WRR BostonMarathon 2014

THE

WICKED

The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

Running Register

June 2014 • Priceless

2014 Boston Marathon Special Edition

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Est. Jan 2010

VOLUNTEERS - PG.1-10 | RUNNERS PG. 11-16 |

Wicked Volunteers!

By: John Mahoney

This year’s Boston Marathon was bigger than ever. There were 36,000 runners, 9,000 more than usual. This was also the fastest qualifying field ever so it was harder to get a number than ever. It was even hard to volunteer. Even though the BAA needed 16,000 volunteers, they turned down 5,000

who wanted volunteer. Thanks to the hard, reliable work over the previous years, Wicked was able to provide all of the volunteers for the gel-stop, 68.

In addition, the BAA recognized our previous years of hard work and, once again, gave our club 2 precious, complimentary numbers. Wicked should be proud. The BAA is happy to have us take care of this stop, our members are happy to do the work, PowerBar is pleased that we do a great job, and the Newton Police are happy that we are such good citizens. A great combination!

My view while volunteering. ~ Christin Shafer

The orange dream team! ~ Kathryn Price

The BAA considers the gel-stop to be a very important part of this race. They call a meeting every year, including us, the packet The “Vanilla” team - we had so much fun and hope to stuffing team, the timing team, and a few others to address any participate again next year!!! ~ Susan Hennessey concerns we might have before the race. We should be proud to be a key part of the Boston Marathon.

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The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

What a Crew!

Can you find yourself?!

The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

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What a Crew!

Can you find yourself?!

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The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

Wicked Volunteers!

By: Lisa DiBella

I had been training to run Boston in 2012 but came up with a stress fracture in mid March which ended my Boston 2012 dream. I watched from near mile 9 in Natick. Boston 2013 was my first time as a Gel stop volunteer. I felt very important as an official volunteer and am very proud of my 2013 yellow jacket. I loved standing with my Wicked Teammates, screaming from behind the yellow rope, hugging the runners that I knew.

My sister had qualified and was running - when she came through the Gel stop I remember just screaming with glee - I was so happy to see her and she looked great. The whole day was awesome.

Then in the afternoon just as we were finishing loading the car to head home - the news about what was happening at the finish line started to spread.

There were four of us in my car and we immediately got on our phones trying to find our friends and family. I knew what time my sister had come through the Gel stop because I had texted my other sister - so of course I tried to calculate where she might have been during the explosions - all of us in the car tried to do this crazy math based on when we had seen everyone we know!

On the way home I did get a call from my mom saying that my sister had called to say she was okay and was making her way back to the car. My sister did finish the 2013 Boston Marathon within 90 seconds of

Are you running your first marathon soon?

Advice from our members!

Have fun and enjoy it. Try not to focus on time but experience.

~Amber Woolfenden

Enjoy every moment and focus on getting to the finish with a smile. No time goals!

~Melissa Jaynes

Show up on marathon day knowing that you have already done great things. You have done the work to get there and run with celebration in your feet and thankfulness in your heart.

~Sandra Dalton

explosion #1. She was able to retrieve her bag and cell phone from the bus and so she was able to find her boyfriend and together they walked to B.C. where they had left a car.

Without even knowing exactly what was going on she did not take a finisher medal because “it just didn’t feel right.”

I don’t remember exactly when but at some point I asked her if she would volunteer with me in 2014 because I knew I would volunteer again. My sister and her boyfriend joined Wicked at the Gel stop - Chocolate for the second year in a row.

Enjoy the training. For the first time, every “long” run will be your longest run, making each week exciting. If you follow the process, you’ll have a successful day and feel ok afterwards!

~Julie Arrison

Have a goal! It doesn’t have to be just about time...but you need to set goals that will guide you through the training.

If you’re just running to have fun...running and training for a marathon is not fun if you do it with no direction at all :)

~Mike Toomey

Have a blast, stay healthy and watch out for the cars.

~Len Femino

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Wicked Volunteers!

By: Tom Lubas

I joined the club late last year.

This was my fifth year volunteering at the Hopkinton Hydration Station. With 60 others manning the Poland Springs Water Station, we were the only Hydration Station in Hopkinton for runners as they were approaching the Starting Line. In past years there was a second Hydration Station on Main Street, but it was removed because of Security Issues.

