Posted by Steve McCarthy on April 22, 2009, 10:17 pm

I just wanted to apologize to the entire Crow team, particularly Gary and Matt on the Open team for my performance at Boston. It's a tough one to swallow, and I'm embarassed to have that time beside my name with my own expectations and the expectations others had of me going in. I haven't pinpointed what went wrong exactly. I thought I went out slow enough, but I felt with 10 miles to go how I should with 3 to go. Even then, there's no excuse for a 3:12 with my goals as a runner. I'm hoping to get in a good summer of training and be back to get it right in a september/october marathon to be determined. Thanks again to Dave Nevitt and the Nova Scotia group for making my first trip to the Hopkinton starting line stress free. -Steve McCarthy

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Posted by Dave Nevitt on April 23, 2009, 9:35 am, in reply to "Apology to Crows"

Hey Steve. It was a pleasure to share the experience of your first trip to the Boston Marathon. You shouldn't beat yourself up to bad over your performance. A 3:12 at this race is still a respectable time and way faster than my second marathon which also happened to be Boston. It took me a few attempts to figure this course out and It wasn't until my 11th in 2008 that I felt I ran the nearly perfect race. You have some great running skills and I'm sure you'll see some fantastic improvements in your marathon times as you figure out the distance. All the best in your upcoming racing season and perhaps we'll meet again on the Cabot Trail. --Previous Message-- : I just wanted to apologize to the entire Crow : team, particularly Gary and Matt on the Open : team for my performance at Boston. It's a : tough one to swallow, and I'm embarassed to : have that time beside my name with my own : expectations and the expectations others had : of me going in. I haven't pinpointed what : went wrong exactly. I thought I went out : slow enough, but I felt with 10 miles to go : how I should with 3 to go. Even then, : there's no excuse for a 3:12 with my goals : as a runner. I'm hoping to get in a good : summer of training and be back to get it : right in a september/october marathon to be : determined. Thanks again to Dave Nevitt and : the Nova Scotia group for making my first : trip to the Hopkinton starting line stress : free. : -Steve McCarthy :

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Posted by nedicus on April 23, 2009, 9:49 am, in reply to "Apology to Crows"

I'm not going to say it's all good and everyone's a winner and all that; obviously you didn't meet your expectations so you're disapointed and that's normal. I've been there. But that happens in running. You run as hard as you can and that's all you can do. My philosophy is that as long as I run evenly and am dry heaving by the finish I'm satisfied. It's not like you dropped out at mile 20 because you were tired. The nature of this sport is that you don't know what your body is going to do, we push the limits. So there's no need to apologize and you shouldn't beat your self up too much. rest, make sure you're not over training and then kick some ass in the fall. This was your first time in Hopkinton. emphasis on first. I'm sure you trained hard and you can't change anything now so let it go. This sport is all about persistance and stamina. You've got the talent and if you keep at it you'll get there.

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Posted by gary on April 23, 2009, 9:50 am, in reply to "Apology to Crows"

Steve, The goal of every single marathon first and foremost is to finish, so mission accomplished, congratulations! As we all know Boston is a notoriously tough course. It has ruined many a runners best laid plans over the years. It is almost impossible to pinpoint what exactly about the terrain makes it so damn difficult, so rather than even try it sounds like you got to feel up close the misery of just how hard it is to run well on this monster of a course. I have run a bunch of Boston marathons now and have had my share of disappointments, and successes and don't dare even suggest I have this course dialed in, instead I'd like to say I survived for this year and know full well my head could be on the chopping block in 2010 or when I least expect it. This however is why I run marathons, because they are so hard to figure out and I love trying. My advice is to get right back on the horse that threw you and run Sugarloaf. The training you have done for Boston is right there and although you didn't get to use it to full advantage on April 20 my bet is that on May 17 you surely can! No worries about team stuff either. It's just good to have a solid showing, which we did with your very appreciated help. You did not let anyone down in any way. Good job! gary --Previous Message-- : I just wanted to apologize to the entire Crow : team, particularly Gary and Matt on the Open : team for my performance at Boston. It's a : tough one to swallow, and I'm embarassed to : have that time beside my name with my own : expectations and the expectations others had : of me going in. I haven't pinpointed what : went wrong exactly. I thought I went out : slow enough, but I felt with 10 miles to go : how I should with 3 to go. Even then, : there's no excuse for a 3:12 with my goals : as a runner. I'm hoping to get in a good : summer of training and be back to get it : right in a september/october marathon to be : determined. Thanks again to Dave Nevitt and : the Nova Scotia group for making my first : trip to the Hopkinton starting line stress : free. : -Steve McCarthy :

