INJURY INFORMATION

Brad Spokes has put together a number of articles for our clinics and will be producing some for the TIMES as well.  I have added this article on Illiotibial Band Friction Syndrome to our Ask an Expert page http://brainsport.ca/contact/ask.  The article is on a common  complaint of runners of sore IT Bands.  If you don’t know what an IT Band is this will explain it. 

BOSTON MARATHON REPORT

Lynn Constantinoff provided this report from her adventure at Boston, sounds like she had a lot of fun.  

How exciting, running the Boston Marathon!!  The most widely viewed sporting event in New England of 500,000 spectators.  Shirley Garnet and I arrived in Boston early afternoon on Friday.  We checked into our Victorian style Bed and Breakfast and quickly headed downtown to the race expo to pick up my race package. I knew it would be best to get there before everyone else arrived, (after seeing how crazy the Vegas Expo was). The expo was awesome and we ended up going again Saturday morning. Sunday morning we headed downtown for the 5K run. Shirley participated in the event and I was spectator/support crew, saving whatever I had for the next day. (When you see Shirley ask to see her medal!) Following the race, the two of us went to the Canucks Brunch. We met other Canadians who were running too eh, enjoyed good eats and walked out proudly with our swag.  A nap, drinking fluids and a carb smorg at the Holiday Inn just down from our B & B was the order for the rest of the day.  Race #- check, shoes- check, clothes-check, race bag-check, alarm set-check, second alarm set-check, now to settle for a restful sleep…NOT!

Race day Monday, we met at 5:50 to take the Tram downtown to where 24 thousand of us loaded on 50 passenger school buses to drive to athletes’ village. Arriving early, we were in the second row and got on the busses quickly. As we were pulling away in the convoy, we looked out across the park to see rows upon rows of people winding their way towards their bus. We got to the athletes village where they had bagels, water and coffee. People were everywhere. We brought tarps to sit on, garbage bags to wrap ourselves to stay out of the cool wind, ate for the second time that day, lined up at the porta potties, and then lined up at the porta potties again, and again until it was time for our wave to leave at 10:40. With the wind at our backs, and a forecast of 17degrees it was ready, set, go.  Things were a little tight at first, but evened out as we started our decent along the first part of the course. We ran through 8 Massachusetts towns, each trying to out do the other with their refreshments, high energy, cheering and encouragement to the runners. 

I felt good throughout the race, liking hills, I felt like I powered up most of them quite easily. Knowing the Newton Hills and the infamous Heartbreak were still ahead I maintained my pace. Honestly, I was never quite sure when the hills were, and/or if I did Heartbreak, until it was over and the sign said “no more hills”.  As I turned the corner entering Boston and hearing the crowds yelling my name, (really they did, I had it written on my arms) I picked up my pace again thinking I am almost there…. then realized I had about 6 miles yet to go. “Not almost there, don’t be sprinting yet”…. then when I could see the Citgo sign… so close, right near the finish line, I started to pick up speed again…marker said 3 miles out, “slow down, can’t maintain this for 3 miles”. As I got closer to the finish I picked it up again…I had to look good for the finish. Yeah, OK, no one looks good at the finish feel like crap too, but very proud.  I walked through to the many volunteers struggling to tape the blankets on us in the wind, hanging our finishing medals around our necks, handing out bottles of water and bags of food.  The buses all lined up with our race numbers on them, made picking up our clothes dropoff bags easy. I refused the wheelchairs as they were offered to me, but did sit on the steps of the bus a bit until my legs felt a little better to keep going. Everyone had a story to tell as we each arrived at our meeting point, Star Bucks down the street. At the post party, we were introduced to the winners. (The Kenyans were the ones with their parkas on). We heard exciting stories, danced to awesome music, pounded back a few munchies and celebrated our achievements. There were several records set that day, April 18, 2011 a day to remember.  I hope to requalify at QCM. 

I wannah try Bhoston, just one moh time!!

Lynn