Everything went, “Boston Strong!”

Wicked Volunteers!

By: Brian Chisholm

I crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon in 2013. It wasn’t the way I wanted to.

I was wearing a white jacket with blue stripes, pushing the yellow stretcher in the top right

corner of this photo. We were stopped briefly because the

volunteer riding the rail thought he felt a pulse but it was probably his own. That happens in situations like this one where your own heart is pounding and you’re working to save a life.

We continued our race across the finish line and into Medical Tent A where we were directed to “go all the way down.”

I knew we were going past empty cots and that didn’t seem right. When we got all the way down and reached a second triage station on the right the doctor said eight words, “hook up a monitor, set up a morgue.”

We lost this race. Our patient was treated gently and respect-

fully, as if she should feel no more pain, she had already suffered enough. Even though I only knew her for the last 5 minutes of her life I feel like I had lost a family member. I think about her every day, and every night when I can’t sleep, which is often.

For the last three years I’ve volunteered for the BAA as an Emergency Medical Technician, working the medical sweep at the finish line. Our job is to keep finishers walking and look for any in distress. If we find any in distress we move them out of the flow of runners,

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The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

provide aid or move them up the medical network. Medical care for this race is second to none, and I’ve run marathons where the only medical care is two kegs of cold Stonecat Ale at the finish line.

2012 was a hot race. It was a long day and it seemed like everyone was sick. I worked that race with Patsy Emberley RN and we both thought it was more painful to work the race then it was to run it, as we had the year before.

The Boston Marathon is a huge production. Each group (medical, water, marshals, security, race control) has its own staff and command structure and of course disputes arise from time to time. We soon found out who the man in charge of the finish line water volunteers was.

I like to refer to him as “head water boy.” Head water boy liked to have an unobstructed view of the finish line. He kept trying to order the medical staff around and kept telling us where to stand. Well, the medical sweep doesn’t answer to head water boy, but he kept whining about his view. So following our medical protocol, I waited for runners holding their stomachs and led them “out of the flow of runners” to the tip of the water table to “provided aid” which was basically holding her hair back while she threw up. Well, head water boy had an unobstructed

view of 4 or 5 of our patients.

He soon learned what flavor of Gator was being served on the course. He never bothered the medical sweep again.

Street helping any runners we could. We wrapped them in foil blankets, gave directions and some we even reunited with their families.

By the end of the day we both felt we contributed a lot and helped a lot of runners. I remember we agreed that we should do this again because no race could be as bad as 2012, then came 2013.

We knew Beth O’Grady had crossed the finish line close to when the first blast went off, but we didn’t know if she was okay until about an hour later. Cell service was sporadic so I had to use Facebook to find out, (thank you Paula).

About 9am on April 15th all the medical volunteers were in the old John Hancock building for a meeting regarding medical protocols for the race. Chris Troyanos, the medical director was at the podium. He told all the rookies to stand up. Then he said, “look at the volunteers sitting down, they worked one of the hottest races in this marathon’s history last year, we had thousands of sick runners, hundreds were transported to local hospitals but nobody died. Give them a round of applause.”

It felt good to be thanked for a job well done, but little did we know how the day would end.

The day started out fine, and then descended into chaos in an instant. There was 20 minutes of chaos and desperation while the bomb sites were cleared. Then race control shut down their radio network apparently thinking it might set off another bomb. Patsy and I drifted up and down Boylston

We were dismissed by the BAA but we stayed for 4 more hours looking for friends and helping whomever we could, all the while hearing cannon blasts every 15 to 20 minutes. We learned later on that the bomb squads were blowing up backpacks that had been left behind by innocent spectators. It was nerve wracking to hear those cannon blasts all afternoon especially after what we had just gone through. We left the area about 6:30 and headed over to the Seaport Hotel.

We walked most of the way.

When we sat at the bar we were finally able to see a TV and we then realized that this was not just a local Boston story but instead, the whole world was watching. Sue Winchester showed up at about 8pm. We knew she was stopped at mile 25 and was okay but it was still good to see her, more Kleenex needed.

Patsy and I drove home and she dropped me off at about

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The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

Are you running your first marathon soon?

