Yes, I do know the answer to that question, I think! I ran my first marathon in 1997 at the Schroon Lake Adirondack Marathon. Everyone should pick such a "flat, fast, easy" course for his or her first marathon! My memories are like it had happened yesterday. My first long run for this event was the backside of the course for an "easy" 18 miles. Well, let me tell you, I'm not that stupid any more. People who I had just gotten to know, Dan Olden Gen May, Candi Schermerhorn, Jim Worthmuller, Meredith Ellis, and many others that escape me were there to bring me through. I have never felt so much pain in my life running around the south end of the lake wondering if I was going to make it. Candi saying to me "Heidi just one foot in front of the other." Literally, that's what it was. I get to the end, standing there, Dan Olden and my husband looking fresh and unharmed with smiles on their faces. I kept thinking, "What is wrong with those people?" By the mere look on my face everyone had words of encouragement and remedies to ease my pain. Dan says "Heidi take two Advil's and some Gatorade." Others passing on their personal advice on what works for them, all being incredibly supportive. Little did they know I had thoughts of jumping in front of the first eighteen-wheeler that went screaming by to put me out of my misery? You think I'm kidding? No! Needles to say I finished the marathon in 3:37.

At the completion of the Adirondack Marathon Dan Olden comes to me in excitement saying, "You qualified for Boston!" I drag myself to the car, sit and ponder Dan's words. My husband says, "Wow we both qualified, we've got to do it." Got to do what, and what is this Boston thing? I can't believe I'm sharing this thought with so many, but I really had no idea about the Boston Marathon and that you had to actually qualify. The only thing I really new was that it must happen in Boston somewhere. My other thought, who the hell thinks I'm going to do this again?

Needless to say this year I'm going to my 3rd Boston and it will be my 8th marathon. Now, to finish answering my question, why run a marathon? My first marathon was a test of survival. My goal was to just finish and then I'd be able to say I had run a marathon. Well, since I had qualified for Boston I had to run it, again for the experience. I did go to Boston with my husband and many others from the club. I thought nothing could be as bad as my first marathon, I made it to the finish line there, and I can make it to the finish line at Boston. My husband and Dan Larson can attest to my condition at the completion of my first Boston. I wanted to DIE! I'm very serious about this and looking back I can't believe I still run these things. What's the saying? "What won't kill you will make you stronger." It's true, though I don't recommend it on a daily basis. Soon, I began thinking about the next marathon I could run and things snow balled from there. The worse part of this story is my mind has gone from surviving a marathon, to running a marathon, and now to racing a marathon. We all say, "I'm going to race the 5k or my race was really great today, I got a PR." Who actually says, "I'm going to race that marathon?" Well, I have gotten to that point. It's not a race against Sally, Suzy or Joe; it's a race against myself. It's a race against the clock and how hard I can push my body, mind and spirit. Each and every time I cross the finish line of a marathon I am a winner in my eyes, despite my place of finish or time. It's an accomplishment that should not be taken lightly no matter where you finish or what your time is. Any one who undertakes the time and dedication of training for a marathon and then completing it is a winner. (Though if I really wanted to I could win that Boston Marathon! Ha! Ha!)

Well, we are two weeks out; I have just finished my last 20 miler with Dan Olden, Mark Regan and Gen May. Our support group was Marsha Spear (injured and getting in her fastest 20 miles ever, that is by car) Beth Joyce, Marcy Driemiller, and Chris Cifone, joining us for the first 10 miles. Needless to say I think we were all happy to drag our butts to the end and say we were officially done with our long runs. I must thank Mark, Dan and Gen for allowing me to join them for 3, 20-mile runs and listening to the whining and complaining each time. I have never run more than 18 miles in a training run, so we'll see how I fare this marathon with some longer runs under my belt.

Well, it's over! I would like to go back and change some of my words printed up top, though that would not be fair to the readers. I have now completed Boston Marathon 3 times, 1998, 2000, and 2002. I have NEVER felt so much pain in my life while performing ANY athletic competition. I don't mean to sound negative, though my leg muscles, 2 days later, still feel like there going to blow of my legs.

Let me start at the beginning of our trip. Friday, prior to marathon day my daughter comes off the bus with a fever and throwing up. No, I'm not yet panicking, just a little short on nerves. After the initial throw up we only have to worry about a fever, which some Motrin will take care of. Ok, who's next? Please, don't let it be I! Not that I'm a mean mother or wife, though I really didn't need this now. Saturday is smooth sailing; no unnecessary trips to the bathroom and all is well. The drive to Chatham, NY where my sister resides and who will be taking care of our two children while we are in Boston was unremarkable. We decided that Dad was going to buy Emma a blue Beetle Bug and Willie would be ordering a Viper on our car trip down. I bet Dad can't wait to find that out? Saturday night was full of fun with cousins, aunts, and uncles. No one got any sleep!

