Hey there, runners & readers,

Welcome to my last post before the 25th KeyBank Vermont City Marathon! How is everyone doing? I’ve been a pile of nerves for a few days now- sweaty hands, heavy chest, the whole deal. Looking forward to, feeling petrified of, and counting down the days until Sunday. So many feelings! Let me type to you about a few of the things swirling around in my head…

Things that I am nervous about:

• Not finishing the marathon…this is currently my largest worry
• Dehydrating (and needing to go to the bathroom 24 times)
• Over-hydrating (the swollen-brain-death thing)
• Not really going to the bathroom before 8:03 am on Sunday
• Getting a headache during the run
• The doubt monster
• Something unforeseen happening to my body

Things that I am excited about:

• Most of my immediate family (and two of my closest buds) will be coming this weekend! Farrell family trips to Vermont are few and far between, and I am psyched to share this big experience in my life with them. Catch phrase, laughs, food and hugs…psyched. My sister Jen is unable to make it, and I was blown away after she sent me an unbelievably thoughtful runner’s package (thank you JJ, I will be sure you are here with me somehow on Sunday).
• Through working on a couch-to-5K program, my cousin Shelley has recently taken up running; this hobby is very much new territory for her. I get so, so excited each time I receive a snapchat of her sweaty face and hear about the ups and downs of this experience. It warms my heart that Shell wants to share this with me and I am quite proud of her for exploring outside of her comfort zone- it’s a scary thing to do when you’ve never done it before. I get it, that was me last year.
• May 30th. As much fun as it’s been to talk about this marathon, my preparations, and all that goes along with it, I’m ready to give it a break. I figure I’ll want to blab about it for a few days after, but I am ready for some space from the marathon.
• Yanking the dry, blistered skin off of my feet that my roommates have lovingly nick-named scary Harry Potter characters.
• Dedicating the last 5-6 miles to individuals who have impacted me in one way or another, in hopes that this honors my appreciation of them as well as keeps me moving toward Waterfront Park and the finish line.
• While I still have doubts about my performance this upcoming Sunday, last week I found myself researching half marathons for the fall. I’ll take this as a good sign

So, what will you be wearing Sunday? I will be sporting bib #3146 and wearing, I believe, a black skort, a bright pinkish tank top, and my newish sneaks. A word about the sneakers: in an effort to get in as many miles in them as possible as well as to protect my knees and ankles, I have been wearing the sneaks as much as possible. While I generally do not give a hoot about how foolish I look on a given day, wearing athletic sneakers out and about is embarrassing for me. Adding to this odd insecurity, a close friend of mine shared that wearing them makes me look like a dad at Disney World. Thank you for that, Matt.

There are many things I’d like to share with you, but I should probably re-read my runner’s handbook and eat a bagel. That reminds me! If you have any questions about this upcoming weekend, you can probably find the answers on RunVermont’s blog, The Run Down. Stay tuned for my final post, full of sweaty rookie insight, sometime after Sunday’s shenanigans.

If you spot bib #3146 or a peculiar shaped yellow jog bra contrasted with the racer-back of a bright pink tank on race day, wave me down! Sending lots of love and good luck your way. Ahhh…let’s do the damn thing!

Respect those fit and trim bods,

Krysten

My supportive sisters. Thanks, you two.

Cross-training ice cream planks

Hereeeeee weee go!

Welcome to Marathon May! Every day from now through the Marathon (and perhaps even a few days beyond) we’ll share a new race-related FAQ here on the blog, our Facebook page and via Twitter feed. Got a question you think we should cover? Post it here, on FB or on Twitter and we’ll get right back to you.

FAQ: Where should I be and when on Sunday?

A: We frequently get questions from runners and their families about matters related to the timing of marathon day. Below are our best tips based on our many years of experience…

6:30am
Time to be in line for a shuttle bus from your hotel to the race start

7:15am
Time to be in the porto line

7:30am
Time for your family and friends to claim front row space if they are planning to watch the start or first ¼ mile of the race

7:45am
Time to move to the start corrals
If you are running the 2nd leg for a 5-Person relay team, time to go to the Park St Exchange Zone

8:00am
Wheelchair race starts

8:03am
Runners start, marathon plus relay

8:10am
Wheelchair racers return through the start zone at mile 3.3

8:18am
Runners return through the start zone at mile 3.3

8:20am
If you are running the 2nd leg for a 2-Person relay team, time to be at the bus stop on King St

8:50am
First wheelchair racers start climbing the Battery St hill

9:20am
First runners start climbing the Battery St hill

9:25am
First wheelchair finishers at Waterfront Park

10:15am
First runner finishers at Waterfront Park

11:15am-12:30pm
Peak finisher density, avoid the exit to the finish corral

12:00pm
Hotel shuttle buses start returning finishers to hotels. The bus stop is on Lake St 1/8 of a mile north of College St.

2:10pm
Last official finishers at Waterfront Park

2:30pm
Waterfront Park finisher services close

3:15pm
Last hotel shuttle bus departs the finish area

This information was sent to all registered marathoners and relay runners but is posted here for those who registered after the emails were sent or who are new members of relay teams.

From: Burlington Police Department via RunVermont

Subject: Important KBVCM Security Information

On behalf of the City of Burlington, Mayor Miro Weinberger and all of the men and women of the Burlington Police Department and their Federal, State, and local partners – WELCOME TO BURLINGTON and the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon!  My name is Mike Schirling and I have the honor of serving as Burlington’s Police Chief.  I am writing to you today in advance of your arrival in Burlington to introduce myself and to introduce you to our security operations for the Marathon.