Advice from Elaine Goldman!

Do what it takes to train your mind as much as your legs whether that’s visualization, affirmations, running solo long runs so no one else is there to “pull you thru”etc.

Be ready for the time commitment training requires.

Get a running coach.

Don’t try anything new on race day.

Wear sweat proof sunscreen.

Get your zzzzzzzz’s. A consistent sleep schedule of 7-9hrs will work wonders.

As much as you plan, train and strategize ahead of time...

Something will most likely NOT go not as planned. Accept this and you’ll be able to roll with the punches and overcome the challenges much easier!

Quarantine yourself from the advice of your running friends during your taper. Stick to your game plan and don’t be swayed.

Do NOT sit/lay down for at least 30-45 minutes after you’ve finished the marathon.

9:30pm. The next morning she was cleaning out her car and called me right away. She told me to throw out my shoes.

I knew instantly, I didn’t have to ask, didn’t have to look, I picked them up by the laces and they went right in the trash.

It’s 2014 and I had second thoughts about coming back this year. I even thought about going fishing on April 21st but I couldn’t stay away, after all I like helping runners and a lot of friends were running this year.

Plus the BAA was very good to us. They knew that 1st responders kept the casualty count down to three and lives were saved by volunteers wearing BAA jackets, (as well as Boston Police, Fire and EMS, it was a team effort). They provided trauma debriefings for bloody shoe types like Patsy and I as well as counseling for anyone, including mile 17 volunteers.

We were invited out for a turnaround on the USS Constitution with Tom Grilk. That’s right, we

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So I came back this year. The hype leading up to race day was hard to take. I had to stop watching the news and most TV in general. It helped that we were invited out to several functions prior to the race including the Next 26 fund raisers. There, we got to meet victims and other volunteers. We shared stories and learned a lot about what else went on last year; so much of those 20 minutes was a blur when it was happening. We even learned the truth about the cowboy hat.

We were also invited to the Tribute. That was amazing. So I couldn’t stay home, I knew I had to be there. It helped that I sat in church on Sunday with Rich and Maureen Tabbut and was scarfed. That was at the

Old South Church for the blessing of the runners. This was Easter Sunday so the Easter service and the Blessing of the Runners ceremony were combined. This was a beautiful ceremony in a beautiful church with a welcoming congregamet the boss and he is the tion. There were two runners nicest boss one could have. The from out of town sitting beside BAA even gave bib numbers to me. We chatted a little before some of the1st responders who the ceremony. Then the wrote an essay on what they adolescent in me took the did last year. church bulletin and wrote a note on it that said,“Don’t tell

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anyone but I’m Catholic, I’m just here for the scarf.” I showed it to the runners and got them laughing in church.

Before the race I walked out to Boylston Street and walked into Med Tent A. I walked all the way down and looked over to the right to an empty area of asphalt. I thought, that’s how this section should be. There were a lot of people, doctors, nurses and medics on the other side getting ready for the race.

I don’t know if anyone noticed me, I was only there for a few seconds. I thought to myself, I have to get over this, I have to put it in the past. I have to try to forget. So I started walking back through the tent to Boylston St. The tent volunteers have wide screen TVs to watch the race live. When I looked up at the screen, I saw beautiful Krystle with her blue eye shadow, so much for forgetting.

In the sweep you get to meet runners who have just completed one of the biggest races of their lives. Normally there are a few tears shed at the finish line but this year it seemed everyone was crying, men and women. A couple runners were crying so hard they walked into the barrier set up around the medals table. This year we had a psych team with us in the sweep and we needed them. It was really busy this year. I took about 10 runners into the medical tent myself, and there was a line getting in several times.

I heard there were more treated this year than in 2012.

I was lucky this year in that I got to see several friends finish including Greg Esbitt who came by first. 26.2 is just a warmup for him. Tim Short came by next. Being a dad hasn’t slowed him down too much.

What a treat to see Dawn Cobak looking fabulous in her pink Tutu. I got to hug Shari finally. I waited for her last year but she was stopped, had to wait 371 extra days for that hug. I got to see T.R. and Jay finish, both looking great. I got

a nice picture with Michelle Campbell. I got to see two nurses who worked Zone 1 with us last year, Kristy Levorson and Amelia Nelson.

