2013 Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon After

I want to dedicate the run today to all the folks in Boston who were impacted by the violence. The race coordinators asked for a moment of silence before the race began that was very touching. It kept me going towards the end when I was running out of energy.

The course was magnificent. Winding its way through the east side neighborhoods was pleasant, and much better than the usual route up towards OHSU and the NW industrial area. I would run it again in a heartbeat.

I think I was able to achieve a new overall PR of 1:46-ish, but will need to see when the official results are posted.

2013 Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon

I find myself asking “why not” of a number of 1/2 marathons here in the Portland area. The Rock and Roll, the Helvetia Half, and I’m sure I can dig up a couple others as the season progresses.

After coming off of the Chicago Marathon last year I kept up the weekly mileage and repeated long runs of 6, 8, 10, and 12 miles each Saturday. On the longest of the long runs I’m only a mile and change short of a 1/2 so why not exchange the lone runner experience for a group event.

Realizing this I pulled the tigger and registered for the Rock and Roll 1/2. Another motivating factor was the course. Rather than the typical Portland route of up into the northern industrial area and back down towards OHSU on the west side of the Willamette, this one starts and finishes on the west side, but crosses over and spends a large portion of the course on the east side. Even if I wasn’t trained up I might have registered for this reason alone.

Wish me luck since it is only a couple weeks away, and help me keep my fingers crossed for fair weather.

Senseless Violence at Boston Marathon

First, a moment for those that lost their lives and those that were wounded because of the violence at the 2013 Boston Marathon.

I lace up my running shoes in celebration of my ability to do so.  To put some miles between myself and the concerns of the day.  When I make a commitment to participate in an event as physically and emotionally draining as a marathon I do it to celebrate and honor someone else.  Sure, at the end of the day I have the swag and the bragging rights, but in my heart it wasn’t about that at all.

The Boston Marathon is an elite event.  Most runners on that course have already poured their soul into another marathon simply to compete in that one.  There are undoubtedly those for whom running in Boston is simply bragging rights.  However, even for those I have difficulty believing that there isn’t someone or something driving them to be the best that they are.

That being said, the events today are absolutely heinous.  The perpetrators have earned whatever judgement is levied against them.  Their act honors no one, and celebrates nothing of value.

My thoughts and prayers are with the runners, volunteers, and spectators harmed today.  You did not deserve this regardless of why you were there today.

I will run for you.