As I begin, let me state that our thoughts are with the victims and survivors from the tragedy in Boston last month.  As you are well aware, security postures for marathons around the world changed on April 15th.

Your visit to Burlington this year will, as always, be full of great friends, food, festivities, and fun…and of course there is a great race on Sunday as well! Also present during your visit will be an enhanced security posture and law enforcement presence from a host of agencies not only from our area but also from around New England.  Even with that enhanced posture, the best defense against a security problem or incident is YOU, your family, and all those who will come out to support the runners throughout the weekend.  It is the thousands of pairs of eyes and thoughtful people who will come together to create a blanket of security for this event and for our nation as a whole.

Below are a few key themes to keep in mind during your visit.  For information about the federal “See Something – Say Something” campaign please visit http://www.dhs.gov/if-you-see-something-say-something-campaign

“5 Key Themes”

SEE SOMETHING – SAY SOMETHING -> Vigilance, not hysteria, by all participating and attending the event is critical to achieving safety and security. If you see something that doesn’t look right – call us.  802-658-2700 is the direct line to the Burlington Police Department and – ONLY ON RACE DAY – 802-651-8906 is a dedicated event line for reporting suspicious activity related to the event.  Be prepared to describe, in as much detail as possible, what you are seeing that looks suspicious and why you feel it is suspicious.

EXPECT DELAYS -> Please expect traffic delays!  If you can avoid traveling by car during peak race hours please do so.

PACKAGES & BAGS –> Please do not bring bags, backpacks, coolers, packages, or parcels to the race course or into the start and finish line areas.  If you plan to transport items please do so in a clear plastic bag.  If you need to enter the start or finish areas bags may be searched randomly or you may be denied entry.  Unattended bags, even for a few moments, will be removed and may be damaged or destroyed. (Note from RunVermont: We will provide one clear plastic bag to every runner at race packet pick-up.)

PACK IN – PACK OUT -> Similar to when camping, we ask that you plan to pack out any refuse you may have with you.  Receptacles for trash will be harder to come by than normal.

DO YOUR PART -> Security and law enforcement personnel have many things to focus on and much to do.  They need your cooperation to keep the event moving along smoothly, especially if the need to give you instructions arises.  If given instructions, please comply promptly.  If you have a question or concern about law enforcement instructions or operations, please raise it later with a supervisor.

Additional information

Any plain-clothes police officer or Federal Agent who is involved in security for the Marathon will be WITH a uniformed police officer.  In the event you encounter an officer or Agent who is unaccompanied, please ask for a uniformed officer to respond.

Welcome to Marathon May! Every day from now through the Marathon (and perhaps even a few days beyond) we’ll share a new race-related FAQ here on the blog, our Facebook page and via Twitter feed. Got a question you think we should cover? Post it here, on FB or on Twitter and we’ll get right back to you.

FAQ: OK, so I finally figured this whole blog thing out and I’ve read through all the FAQ’s and even entered a GIVEAWAY, but one question remains: where can I find you online race weekend? Presumably, you won’t be holed up in your office writing blog posts…

A: You’re right! We won’t be holed up writing blog posts…instead we’ll be frantically writing them on the fly during rare minutes of downtime as we race between venue sites, tent set-up, the EXPO, and the pasta dinner. Or not. This year, we planned a few blog posts well in advance of the race so that we can enjoy as much of the weekend as possible (while running around between the venues, putting up tents, etc.)  That said, in addition to finding us here on The RunDown, there are several other ways to stay connected this weekend:

Find us on:

Facebook

Twitter (#VCM)

Instagram: follow us and tag your own photos with #VCM

Flickr

You can expect to hear from us throughout the weekend on social media, and if there’s something really important we need to tell you, we’ll say it there first, then update our website.

Come next week we’ll post links to photos and results as soon as we have them, but things will quiet down a little while we all catch our breath and enjoy the memories of what is sure to be a wonderful event.

By: Joe Connelly

In a race with over 1500 relay teams and with over 5000 runners on those relay teams, it is inevitable that sometimes things happen that may prevent your teammates from reaching the Relay Exchange Zone where you are waiting to start your race. Sometimes runners get hurt during the race. Sometimes a relay runner will make a mistake, get zoned out by their iPod or a conversation they’re having with another runner, and run right past an Exchange Zone. We understand that this can be stressful, so here are some tips for dealing with this situation.

First off, the competitive rules in play here…1) You MUST be tagged in by a teammate and receive your team’s wristband in order for your team to continue in the race. Any relay runners on the course without a wristband will cause their team to be disqualified…2) You may only exchange the wristband in the Relay Exchange Zones that are specific to your relay division. That means if you are in the 2-Person Relay you must exchange at Oakledge Park. If you are in the 3-5 Person Relay (even if you have 2 runners on your team) you may not use the Oakledge Park Exchange Zone, you may only exchange your wristband at the Park St, Pearl St, Battery Park, and Flynn School exchange Zones…3) Your team must stay on course from the start line to the finish line. If you have to exit the course for a pit stop you must return to the course the same place you left it.