They were

awarded “essay numbers” by the BAA and they earned them the hard way. They saved lives last year. These two girls are my heroes. They both ran their first marathon this year and did great.

During a busy part of the race I heard someone yell, “Hey! There’s our friend from church.”

I turned to find Holly Hillstrom and Melissa Malinowski from St. Paul Minnesota, the two runners I met in church the day before. They were stopped at mile 25 last year and came back to finish this year. What a treat it was to see them again and of course get a selfie.

I didn’t get to see Beth again this year. I must have been in the tent when she came in.

I didn’t get to see Patsy. And I didn’t get to see Mario Da Silva. How could anyone miss Mario, he runs almost naked?

It was another difficult year in the medical sweep but it was nice to finish a race, pack up and head to the after parties this year. Will I do it again next year? Not sure yet, might just go fishing.

The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

Wicked Volunteers!

By: Christin Shafer

I wasn’t going to write for this issue, but in true designer fashion I had to solve a problem. This space needed to be filled!

I volunteered at the Mile 17 Gel Stop for the first time this year. I saw the email come through that a few spots had opened up and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it.

Being that I moved here semi-recently I really didn’t have a true understanding of just how BIG the marathon was until I started talking to people and watching the news. I was beyond anxious and I wasn’t even running it!

I asked around for advice, being that it was my first time and I wanted to do a good job: wear sunscreen, order the jacket a size smaller, be ready

for my arm to hurt and wear old shoes. I thought to myself, ok I can handle that. THEN I was reminded that we had the best view and the excitement kicked in. I’ve watched races before,

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we had a few good “seen and heards” in that car. (Thanks Kelly Pheulpin for driving!)

The energy was great, or well maybe I had too many gels?

The day was beautiful and I swear I thought it was never going to end…yes my arm hurt, but it was worth it to get thosegels to all of the runners. By the time they got to us (we were the last stop) they either wanted to trade flavors or were looking at us with faces of despair, hoping

but never one with so many runners and different divisions.

My volunteering experience was great, besides the issue of parking close to our actual spot, due to security. Definitely understandable why…but, when you’re like a littie kid on a long trip whining that you have to pee, it makes for an entertaining car ride. I do believe

we had the 2x caffeine flavor.

It was craziness and a ton of fun, I definitely will volunteer again. What a great feeling to give back and be a part of THE Boston Marathon, thank you Wicked for this experience.

Wicked Kudos to everyone who volunteered at the marathon. ~Christin

Duo Team Push-Rim Wheelchair

Elite Women

Elite Men

As a volunteer at the Mile 17 Gel Stop, Wicked members have the best view of all the different divisions of runners!

National Guard

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Wicked Volunteers!

By: Kristen Kozlosky

He ended his run at mile 21 but with his head held high.

His calves cramped up on him.

Last year Jim Pawlicki and I volunteered at mile 12 water stop, because of the events that occurred that year Jim decided that he wanted to run Boston

in 2014. I offered to be his ride and cheer him on from the finish line. But at the same time we both wanted to show our support and volunteer. So we signed up to volunteer at the expo all day on Friday and hand out shirts to the runners.

If you picked up your shirt and you were a men’s large, we most likely handed you your shirt. I heard a lot of stories from the runners on that Friday.

Thankfully I was able to jump into my car from the finish line and get to him with no issues.

All the spectators at the finish line were great. Listening to everyone’s story brought a bunch of strangers close together and made the wait for our loved ones enjoyable. Great job to everyone who ran, volunteered and cheered on the runners at the 2014 Boston Marathon!!

Wicked Volunteers!

By: Eileen Spear

Marathon Monday was a little warm and it got the best of Jim.

I am new to Wicked (and Boston) and it was my first time volunteering. I had a great day with the others and felt really welcome. It was so exciting to work the gel stop...have to say though, I was so tired by the end of the day that I felt I had ran the marathon!

Wicked Runners!

Can you find yourself?!

The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

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Wicked Runners!

Can you find yourself?!