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Posted by gary on April 23, 2009, 12:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Apology to Crows"

steve just looked at your age 22..I just like you first ran the Boston Marathon at that exact same age back in 1979. My finish time was 3:07. I literally crawled (hands and knees)in order to finish. It was a humbling experience, one that I wasn't sure I ever wanted to experience again. This year was the 30th anniversary of that run. Looking back I never thought I'd even be alive at age 52 let alone still running marathons. The point of this is to celebrate your successes (there will be many)and learn from events like the 2009 Boston Marathon and to just keep running. For me had I called it 'enough' back in 1979 I'm not sure I would have ever met so many top notch people just like Steve McCarthy and all the other runners I've been lucky to share space with over the years. To me the gift of running isn't measured by races won or lost but by the lessons we are offered every single time we have the audacity to toe a starting line. The lessons you probably should take away from this one are to resolve (to do better), to respect (the distance) and think about the alternative of not being a runner in the first place. I think all will agree that even on our worst days none would trade being part of something bigger than any of us or what any clock might say. The medal you earned on Monday is just as shiny as mine and it will evenually hold many memories of good battles fought. Hang that medal where you can see it and use it as motivation. fondly g g --Previous Message-- : Steve, : The goal of every single marathon first and : foremost is to finish, so mission : accomplished, congratulations! As we all : know Boston is a notoriously tough course. : It has ruined many a runners best laid plans : over the years. It is almost impossible to : pinpoint what exactly about the terrain : makes it so damn difficult, so rather than : even try it sounds like you got to feel up : close the misery of just how hard it is to : run well on this monster of a course. I have : run a bunch of Boston marathons now and have : had my share of disappointments, and : successes and don't dare even suggest I have : this course dialed in, instead I'd like to : say I survived for this year and know full : well my head could be on the chopping block : in 2010 or when I least expect it. This : however is why I run marathons, because they : are so hard to figure out and I love trying. : My advice is to get right back on the horse : that threw you and run Sugarloaf. The : training you have done for Boston is right : there and although you didn't get to use it : to full advantage on April 20 my bet is that : on May 17 you surely can! No worries about : team stuff either. It's just good to have a : solid showing, which we did with your very : appreciated help. You did not let anyone : down in any way. Good job! : : gary : : : : --Previous Message-- : I just wanted to apologize to the entire : Crow : team, particularly Gary and Matt on the Open : team for my performance at Boston. It's a : tough one to swallow, and I'm embarassed to : have that time beside my name with my own : expectations and the expectations others had : of me going in. I haven't pinpointed what : went wrong exactly. I thought I went out : slow enough, but I felt with 10 miles to go : how I should with 3 to go. Even then, : there's no excuse for a 3:12 with my goals : as a runner. I'm hoping to get in a good : summer of training and be back to get it : right in a september/october marathon to be : determined. Thanks again to Dave Nevitt and : the Nova Scotia group for making my first : trip to the Hopkinton starting line stress : free. : -Steve McCarthy : : :

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Posted by Steve McCarthy on April 23, 2009, 2:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Apology to Crows cont."