Exchange Zones can be crowded. Unlike a track meet where each relay team gets their own lane, we have limited space to spread out our Exchange Zones. Especially early on, the first two Exchange Zones, things are crowded. At the first exchange point, over 800 teams will be making an exchange, 75% of them in a ten minute window. That averages out to one exchange every second! In addition, you have thousands of marathoners and 2-Person Relay runners steaming by. The most reliable way for your teammate to find you is for you to stand near the signs that correspond to your bib number.

What you can do to help give yourself confidence that your team is still in the race…Know the runners on your team, know the pace they can be expected to run. Know what mile of the race your leg starts. Do the math and figure out when your team should get to your location. For example, if you are running the last leg on a 5-Person team, you start at mile 20.7. If your teammates think they’ll be running 8:00/mile they should reach your Exchange Zone at approximately 10:45am. If it’s 10:50 or 11:00 and you haven’t seen them yet, they may just be running a little slower than they expected. This can easily happen because certain parts of the course can be crowded, or sometimes runners estimate they are going to run faster in the race than they actually do. If it’s 11:15 or 11:30 you might want to try to contact another team member who has already run because that would mean your team is 1:30-2:00 per mile slower than you expected they’d be.

Our relay zones do not break down until the trail biker passes their location signifying the official end of the race. This is done at 6 hour finish pace. If you are still waiting for your teammate when the trail biker arrives at the Exchange Zone where you are waiting, you may start your leg, but you must check in with Medical and our Communication personnel at the next aid station and report that your team is unofficial. They will record your bib number to report it to the timing company. Failure to do so is grounds for exclusion from future VCM’s. We want you to be able to enjoy your run, but we also need to protect the integrity of the relay competition.

Compared to the 3-5 Person Relay, we see more instances in the 2-Person Relay where the first runner does not reach Oakledge Park. If you are positive that your teammate is no longer in the race, you may start your half of the race, but you must check in with Communications at the Aid Station or Medical Tent so they can record your bib number. One way to get an early read on when your teammate will arrive in Oakledge Park is to watch the race on Austin Dr near Oakledge Park. If you do this you will see your teammate, then they will have about 1 mile before they tag you in. Austin Dr is a lot less crowded than the Exchange Zone so it’s easier to pick out your teammate. Of course you need to be careful that you don’t miss your teammate or else they get to the Exchange Zone in the park and wonder where you are.

In most cases, we are unable to tell you if your team has dropped out prior to reaching the Relay Exchange Zone where you are waiting. If it is long after the time you expected your teammate to arrive, you may check in with the Communications personnel, who are located at all aid stations. Look for the radio operator with the orange cap. Communications can contact central operations to check the master list for drop outs. Depending on radio traffic, this can take a fair amount of time as the main purpose of our radio network is to support emergency services and supplies needs, so please be patient.

Welcome to Marathon May! Every day from now through the Marathon (and perhaps even a few days beyond) we’ll share a new race-related FAQ here on the blog, our Facebook page and via Twitter feed. Got a question you think we should cover? Post it here, on FB or on Twitter and we’ll get right back to you.

Q: Are there any early morning worship services in the area on Sunday morning?

A: Yes!

Marathon Interfaith Service:

Blessings from Diverse Traditions for Runners at

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 7:10 AM on Marathon morning, Sunday, May 26.

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Episcopal) is delighted to continue its custom of offering a brief interfaith service for runners on Marathon morning.  For the past twelve Marathons we have offered this service along with ringing our bells for ten minutes at the start of the race.  The Cathedral is located at the corner of Battery Street, between Cherry and Pearl Streets within a few steps of the Marathon starting line.

As a response of solidarity with the runners and spectators at the Boston Marathon, we are offering a special service this year.   Each of the interfaith readings will be offered by a person who practices that faith.  Readings will be interspersed with lively non-denominational hymns.  We will have readings and readers from the following traditions: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Native American.  The service is brief – only 20 minutes – ending by 7:30 to provide time for the short walk to the start line.  The Cathedral can be accessed through our main doors at the top of our parking area by walking up the driveway from Cherry Street or through our side door facing Pearl Street.  All are welcome.

By Joe Connelly, Technical Director

FAQ: “It’s the day before the marathon, what do I need to see to be ready for Sunday?”

With Marathon Sunday right around the corner, we have some tips from our staff to help you navigate the landscape around the race. Regardless of whether you live in Burlington or if you’re from far away, the race transforms parts of Burlington into something very different from what it looks like the other 51 weeks of the year. We strongly recommend that you come down to the start and finish areas on Saturday afternoon and make some mental notes. After all, you have done many months of training, you’re run countless miles. Dialing in these details will put you in a confident frame of mind and let you relax race morning knowing you have a good idea of where all the services are at.

I’m our Technical Coordinator, and do the primary design for the start and finish areas. If you’re running the full marathon, or if you’re running the first or last relay leg for your team, you need to see Battery Park and Waterfront Park. Bring your Spectator Guide so that you have the maps in front of you. I recommend starting at Battery Park, where the race starts. Logical, right? Battery Park will be 95% set up the way you’ll see it on raceday by noon on Saturday. If you plan to check any gear, locate the bandshell. Do not plan to leave bags or jackets around the park, loose or unattended items removed and destroyed. You’ll be thirsty, right? Water and Gatorade for all runners, both marathoners and relay runners, is located in the Aid Station behind the bandshell. That Aid Station will open at 7am and stay open until the last runners pass at mile 15, around 11:30am.

