able to blast one last "Hail Mary" pass of an e-mail to many of you.

it's been a VERY interesting 'final' week before the big day. Total miles logged since Sunday = 0

One way or another, I'll get those last few miles in on Friday a.m. and probably Sunday (they say that it's best to rest and not run at all on Saturday and to do a light, loosening jog on Sunday...what they don't say is "why not just take the whole week before the race off!" :-0

So, let's run down the list:

Scary weather: check
Lame preparation: check
Poor sleep: check
Marginally regular and nutritious meals: check
Butterflies in stomach: ironically, not so much
overconfidence (or, perhaps, just good old fashioned optimism): check

...If I set a personal record this year I'll be insufferable!

(p.s. - don't worry, Mom, for the most part, I'd been sleeping, eating, and training right up until the last week)

Weather looks grim!

OK...so "weather.com" isn't showing me the love for Marathon Monday: Hi of 49 degrees, Low of 36, 20 m.p.h. winds, and RAIN (70% chance and getting worse every time I check back).

So, to those of you who said they'd be out there cheering me on...bring an umbrella and a LOUD voice...I've done the 'slogging through 26 miles in the cold rain' run once before (Victoria, BC last October was wet and drizzly) and it's about as pleasant as, well, jogging in the cold rain for 4 hours...some metaphors kinda write themselves. (<--this comment holds true for similes as well, for my English major friends and family). Your encouragement would be most welcome, although your decision to stay indoors and shoot me an e-mail would be completely understandable!

Hope to see a few diehards out there on the course; and for those of you cheering from afar, please keep the following thoughts in your head come 10:30 a.m. Monday:

- warm, but not too warm,
- dry, and
- TAIL wind (one of the few ways that my superior surface area would give me a competitive advantage).

Gotta run! Paul

Radical pre-marathon diet...Opening Day at Fenway

So I have been completely thrown off my game with less than a week to go before Marathon :-0

Monday...went out to lunch with team from work yesterday and celebrated a colleague's birthday with a BBQ burger at Friendly's (broccoli, no fries, so I could live with myself)...and then today at the office, we celebrated Opening Day at Fenway with hot dogs, popcorn, and a fire drill, thanks to the popcorn maker under the smoke/heat detector (it's funny b/c the landlord waived the fine!). I 'chased' the 2 hot dogs down with too many handfuls of peanuts and some Twizzlers over the course of the game which we had 'livecast' with a Jimmy Fund fundraiser at the office...yes, I DO work at a "Best Place" to work, after all!

I share this all with you b/c, well, I pride myself on being somewhat of a 'nontraditional' runner, so I wanted to provide an insider's view to both my rigorous training and my ridiculously human lapses in judgement. :-)

I'm guessing that you won't hear about the Kenyans' new training regimen of burgers, dogs, licorice, and peanuts anytime soon, and that's fine with me; let them win the race. I'll take the 'warm fuzzies' of a 14-3 Sox victory and the 5 billion extra calories and channel that energy in just 6 short days. (either that or I'll hurl tomorrow at dawn somewhere out on a local street...will keep you posted either way)

Happy Easter, Happy Passover

to everyone celebrating this week/weekend, I wish you and your families a happy celebration.

I will be running in Fairfield, CT as we'll be celebrating Easter with Lena's family. Will likely do a couple of 6 milers while there ...trying to wind down the distance running and increase my speed (as much as possible in 10 days' time).

The long-term forecast is looking like perfect running conditions on Marathon Monday -- I hope that holds true!

Dime, A Dozen

Less than 2 weeks to go, and I ran what was probably my 2nd to last training run up Heartbreak Hill and back...it's times like this when I'm glad I work in Newton and not in Hopkinton!!

Anyway, the 'dime' refers to my 10 mile run, the 'dozen' is the number of days left before the Marathon. Can't believe how fast the time is flying.

Thanks to those of you checking in and to those who have contributed to GBFB on my behalf, thus far. Please spread the word and come out to the course on Patriot's Day if you can -- it's quite a spectacle.

Half Marathon sans iPod

So I ran my first significant distance (13.1 miles) without the ol' iPod to keep me company -- kind of like giving up the 'binky' but less traumatic thanks to having a running buddy for the first half of my run.

Doing a training run while talking to my neighbor, John, who will also be out there on Marathon Day, was a welcome change of pace for me...not unlike 'walking and chewing gum', the ability to 'run and hold a conversation' and still stay at my targeted pace was a welcome surprise.

I'm actually contemplating leaving the iPod home on the 16th...but then again, I still might sneak 'the binky' in with my gear...old habits die hard.