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private marathon bus in North Beverly, we knew it was goBy: Mike Paulin ing to be a great day. Being around so many close friends From the moment the 2013 to start off the day really helped Boston Marathon events came to ease the nerves on such an to light, I knew that there was emotional marathon race day... no way I was going to miss joking around, sharing stories, the 2014 marathon. So much catching up with others that we so that I changed my trainhadn’t seen in a while, talking ing goals for the Vermont City about race goals for later in Marathon in May 2013 to the day, etc. Of course the day better my chances for getting would not be complete without into the 2014 race...and so the annual Mass Pike Rest much so that my wife Tara Area stop before arriving in came out of Boston Marathon Hopkinton. “retirement” (after running her previous Boston in 2007 in horrible, cold, damp weather conditions and saying never again). I have run Boston ten times, including the last eight... and the anticipation of the 2014 race did not disappoint Upon arriving in Hopkinton, the as a marathon like no other... bus full of runners scattered... and it was even better that some heading immediately for Tara and I got to enjoy the the Athletes Village or Starting experience together. line, others waiting until the last minute or waiting for later race The emotions leading up to waves. A small group of us had the 2014 marathon were such decided to start off together an unbelievable roller coaster. in Wave 1, so we said our Sad and mad, yet proud. A farewells and good lucks to the moment to reflect on the events remaining Wickeds on the bus of 2013...yet enjoy a fresh start (including the Prez T.R., running with the 2014 event, to stand his first Boston!) and headed strong with friends, family, the running community, the city of Boston and beyond. This year was also like no other because of the enormous Wicked Running Club showing! Right from the moment Tara and I stepped for the start line. From left, me, on to the Wicked Running Suzanne Chaves, Tara, Chris Club/North Shore Striders Nolin, and Brad Gates. There

Wicked Runs!

were a few changes in place for this year, after the events of last year...a metal detector/screening as we left the Athletes Village area and military personnel/equipment set up throughout the Hopkinton area...but nothing that took away from the experience of the runners. The crowd of spectators was electric right from the starting line as well... an obviously larger and even more excited crowd than past years from start to finish.

On to the race itself...my wife and I started off the race with Chris, Brad (who was also running his first Boston!), and Brett Rickenbach...a nice little Wicked fast crew. The cheering crowd and the conversation amongst our group made the time fly by quickly and kept us on pace early on. Slapping high-fives to kids along the sidelines and soaking it all in, such a great experience. Our group stayed together pretty well until about the half-way point, before starting to spread out a bit. Having the large Wicked contingent at the Mile 17 gel stop helped fuel us on for a few more miles! Unfortunately, as perfect as this day was for spectators...the weather soon began to play a factor, with the sun coming out strong and the temperatures climbing. As we hit the hills in Newton, the newby Brad pulled away while Tara and I backed off a bit, taking in more water than usual

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to stay hydrated. Tara’s initial goal was to run a P.R. (3:06)... that time slowly slipped away in the final miles, but only by mere minutes, as we were still able to cross the finish line just under 3:10 (good enough for Tara to be the 350th overall female out of 14,000+)!

Our crew slowly reunited after staggering our way through the finish area, with our foil capes and medals on...thanking all of the volunteers the entire way.

After sharing our up-and-down stories of the race itself...it was time for a celebratory post-race beverage! All-in-all a great day and great experience... the unbelievable company and support of the Wicked Running Club, the great cheering of the Boston crowd, and the successful completion of yet another Boston Marathon.

Boston Strong!

Are you running your first marathon soon?

Advice from our members!

Enjoy everything, because your first is super special. Also, put your name on the shirt so people can cheer for you!! ~Katia De Mello Rindeiko Be aware of cold drinks on marathon day!

One funny note was that I always used Gatorade powder (big can of mix from BJs) in a typical half-liter bottle. When I trained, my first bottle would be hidden in the bushes at mile 8 and I’d down it pretty quickly when I got there. During my second Marines Corps, it was very chilly that day (late October), and the Gatorade was cold. When I got to the table at mile 8, I downed a few cups of it and got a brain freeze! ~Paul Gouthro Don’t do anything new or different on race day, for example: sneakers, clothes, medications, anti-chafing, anything. Always have tried it out on your training runs prior to race day. ~Rich Tomlins Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and super important, listen to your body - no marathon or goal is worth risking your health. ~Shari Hewson

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Taking the first step and making the commitment is the most frightening and exhilarating feeling. You never know what you’re capable of until you try! ~Liz Driscoll Stay calm and enjoy every single step you take! ~Alana Bresnahan If your running for time (i.e. to BQ) find a small, flat marathon.