Take a look at the start corral areas on Park St and Sherman St. If you have qualified to start in the Preferred Corral, you will load from in front of the start line, i.e. from the corner of Battery and Pearl into your corral. If you are in the Preferred Corral you need to be in place by 7:55am; plan accordingly. If you procrastinate and are late arriving we will steer you into the Regular Corral. We don’t want to be mean about that, please understand we have wheelchair racers starting at 8:00am sharp then we need to get the runners started as quickly as possible. You really want to know why, email me and I’ll give you more details than you need. (Speaking of the wheelchair racers, we haven’t forgotten you guys in this post, but everything will be covered in your technical meeting Saturday afternoon so we’ll see you there!) If you are starting in the Regular Corral (if you don’t know which corral you’re in, go to the Regular Corral), look for the pace signs on Sherman St at the north end of Battery Park. Of course those pace signs will not be in place Saturday.

Last stop on your tour of Battery Park, head over to the western rail of the park where you can see the lake. Look down and you’ll get an excellent visual of all the tents and fences at Waterfront Park. Then take a walk down Battery St and College St to Waterfront Park to check out the finish area.

With the YAM Scram Kids Run Saturday morning in Waterfront, setup for the marathon won’t be complete until late afternoon Saturday. Your first place to check out is the Finish Corral. You might even want to jog in the last 200m of the course across the grass to get a feel for the surface. We always get some feedback from runners that the grass threw them off a bit. It’s firm packed and it’s an even surface, but you’ve been running mostly on pavement for 26 miles so it is a change. You can handle it, just be ready! When you cross the finish line, you’re going to find most of the things you want on the left…your finisher’s medal, space blanket, water, chocolate milk, as well as the exit to the finish corral. If you might want to hang out for a few minutes to catch your composure after you finish you want to remember to stay left after you cross the line and look for space on the grass. There is plenty of room so don’t feel that we’re trying to rush you out of the finish corral.

Walking it through, as you exit the finish corral the chute points you to the north, where most of the post-race services are located. Some finishers tell us it’s too far from the exit of the chute to food, baggage, massage, beer, results. It’s 200-250 yards away. Boston is 350 yards to food, 500+ to baggage.  NYC is over ½ mile. Regardless of whether you just ran 26 miles or 5 miles you can use the walk, your legs will thank you on Monday! The best place for your family to find you is at the Reunion Zone, the first thing north of the finish corral exit. Check out the tents in the north end of the field, you’ll see Info, Food, and Gear first. Notice runner Food is both in the finish corral and the main tent is in the north field. If you send us feedback saying a chocolate milk and a banana isn’t enough after a marathon (that’s what you get in the finish corral) it tells us you didn’t make it to the Runner’s Food tent, probably because you didn’t come down Saturday to check it out. You need to get to the Runner’s Food tent to enjoy some Ben & Jerry’s, Leonardo’s Pizza, Moe’s Southwest, and of course a large assortment from our partners at Hannaford Supermarkets. Will you want a massage? If so look further down along the railroad fence and plan to check in with our friends from Touchstone Healing Arts. How about a beer, you have earned it! Look for the large tent close to the lake, across from food.

For your families and friends, we will have food vendors in the north end of the finish fields. One of the great ways to build up some positive karma in this sport is to support those who finish after you. We’d love the finish area of VCM to be a festival that you and your families can stay and enjoy.

The final thing to be aware of when you’re checking out the finish area is how do you get out of the park at the end? There are 3 exits, the north and south ends of the park as well as a set of stairs to cross the railroad tracks about halfway down. The northern end is always the least crowded, so if you want to make the veteran move exit via the north end. If you are taking our shuttle buses back to a hotel the bus stop is near the mid-park stairs. With 10 school buses that area will be hard to miss.

So what do my colleagues have to add?

Jon Floyd, our Course Director and an accomplished masters racer, has 3 suggestions:

1)      Leddy Park (the 19 mile mark, 2.5 miles north of the start) has an unpaved wood chip path. Go to the northeast section of the Leddy Arena parking arena to check out this 100 yard section of trail.  The trail is a nicely shaded path (very helpful on hot days), but is unpaved so just make sure you are ready for it on race day. The footing is good.

2)      The beltline (Northern Connector, VT127). Need to drive to see this on Saturday because it’s a highway and is not open to pedestrians.  It is good to recon this stretch of the course so that you can prepare yourself for the gradual downhill starting at mile 3.8 to 4.2, and subsequently the return uphill at mile 8.2 to 8.6, plus the general rolling nature. Your turnaround to come back to town is about 2 miles after you get on the highway at Manhattan Dr but please don’t pull a U-Turn in your vehicle. Also check out the cool views of the beaver ponds to the Northwest, the Intervale to the immediate east, and Mt. Mansfield to the Southeast.

3)      The finish line at Waterfront Park.  This is where it all ends, so visualize your glory the day before!

Joy Dubin-Grossman, our Course Co-Director and accomplished masters marathoner/triathlete, has 3 suggestions:

1)      If you are taking the hotel shuttle bus to the start, check out where it will drop you off at Battery Park.

2)      If you are running one of the first 3 relay legs, check out where you will meet your family after your leg and set up a specific place in Battery Park. 4^th and 5^th leg relay runners set a place in Waterfront Park to meet your family/friends after the race – away from the finish line is best.

3)      Check out where you can get an early morning cup of coffee!