Thanks for the advice and support guys. It was just hard to accept that type of disappointment after a long winter, but I'll be back on the roads soon. Though I was running slow, it was good to see other crows running strong. Gary, I may take you up on the suggestion to run Sugarloaf. I'll probably decide next week when I get a better idea of how I'm recovering from Boston. So far it's going better than after MDI. Yesterday looks like it was the worst day for my quads, now I'm learning how to walk normal again. Haven't run yet, but if someone was chasing me I could run away if I had to. I'm thinking I'll get a more supportive shoe, and put the 2:50 goal aside for now until I get the 3:00 monkey off my back. --Previous Message-- : steve : just looked at your age 22..I just like you : first ran the Boston Marathon at that exact : same age back in 1979. My finish time was : 3:07. I literally crawled (hands and : knees)in order to finish. It was a humbling : experience, one that I wasn't sure I ever : wanted to experience again. This year was : the 30th anniversary of that run. Looking : back I never thought I'd even be alive at : age 52 let alone still running marathons. : The point of this is to celebrate your : successes (there will be many)and learn from : events like the 2009 Boston Marathon and to : just keep running. For me had I called it : 'enough' back in 1979 I'm not sure I would : have ever met so many top notch people just : like Steve McCarthy and all the other : runners I've been lucky to share space with : over the years. To me the gift of running : isn't measured by races won or lost but by : the lessons we are offered every single time : we have the audacity to toe a starting line. : The lessons you probably should take away : from this one are to resolve (to do better), : to respect (the distance) and think about : the alternative of not being a runner in the : first place. I think all will agree that : even on our worst days none would trade : being part of something bigger than any of : us or what any clock might say. The medal : you earned on Monday is just as shiny as : mine and it will evenually hold many : memories of good battles fought. Hang that : medal where you can see it and use it as : motivation. : : fondly : : g : : g : : : --Previous Message-- : Steve, : The goal of every single marathon first and : foremost is to finish, so mission : accomplished, congratulations! As we all : know Boston is a notoriously tough course. : It has ruined many a runners best laid plans : over the years. It is almost impossible to : pinpoint what exactly about the terrain : makes it so damn difficult, so rather than : even try it sounds like you got to feel up : close the misery of just how hard it is to : run well on this monster of a course. I have : run a bunch of Boston marathons now and have : had my share of disappointments, and : successes and don't dare even suggest I have : this course dialed in, instead I'd like to : say I survived for this year and know full : well my head could be on the chopping block : in 2010 or when I least expect it. This : however is why I run marathons, because they : are so hard to figure out and I love trying. : My advice is to get right back on the horse : that threw you and run Sugarloaf. The : training you have done for Boston is right : there and although you didn't get to use it : to full advantage on April 20 my bet is that : on May 17 you surely can! No worries about : team stuff either. It's just good to have a : solid showing, which we did with your very : appreciated help. You did not let anyone : down in any way. Good job! : : gary : : : : --Previous Message-- : I just wanted to apologize to the entire : Crow : team, particularly Gary and Matt on the Open : team for my performance at Boston. It's a : tough one to swallow, and I'm embarassed to : have that time beside my name with my own : expectations and the expectations others had : of me going in. I haven't pinpointed what : went wrong exactly. I thought I went out : slow enough, but I felt with 10 miles to go : how I should with 3 to go. Even then, : there's no excuse for a 3:12 with my goals : as a runner. I'm hoping to get in a good : summer of training and be back to get it : right in a september/october marathon to be : determined. Thanks again to Dave Nevitt and : the Nova Scotia group for making my first : trip to the Hopkinton starting line stress : free. : -Steve McCarthy : : : : :

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Posted by gary on April 23, 2009, 4:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Apology to Crows cont."