Run the tangents, go out slow, preselect your water / gel stops and write ‘em on your hand. ~Michael McKie Run with a smile, engage the crowd, and have your name printed somewhere on your body or shirt. ~Stephanie Patsourakos Let it be your own marathon, trust yourself and your body.

Core and strength training, don’t skimp. ~Barbara Meader Crosstrain. All the running you do will only get you to mile 24. Whether you finish or not will depend on how many pushups, planks, situps crunches etc that you’ve done leading up to the race. Those last 2.2 miles you’ll do on your core. ~Brian Chisholm Pretzels and banana chips; great fuel for during the race. ~Donna Greenburg

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Wicked Runs!

By: Valerie Mathews

My journey started on a Saturday night in March. A bunch of us had gathered for dinner and a night of bowling, and it was toward the beginning of the night when Amber Woolfenden looked at me and said, “I have to talk to you later…in private.” Needless to say, I was nervous. Only about five minutes had gone by when I finally told her that she had to tell me this secret, because I was DYING! So she laughed and said “someone can’t run Boston and they told me to ask you because you’ll do it” I think I must’ve asked her about fifteen times that night if she was serious; I just couldn’t believe it! I’d submitted an application to the Franklin Park team earlier, but withdrawn it when the daunting task of raising so much money began to overwhelm me. I’m not fast enough to qualify, so that leaves only one way for me to ever run Boston-with an invitational bib, one that was just offered to me. So I did what any of us would do - I hugged her, then texted Toomey to tell him I needed to update my training plans…

like it snuck up on me. The morning was quiet. Lynn McCarthy’s husband Dan drove us into Boston, dropping us off at

the common so we could take one of the BAA buses to the start. We lucked onto the best bus there - the third graders that rode it daily had decorated the inside with colorful inspirational

hand-made posters, and our driver bubbled with excitement, giving us even more energy than we already had. The rest of the morning passed in a blur - we got to Athlete’s Village, stood in the porta-potty line, and found the rest of our friends who’d taken the Striders bus into town, then waited for our wave to be called.

Fast forward six weeks. Marathon Monday came quickly.

Luckily, I had been training for a 50K on Memorial Day weekend, so I didn’t have far to jump The sea of people when the in my training, but it still seemed race started was like nothing

I could have imagined. It was absolutely amazing to see so many people ahead of me, behind me, and beside me.

And those were just the other runners! The crowds along the way were awesome, in the true sense of the word. To be perfectly honest, a lot of the race itself was a blur. There was just so much to take in - I tried to high five as many kids as I could, and to enjoy every step of the way, even the ones that really, really hurt and there were a lot of those. The first half of the race went pretty quickly - it seemed like every time I looked up, I was at another mile marker and once I hit the halfway point, I knew I just had to get to 17 to see some familiar faces.

I tried not to linger at the gel stop, though, knowing that the longer I did, the harder it would be to move again. While struggling through the hills, I heard my name and looked over to see a couple of unexpected faces, which was just the boost I needed.

Once the hills were done, I just repeated “one foot, other foot” in my head, over and over until it was almost as regular as my own breath. Through the scream tunnel, around Coolidge Corner, and toward the city…one foot, other foot…

The crowds by this point were swelling, and the tears were coming to my eyes pretty regularly. Holy crap. I was running the Boston Marathon! When I

The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

hit the “one mile to go mark”, I decided that I was not taking any more walk breaks and so I went on…one foot, other foot…

1K to go…tears again…Holy crap. I’m running the Boston Marathon…one foot, other foot…right on Hereford…left on Boylston…the crowds there were louder than anything I’ve ever heard…and there was the finish line - THE finish line… and more tears…and then it was over, almost as quickly as it had begun. Brian Chisholm was there at the finish, and it was so great to see him! Then it was on to get my medal, get my cape, a bottle of water, a bag of snacks. My legs felt like lead as they carried me through the finish-line crowds, my head spinning, and my phone blowing up with well wishes from friends and loved ones tracking my progress.