Lisa Brighenti, our Director of Operations who does a ton of the behind the scenes work on the finish area suggests:

1)      Assault on Battery – If you’re running the marathon, the 2^nd half of a 2-Person team, or the 3^rd leg of a 5-Person team, take a walk or jog up Battery St on Saturday. Especially if you’re on a 5-Person relay team, you want to see how to enter your exchange zone to tag your teammate.

2)      Your Exchange Zone location if you’re a relay runner – The banners may not yet be up, but at least drive by your exchange zone to get the general idea. It’s great to have the teammate you are tagging in or the one who is tagging you in with you when you check out the Exchange Zones  so you can see if there is a good landmark you want to target to easily find each other.

3)      Secure Bike Parking – If you plan on biking down to the start or finish ask our setup volunteers where the Secure Bike Parking is going to be.

4)      At Waterfront Park – Look for the tent banners and match them up to your map. Knowing where you’re going to go on Saturday will give you a lot of confidence on Sunday. Meeting your family-find the Reunion Zone don’t plan on doing it “at the finish line” like a lot of people try to do. It’s way too crowded right at the finish line! Know that the Food Tent is not right at the finish line. And of course scout out the location of the Post-Race Party Tent!

Leandre Waldo-Johnson, our Director of Communications, looking at this from both a runner and an organizer perspective suggests:

1)      Take a walk or drive downtown to Battery and Waterfront Parks. Note the location of portos and gear check in Battery Park and get a sense of the distance from the north end of Waterfront Park to the finish so that you know how much you have to run once you get into the park (it’s about 500 yards, but check it out for yourself!). Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Leonardo’s pizza and Moe’s chips & salsa will be waiting for you under the big tent on the east side of the north field, (not the lake side, the railroad side). Also note the location of family reunion zone.

2)      If you’re running a relay, visit the exchange zone where you’ll start from.

3)      Friends and family coming to cheer you on? Designate 2-3 places on the course where you’ll know to look for each other. Battery Park is an ideal spot as you’ll pass through three times, but you may want to consider Church St and Pine St as well, or someplace a little off the beaten path because things will be less crowded so it will be a lot easier to find your fans.

Several weeks ago RunVermont announced that we would offer runners who were unable to finish the Boston Marathon the opportunity to run the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon for free. Nearly 60 runners took us up on the offer. These are a few of their stories.

Emilee H.

Vermont has always been a sort of safe haven for me, and a place of healing and personal growth.  Ten years ago, I found myself while in college at St. Mike’s, and the lessons learned there and friendships I made have carried me through my adult life.  After college, once I left Vermont, I started running as a way to find a community and make friends.

Last November I joined the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team to fundraise for the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research; I could not have hand-picked a more supportive, generous, dedicated, and inspiring running community.    Like many other runners, all winter the DFMC Team trained for the Boston Marathon – unlike many other winter runners, the DFMC Team had the distinct advantage of running together as a group.  Each training run, I ran in memory of my grandfather, who we lost to prostate cancer, and in honor of Rebekah, my patient partner.  And on April 15, when I laced up, I felt stronger and more inspired to run than I ever had – and up until 3:02 pm, when I first heard about the bombings, I had been having the best run of my life.   The bombings, and the horror and bravery that followed them, will forever be etched in my heart and in my mind.

But, as runners, and as a community, we cannot let one senseless act of violence stop us.  In Born to Run, Christopher McDougall states that “the reason we race isn’t so much to beat each other,… but to be with each other.”  I believe those words more so now than ever before.  When I lace up on May 26^th, I will be running the Vermont Marathon to be with other runners and to celebrate life, to honor those that can’t run, and to finish what I started, for Dana Farber and for all those fighting the war against cancer.  I am proud to run in Vermont, a place where I know my heart will heal.

If you would like to learn more about the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge, or to donate, you can visit my page: http://www.runDFMC.org/2013/emileeh.

 

Katie C.

Growing up, I was a serious ballet dancer. But not being dedicated enough to continue dancing as a career after I graduated from college, I needed to find something else to keep me active, healthy, and competitive. My dad, an experienced runner, convinced me to run a local 5k with him and after completing my first race, I was hooked. I started running 5ks and 10ks regularly, and went on to complete several half marathons. But I needed a new challenge to keep my interest in the sport, and set my sights on the full marathon.

As a child, my husband attended The Hole in the Wall Gang camp in Connecticut. This camp was founded by Paul Newman for kids who are living with life threatening illnesses. Being able to attend this camp was truly a life changing experience for him, as it has been for thousands of other seriously ill children. Through our connection with this organization, I found out that the camp had a Boston Marathon team and I knew that I had to apply. I found out that I had been accepted to the team in the fall of 2012 and immediately began training for the Boston Marathon in addition to raising $5,000 to send two children to camp, free of charge.

I trained hard throughout the winter, my dad by my side as he would also be running Boston. I worked tirelessly to raise the money for my charity. When April finally came, I was ready. The night before the race my team hosted a pasta dinner where we all gathered to talk about our training, watch videos from the kids at camp, and remember the real reason why we were about to run 26.2 miles – to help these kids have the summer of their lives.