good! You are in great shape and you can use that fitness on May 17. I'm beat up too but know when my body catches up to itself I will be stronger as a result of running Boston. In my experience of doing the BAA/loaf double the training effect of doing BAA translates well to success at Sugarloaf. i.e. Boston's downhills make you really ready for Sugarloaf's etc. There is no marathon course as technical as Boston, meaning it is almost impossible to figure out, whereas Sugarloaf is far more forgiving. Sheri Piers had never cracked 3 hrs at Boston in I think 5 tries and she ran 2:37 on Monday. But at the loaf all you have to do is get thru 10 and then you can roll the last 16 and there is always a good sub 3hr crew willing to work together. As I type I can't imagine running another so soon but I will be there. As for training advice in between the two races, after an easy week I run every other day and never further than 12 miles and only if I'm feeling great. in other words you're already in shape no need to do anything further like long runs or speedwork. Do everything in moderation. See you on the starting line. --Previous Message-- : Thanks for the advice and support guys. It was : just hard to accept that type of : disappointment after a long winter, but I'll : be back on the roads soon. Though I was : running slow, it was good to see other crows : running strong. Gary, I may take you up on : the suggestion to run Sugarloaf. I'll : probably decide next week when I get a : better idea of how I'm recovering from : Boston. So far it's going better than after : MDI. Yesterday looks like it was the worst : day for my quads, now I'm learning how to : walk normal again. Haven't run yet, but if : someone was chasing me I could run away if I : had to. I'm thinking I'll get a more : supportive shoe, and put the 2:50 goal aside : for now until I get the 3:00 monkey off my : back. : : --Previous Message-- : steve : just looked at your age 22..I just like you : first ran the Boston Marathon at that exact : same age back in 1979. My finish time was : 3:07. I literally crawled (hands and : knees)in order to finish. It was a humbling : experience, one that I wasn't sure I ever : wanted to experience again. This year was : the 30th anniversary of that run. Looking : back I never thought I'd even be alive at : age 52 let alone still running marathons. : The point of this is to celebrate your : successes (there will be many)and learn from : events like the 2009 Boston Marathon and to : just keep running. For me had I called it : 'enough' back in 1979 I'm not sure I would : have ever met so many top notch people just : like Steve McCarthy and all the other : runners I've been lucky to share space with : over the years. To me the gift of running : isn't measured by races won or lost but by : the lessons we are offered every single time : we have the audacity to toe a starting line. : The lessons you probably should take away : from this one are to resolve (to do better), : to respect (the distance) and think about : the alternative of not being a runner in the : first place. I think all will agree that : even on our worst days none would trade : being part of something bigger than any of : us or what any clock might say. The medal : you earned on Monday is just as shiny as : mine and it will evenually hold many : memories of good battles fought. Hang that : medal where you can see it and use it as : motivation. : : fondly : : g : : g : : : --Previous Message-- : Steve, : The goal of every single marathon first and : foremost is to finish, so mission : accomplished, congratulations! As we all : know Boston is a notoriously tough course. : It has ruined many a runners best laid plans : over the years. It is almost impossible to : pinpoint what exactly about the terrain : makes it so damn difficult, so rather than : even try it sounds like you got to feel up : close the misery of just how hard it is to : run well on this monster of a course. I have : run a bunch of Boston marathons now and have : had my share of disappointments, and : successes and don't dare even suggest I have : this course dialed in, instead I'd like to : say I survived for this year and know full : well my head could be on the chopping block : in 2010 or when I least expect it. This : however is why I run marathons, because they : are so hard to figure out and I love trying. : My advice is to get right back on the horse : that threw you and run Sugarloaf. The : training you have done for Boston is right : there and although you didn't get to use it : to full advantage on April 20 my bet is that : on May 17 you surely can! No worries about : team stuff either. It's just good to have a : solid showing, which we did with your very : appreciated help. You did not let anyone : down in any way. Good job! : : gary : : : : --Previous Message-- : I just wanted to apologize to the entire : Crow : team, particularly Gary and Matt on the Open : team for my performance at Boston. It's a : tough one to swallow, and I'm embarassed to : have that time beside my name with my own : expectations and the expectations others had : of me going in. I haven't pinpointed what : went wrong exactly. I thought I went out : slow enough, but I felt with 10 miles to go : how I should with 3 to go. Even then, : there's no excuse for a 3:12 with my goals : as a runner. I'm hoping to get in a good : summer of training and be back to get it : right in a september/october marathon to be : determined. Thanks again to Dave Nevitt and : the Nova Scotia group for making my first : trip to the Hopkinton starting line stress : free. : -Steve McCarthy : : : : : : :

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