All said, this was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

I knew when Amber offered me the spot that I was in for the experience of a lifetime - but I couldn’t know the extent of it until it was over. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I was given, and I look forward to next year when I resume my position at the mile 17 gel stop, knowing now how it feels to be on the other side of the tape.

A few photos submitted

by Julie Arrison

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Wicked Kudos to everyone who ran the marathon.

You Rock! ~Christin

Left onto Boylston

Post Boston at The Ugly Mug

Franklin Park Coalition Team at the Athletes Village

Wicked Runs!

By: Alana Bresnahan

After starting something back in 2012 I was able to finally finish it! On Monday, April 21st

I crossed the finish line with a very dear friend of mine. We crossed hand and hand after being together when we were stopped last year. My dear friend Michelle helped me get though one of the toughest years of my life emotionally and I am so grateful that she was part of the happy ending, along with my wonderful husband Luke, daughter Emily and all of my close friends and family.

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Wicked Runs!

By: T.R. Ramsdell

obliged me.

The next race marker for me was the gel stop at mile 17.

I had the incredible privilege of Even though I knew they’d be running this years marathon with there, I was almost brought to one of tears when I came over the Wicked’s invitational numbers. hill and saw everyone’s faces.

Tim Short got the other, and There they were, 60 of my although I ran it much slower Wicked friends and teammates than he, I guarantee that I had cheering their asses off for me! more fun. NO ONE had a betI stopped for a while and ran ter time out there than me. back and forth across the street The plan was to run slow, to try and give everyone some (didn’t even wear a watch), so sweaty hugs or a high five, and I could really take in the whole pose for pictures. I was having experience and appreciate the such a good time, I almost forhistorical significance of the got the task at hand. I still had day, (the bronchitis helped with 9 more miles of this little adventhat). The crowds were crazy ture to finish up. To all of you loud the whole route. It serithat were there, thank you for ously just never let up the entire that, I really needed that boost race. You couldn’t help but get at mile 17. pushed along by this amazing collection of people. Just The trio of hills to follow were constant cheering and encour“interesting”. And although I’d agement from everyone. If you been out on the course and run were out there, thank you, thank the hills twice before on training you! runs, they seemed especially daunting today. A lot of people As a result of this unexpected don’t realize that there are actupandemonium, and regardless ally 3 hills, not just Heartbreak of my running sans watch, I ran Hill. The first 2 wear you down, the first half much faster than and Heartbreak just kicks you I wanted to. I did the math at in the b***s! There was some each mile and figured my splits walking on the hills today, not to be sub 8. Really needed to gonna lie! slow it down and focus on “taking it all in”. This was not about I’d been warned about the a PR, it was about high-fiving downhill from the top of little kids, and boy did I! Even Heartbreak to the finish line. for the kids that didn’t have Warned about downhill finish? their hand out, I ran over and What could be better than a said “C’mon, gimme some!” downhill finish? HOLY CRAP I’m happy to say that they all the down hills are BRUTAL on

your quads. I locked up SOLID and had to keep stopping to stretch and take walk breaks.

If you caught me walking, I’m sorry. I even covered my bib with my hand so I wouldn’t be photographed. Just one more example of how awesome and supportive the crowds were?

As I was stopped, grabbing a post and trying to stretch out my now, calf’s, quads, and

hammys, I could hear this huge group of kids near BC screaming across the street to me “C’mon red (obviously because of my Wicked jersey), get it together. You can do this! You got this!” And when I turned around and started running again, they erupted with cheers. What a feeling to have strangers push you along like that!

I was so happy to finally take the right onto Hereford (how come nobody told me there was another hill?). As I turned left onto Boylston, nothing in the world looked better than to see the finish line in the distance.

As I ran down Boylston, I just kept looking to the sides to look into the faces of those that had gathered to cheer us in. It’s still

The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

very hard to put into words just how I felt being out there and having the chance to be part of this.

I stepped across that magical finish line that I had waited so long to cross, and reached down to touch it. I did it. I ran in the most historic marathon of all time. And while I had the worst CLOCK time of any marathon I’ve ever done (over an hour slower) I had the best TIME I’ve ever had! I actually ENJOYED running a marathon for a change! Thank you Wicked for giving me the number, thank you gel stop volunteers for being there, thank you volunteers at the athletes village and at the finish line, thank you Facebook stalkers for the support, and thanks to everyone on the course that yelled to me!