Until 2:50 pm on April 15^th , I was having an amazing day. I was prepared for the course, the support from the crowd was amazing, and I was feeling great. My dad and I were so excited to see my mom, my husband, and two of my best friends at the finish line, as my dad had been able to score them all VIP seats in the grandstands overlooking the finish. I ran for 25.5 miles and was so excited to be so close to the finish. I was about to turn onto Hereford street when spectators started spilling out into the streets telling us to stop running and that the race had been canceled. The other runners and I were extremely confused as we had no idea why we were being stopped by the crowds. Once we found out what had happened at the finish line, I immediately broke down because I knew that my family was there and I had no way to contact them to know if they were ok.

Ultimately I waited over two hours before I knew if they were ok. I was most worried because I knew that my husband, a firefighter and EMT, would run towards the site of the bombs to help others if he had not been injured. When I was able to speak to him later and confirm that my family was safe, I found out that was exactly what had happened. He was directly across the street from where the first bomb went off and he had run across to help those who had been injured. I am so thankful that my family was not hurt that day, but I want to honor those who were, as well as my husband for putting his own life at risk.

Because I was unable to finish the race, I feel I have some very unfinished business that needs to be completed. I need to finish my race for those kids at the camp, for those who were killed and injured at the Boston Marathon, and to help myself heal from the events that day. You have given me the perfect opportunity to do this and to remind myself why I love the sport of running. I am extremely honored and excited  to be running for all of these things at the Key Bank Vermont City Marathon on May 26^th.

 

Matthew C.

My name is Matthew and I ran the Boston Marathon and was stopped at mile 25.5. My story is a joyous one and an emotional one as well. My cousin and I participated in the Boston 5K as a race wheel chair team with goals of raising funds and awareness for ALS research and showing the general public that anything is possible given hard work and dedication. Peter and I worked in tandem, with Peter as the captain and I the vessel. Because of hard-work, preparation and teamwork Peter and I finished ahead of 80% of the able body field with a time of 23:29. After the run, Peter inspirational story of hope and courage was shared with the crowd of over 7,500 by the officials of the Boston Marathon. With me and Peter’s father by his side, Peter then handed out the category finisher awards at the finish line.

The next day, I ran the 117th Boston Marathon in dedication to my cousin and The Pete Frates #3 Fund. I was stopped at mile 25.5 and was told I could not finish.  I then walked up to Mass Avenue and started asking people what had happened. They told me two bombs went off and they were in the stands.  I had a pit in my stomach because my wife Grace and a friend had stand tickets.  I frantically called to get a hold of my wife Grace. They were about 40 feet away, directly across from the blast, shaken but okay.  We then had to find each other five miles apart, regroup and evacuate the city together.  This experience makes you put things in perspective and you really never know in life.  It was especially tough for me as I was not there to be by my wife or friend’s side during that moment.

I RUN BECAUSE GOOD WILL ALWAYS OUTNUMBER EVIL. I want to show everyone that I run in spite of what happened, nothing will stop the good in this world.

Video link for news coverage of the 5K - http://www.necn.com/04/14/13/Thousands-run-in-BAA-5K-race/landing.html?blockID=837683&feedID=11106

 

Richard Tabbut

My reason for running the Vermont City Marathon is that terrorists are not going to stop us from finishing a marathon in 2013. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to start the healing process.

Rich’s story, as told by Jean dePlacido in the Salem (NH) News:

Rich Tabbut never thought he’d be happy about a pulling a muscle during the Boston Marathon, but it was that injury which prevented him from being at the finish line around the time the bomb went off. Tabbut, a 54-year old Beverly resident, was running his third Boston Marathon in honor of his mother Hilda Thornhill Tabbut to raise money for the Sturge-Weber Fund.

The Wicked Running Club member hadn’t run Boston since 1996 and set his goal to finish under four hours. However, his leg hurt so much that he had to alternate running with walking between miles 23 and 24 so he was behind schedule.

“It turned out that God was watching over me,” said Tabbut, who runs several races for charity. “If I had achieved my goal I would have been on the finish line very close to the time the bombs went off.”

Instead Tabbut was part of the large group of runners who were stopped by the police at Mass Avenue, about six tenths of a mile from the finish line. At first nobody had any idea what was happening and figured the road was narrowing because of the large crowd gathered. Soon word spread about the bombs, and people were scared — not for themselves but for loved ones waiting at the finish line to cheer for them.

“There are no words sufficient to describe how we all felt at that time with our loved ones in danger and no way to determine if they were safe,” said Tabbut. “The wonderful people of Boston offered much needed support. Runners offered words of encouragement to each other still not knowing exactly what had happened. Many of us prayed that nobody was hurt.”

Tabbut said one young woman offered runners cups of water and asked if they were okay. He was wearing a wicking singlet and became to feel very cold. As he limped down Commonwealth Avenue toward the family meeting area, a spectator handed him a trash bag to wear until he was able to put on warm clothes that were on the bus beyond the finish line.

Tabbut was anxious to find his wife Maureen and make sure she hadn’t been injured, but that turned out to be an exhausting endeavor. The family gathering area was organized by letters of the alphabet so he headed for the T section only to find out his wife was not there. He recalled her saying if they didn’t meet up there the emergency location would be the Green Line Boylston subway stop.

“Maureen was on the corner of Clarendon and St. James Avenue when the first explosion went off,” said Tabbut. “She thought at first it was something to do with a construction crew nearby. To her surprise and horror she found out shortly afterward about the blasts.” Maureen was heading to the finish line area when the attack took place, and she was around the corner from the first explosion.

“She offered support to a few families and headed to the family meeting area. Later she decided to look for me at the Boston Common. My prayers were answered when I spotted her waiting patiently at Boylston. We gave each other a warm hug, and made our way out of the city to go home. We are still trying to come to terms with what happened. How could someone do this? Evil does exist in our world. We still believe that good will prevail in the long term and must not give in to terror.”

Keli R

My running story begins back in 2009.

I was an athlete growing up and basketball became my passion, earning me a full college scholarship.  I graduated in 2006, marking the end of my basketball career, and I found myself lost athletically.  Three years later, I was overweight and out of shape and married to my job.  Something had to change!  Living in Boston and working for a running company, I knew all about the prestigious Boston Marathon, so why not run it?  One problem: I hated running!  Running was used as punishment in my previous sports experience; it reminded me of those early morning pre-season workouts we all dreaded so much.  So I signed on with a charity to earn a spot in the 2010 Marathon and I got running.  I finished in 2010, slowly, but a changed person.  I was now stronger, both mentally and physically.  I realized I could accomplish anything, and that left me wanting more; I wanted to run Boston faster and stronger!

It took me another 3 years to get back to Boston.  I was stronger and poised to run a solid race with my entire family there to support me.  They came out strong for me this year.  My dad was there at mile 4 in Ashland, my sister at mile 9 in Natick, my wife at mile 14 in Wellesley, my mom waiting for me at the top of Heartbreak Hill, and my other sister was at mile 23 in Brookline giving me that last bit of encouragement I needed to get to Boylston St.  They each saw me pass by looking strong and truly enjoying the run, and then they headed towards the finish to celebrate with me.  I was on pace to beat my 2010 time by over 20 minutes, and then everything changed.

I had passed Coolidge Corner in Brookline and was headed towards Fenway with only a few miles to go when other runners started mentioning something about a bomb at the finish.  It just seemed like rumors, so we all kept running.  We asked the police officers along the course what was going on, and they all said to just keep running…so we did.  Around Fenway we noticed the spectators leaving – the crowd was essentially gone – and that was when I got nervous.  I made it a bit further to about mile 25.6 before they closed the course.

Panic set in as I knew my family was near the finish and I began to frantically make calls with no success.  I had just run a marathon and had no post race support.  I was drenched and in a tank top with no water or food.  My emotions were frantic as I walked away from downtown hoping to find my family.  It took me over 45 minutes before I reached somebody to find out my family was okay.  As I walked towards my wife I encountered the true spirit of Boston as somebody stopped and gave me their jacket, and another couple gave me water and Gatorade.  Over an hour later I finally found my wife, we cried and held each other tightly.

The weeks following the marathon were extremely difficult for me and my wife.  It wasn’t just our city that was attacked, it was our running community as well. So I did the only thing I knew would make me feel better; I kept running!  But I continued to struggle with my emotions.  I was mad and angry somebody took away my accomplishment – I never got the chance to turn right on Hereford, left on Boylston and cross the finish.  I never got the chance to celebrate after months of hard work leading up to Marathon day.  And then I felt guilty for feeling angry, knowing so many were impacted directly by the events, with lives either lost or changed forever.  So again, I kept running. I decided the best way to heal was to run another marathon; I needed to finish what I started in Boston.  The Vermont City Marathon so graciously opened their arms to Boston runners and I am so grateful for the opportunity to run in Burlington for Boston.

So why do I run? I had been running for the personal challenge, the feeling of accomplishment, and for that runner’s high, but that all changed this April.  I run because I CAN and because we can’t stop running as a result of a cowardly act.  I run now because I know how precious each race can be, and that life can change in an instant.  I run now for the city of Boston, for the victims, and for our running community.  I run because I am Boston Strong.

 

S.K.

Running the Boston Marathon has been a lifelong dream.  I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, one town over from the Boston Marathon route.  I have many fond memories of waking up early on Patriot’s Day to watch the reenactment on the Lexington Greene, and, of course, heading over to Newton to watch the runners go by.  I have never been a “team sports” kind of person, but this sport — people pushing themselves to extraordinary lengths — this was something I could get behind.  I went to college at Boston University, right on the marathon route, and every year relished in introducing my classmates to the glorious tradition of Marathon Monday.  I don’t think there is anywhere else in the world that celebrates running like Boston does.  It is strange, unique, and wonderful, and I wanted to be a part of it.

In 2012 I was approached by a charity I work closely with, and asked if I would be interested in raising money for them to run the Boston Marathon.  I was ecstatic.  It was going to be my first marathon, and I was happy to be raising money for a cause I care deeply about.  I trained, fund-raised, and at the end of March I felt ready.

I started to get nervous in the weekend leading up to the race, when the weather report predicted record highs.  I was more nervous when the B.A.A. started sending emails urging those who had not qualified and who had not trained in warm weather to defer.  Ultimately, I decided that after months of training and fund-raising it was at least worth a shot.

18 miles or so into the race, despite drinking more than I ever did on any training run, I was dizzy, my heart was racing, and I wasn’t sweating.  A good friend who happened to be spectating on the course (who is also a medical professional) talked some sense into me, and I dropped out.  I am a goal-setter, and it is not in my nature to give up.  I was crushed.  Because I had fund-raised, I was asked about it by nearly everyone I knew, and recounting the story was painful.