Wicked Runs!

By: Tim Short

I was volunteering last year at that Mile 17 Gel Stop when the terrorist attack happened. We had just finished breaking down

and cleaning up and a few of us had received phone calls about the attack. I remember driving home with my wife and father in-law and being glued to the TV for days watching the coverage. It was so surreal. At that point I had promised myself that I would run in this year’s race not only to honor those lives that were lost and also changed forever, but to give a big middle finger to the a-holes that perpetrated such a horrible act of terror.

As one of the two lucky (Our very famous Prez, TR Ramsdell was picked for the other number) Wicked Members who received a Boston Marathon invitational number for this year’s race, I felt blessed to know that I would get the chance to run in the 2014 version of this historic

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race which I had run in three previous times.

Running in this year’s Boston there was a very strong personal meaning for me as it is the 10th year anniversary of my dad passing away from cancer.

He was my biggest supporter and each mile I passed I knew he was right there cheering me onto to the finish line on Boylston Street.

I ran a 3:24 and while I wish I had ran a little faster, I also realized that given the crazy training weather it was a pretty decent effort. From start to finish there were so many people cheering and handing out delicious oranges and frozen pops, it was pretty amazing.

I’d like to thank the Wicked Running Club for giving me the opportunity to run in the marathon this year. It meant the world to me and I will always be grateful that I was picked.

Thank you to our members who volunteered for the marathon this year. Thank you to all of my friends from WRC who gave me support both in person and through Facebook. Finally, I’d like to thank my wife, Nicole for always being there with her support of me and this nutty hobby of mine. Congrats to all Wicked Runners who ran this year! GO WICKED!

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The Wicked Running Register • June 2014 • newsletter@wickedrunningclub.com

Looking for a Marathon Suggestions from our members!

Walt Disney World Marathon, Orlando, Florida, 1.11.2015 KeyBank Marathon, Burlington, www.rundisney.com Vermont, 5.25.2014 Great logistics and great crowd www.runvcm.org support. Make sure you stay in a Disney hotel so you can take advantage of the buses to and from the start/finish lines. ~Stephanie Patsourakos

AWESOME! Scenery was gorgeous and the crowd support was amazing. ~Shari Hewson

Marine Corp Marathon Washington D.C., 10.26.2014 www.marinemarathon.com

New York City Marathon, New York, NY| 11.2.2014 www.tcsnycmarathon.org

It was a great experience. It was a well organized race on a great course passing many famous landmarks. Lots of crowd support most of the course. Pretty flat course as I remember it until the last .2 up to the Iwo Jima statue. ~Doug Bollen

The atmosphere was great, especially the cheering crowds when entering Brooklyn and then again running up First Avenue! ~Eileen Spear

I absolutely love, love, love the spirit and the enthusiasm of that race :-) It seemed like every single person there was so strong and full of purpose (a lot - including myself running in honor of a loved one or special cause). The course takes you through so many historical and amazing buildings and monuments. I was inspired by this and our troops donating their one and cheering you all the while. No killer hills and great crowd love :) ~Sandra Dalton

Maine Coast Marathon, Kennebunk, ME, 5.11.14 www.mainecoast262.com Loved the field - it was really small, only 750 runners. It goes to and from the ocean and you get to run along the ocean for a good part of it. We ran by the Bush compound (best part was waving to the security guards!) in Kennebunkport, too. Such a neat course. Good for spectators, too; my family pretty much followed me in our car and hopped out along the course to cheer me on. ~Karen Aalto

Are you running your first marathon soon? \ Advice from Rick Marciano

Run a comfortable pace the whole way and do not try to keep up with other runners.

Hydrate extra the night before and include electrolytes to stop the cramping.

Look up how to carbo load.

Run 20 miles or at least two hours once a week when you are physically ready to get your body used to burning your backup energy source.

Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink during the marathon and drink at every stop.

A marathon is a strange distance and there is never a guarantee of how it will go no matter how well you train. Just enjoy the moment and remember there is nothing wrong with walking.