A year later, after successfully running another marathon, I decided that 2013 would be my comeback year for Boston.  I raised money for the same charity, trained, and when April 15th rolled around it felt like Christmas was coming.

For whatever reason, I had some painful stomach issues that day, starting around mile 13.  I was running with a friend who was running for the same charity.  We had trained together, and she could see that I was struggling.  She knew how important it was to me to finish, and she stayed with me for 11 more miles at my slower pace.  I will be forever grateful for her for doing that.  I was hurting and I could not have continued without her.  Around Coolidge Corner, with two miles to go, she knew I was going to make it, and we parted ways.

Very shortly afterward, I started to feel like something was wrong.  Police were ushering spectators off the sidewalks.  I knew I had slowed down, but it didn’t seem possible that they’d be opening the course so soon.  A friend ran out to me, crying, and told me that there had been explosions, and that it was bad. He also told me that he couldn’t reach my husband, who was planning on meeting me at the finish line.  I didn’t know what to think.  I dug out my phone, and frantically tried to reach my husband and my brother, who was also planning on meeting me downtown.  Thankfully, both had been on their way, but hadn’t made it to Boylston.  I left my friend and kept running toward Boston, unsure of what I was running toward, but feeling like I wanted to find my husband.  In Kenmore, a few yards shy of the 25 mile marker, I found my sister, who was there to cheer me on.  We embraced, I started crying, and a cop dragged a barricade across the course, and all of a sudden it was over.

For the first few days afterward I was in shock.  I was calm and collected, and even worked a full week.  It didn’t seem real.  I couldn’t believe that something like that could happen in my city, on such a joyous day.  When reality started to sink in, I was terrified.  The people who were targeted were ordinary people like my family and friends, out to cheer on fellow charity runners.  My sleep was restless for a while, as I worried about further attacks, and struggled to make sense of such an atrocity.

Then I was angry.  I had worked so hard, twice.  How dare someone take away my victory, my accomplishment?  With that anger has come a lot of guilt.  I am okay, and so is my family.  So what if I didn’t get to finish?   Innocent people lost their lives, families were crushed, and many people were hurt.  This guilt has been magnified by the fact that I work in a Boston area hospital.  I see the victims of the bombing on a daily basis.  I know from how emotionally and physically crippling such trauma can be.

I have started to forgive myself for my anger, but it has been hard.

Running Vermont won’t be right onto Hereford and left onto Boylston, but it will be a step toward healing.

 

Welcome to Marathon May! Every day from now through the Marathon (and perhaps even a few days beyond) we’ll share a new race-related FAQ here on the blog, our Facebook page and via Twitter feed. Got a question you think we should cover? Post it here, on FB or on Twitter and we’ll get right back to you.

Q: How do I get to Oakledge Park to meet my teammate when she finishes the first half of the race?

Q: I’m running the first leg…how do I get back to Waterfront Park when I’m done?

A: 2^nd LEG RUNNERS: Reach the Exchange Area via Relay bus, foot, or bike. DO NOT DRIVE to Oakledge!

• By Relay bus: Buses to Oakledge Park are located on St Paul Street at King Street. From the start (Battery Park), walk down Battery Street hill to Main Street and then east on Main Street 3 blocks to St Paul Street. It is 8 blocks from Battery Park to the bus pick up location-make sure to leave plenty of time. Buses leave St Paul/King starting at 8:15am and run until 11:00am. Buses departing before 8:55 drop off 200′ from Oakledge Park. Buses departing after 8:55 drop-off 1/2-mile from Oakledge Park. Plan accordingly.
• By foot: Oakledge is approximately 2 miles from the Start via Pine Street. The bikepath closes at 8:45am for our wheelchair racers. DO NOT walk on the bikepath to get to Oakledge Park.
• By bike: Bike racks avail. Bring a lock, and remove your bike by 2pm, when the racks are removed from the park.
• We strongly discourage you from having a friend drive you to Oakledge Park. Personal vehicles not allowed in/out of that area from 8:35am until 11:00am.

1^st LEG RUNNERS:

• Buses returning from Oakledge Park will transport you to back to downtown
• Before 10:30am, buses pick-up at Pine Street/Flynn Avenue intersection, about 1.2-mi from Oakledge park. From 10:30-11:3-am, buses pick up at Oakledge Park, near the park entrance on Flynn Avenue.
• Oakledge Buses WILL NOT stop to pick up runners walking back along Pine Street.
• Returning runners will be dropped off at the corner of St Paul Street and King Street, 5 blocks from Waterfront Park, site of the Post-Race Festival. When you exit the bus walk towards the lake.
• If you choose to bike, walk or run back to downtown after the first leg or the relay, please use Flynn Ave and Pine St, not the bikepath. The bikepath is very narrow north of Oakledge Park. Access to the bikepath is restricted to racers.

If you read the Runner & Guest Handbook carefully, you’re already in on this news.

If you haven’t, please do. But in the meantime…

Check out our new App!

Available for download in the App Store and Play Store, the App includes:

Course Maps (relay legs still being added):

List of registered Marathoners (relay runners will be added):

All of our 2013 Race Updates:

And parking, hotel and restaurant info plus a long list of things to do while you’re in the area:

We’re still working out a few kinks, but overall the App is a great resource for all the info you’ll need race weekend!  We plan to push race results through the App as well and will confirm that in the next few days.

If you have any questions about the App or find something that you think isn’t working quite right, please drop me a note: leandre@runvermont.org.