Finally, Sunday arrives, up and out the door headed for Boston. I feel good, strong coffee always helps. A quick stop outside of Boston, to visit more family, and again off to the big city. As tradition dictates we get off our exit and" BAM" we're lost. It wouldn't be right if we got there via the directions. Just a minor "glitch" in the plans and some mild tension between driver and passenger. After an hour of waiting in traffic we arrive safe and sound in our room with our roommates. The king size bed for the four of us did not send any one in a tizzy! It was more like a panic! I'm happy to report that we worked it out without even having to flip a coin. The next step, getting my number, walking through the expo, and eating dinner with more family members. If there is one thing I can say about my trip, I got to see a lot of family!

Butterflies start setting in as I brush my teeth; I start thinking about all those rituals that supposedly I do every marathon. Well, this year I thought I would rebel, just to give me an excuse if things went belly up. I had beef for dinner, drank a beer, and went to bed in my own pajamas, not my husbands lucky t-shirt. Needles to say, I had a good night sleep.

Up early, showered, and a bagel and coffee for breakfast. I'm feelin' good! As we drive out of our hotel to meet the ADR gang I can feel Candi Schermerhorn's tension as she tells my husband EXACTLY how to get there and. Though nervous that we would be late, we made it without getting lost and we were the first ones there. Didn't Candi know that Gen May was part of that gang? We caravan to Dan Larson's friends house where we ALL borrow their bathroom; it was a 30 minute drive. After pictures we again filter in the cars to the start. My husband gives me a hug and kiss and that's all a girl really needs. As Vicki Larson heads the 3 car procession, she informs us we must get lost first, for it is tradition. Somehow I believe her, for this must be the real reason Dan Larson kicks butt on this course every year. To everyone's surprise we don't get lost and she practically drives 20 feet from the starting line. She is GOOD!

We exit and everyone has to go to the bathroom, its been 25 minutes since we all last went. Just our luck, some women invites us in her home and let us all use her bathroom. She has gobs of runners on every piece of furniture and floor space. I believe she knew none of them. I hear her coffee was good too. After an hour and a half we lube up get in our final running gear and head to the start. I forgot to mention that we lost Dan Larson as soon as we got out of the car. One must know that Dan has been doing this for so long that he knows almost everyone there. (Approx. all 14,000) In our group we have 2 first time Boston Marathoners, Beth Joyce and Marsh Spear. As we are about to split up as a group, in order to go to our correct corals, Beth looks at me and asks, "Why aren't I nervous?" I wanted to say I have not the foggiest idea because I'm about to puck, though I held my tongue and gave her a big hug, said good luck, and off I went. I reach my coral and off goes the gun, I'm on my way.

The rest of the story is not as exciting as the beginning. I finished in my fastest Boston ever and second fastest time overall for any marathon I have run. The most important part, how did I feel? Like s…! I don't want to give a mile-by-mile overview, though I'll sum up some of my highlights. Mile 5, I feel good, who doesn't at mile 5? Mile 10, I can't believe I have to run 16 more miles. Mile 12, I don't think I'm going to make it. Mile 13, "oh, my god," I'm only half way. Mile 14, slow down, your going too fast! Mile15, slow down, your still going too fast. Miles 16, slow down, your legs are falling off. Mile 17, you know, if you slow down, it won't hurt as bad. Mile 18, if you were smarter, you'd slow down and give yourself a rest. Mile 18, are those people on the side with beer? Mile 19, I have a leg cramp, I need to walk, my first time ever walking in a marathon, my mental state is about to go. Mile 20, my mental state has gone! Mile 21-26, I don't recall much except for pain. The finish, fall to my knees in excruciating pain, leg cramps are no fun. Here comes the worst part. I'm in so much pain I can't even think. I pass my bus, where all my warm clothes are waiting for me and end up at the end of a street where I have no idea where I am. My saviors, Gen May, Bob May, and Ernie Spear find me wandering hopelessly. As soon as I see them the tears come flowing down and all I can say is "I missed my bus." They all looked at me as if I were the most pathetic human they have seen, I was. Gen looks at my number and with a spring in her step finds my clothes. Now, what comes to my mind? That girl just ran to get my clothes; didn't she too just finish this marathon? Gen, you need to run with me if you want to experience some real pain. I have often asked myself what part of my mental state allows me to push so hard that I'm non functional? At last I find my husband, who was about 20 feet from where I was standing and everything seems to be better.

Boston "beats me up" like no other marathon and leaves me questioning my sanity at about 20 miles every time. Is it all the down hills, the early spring marathon, or my mental state? Who knows, though some day I will return and "win" on this course?
As for the rest of the crew? Some did well others suffered the "death march." Did we all come home with a new experience under our feet, absolutely? We all have questioned what our next adventure should be, do it again, shorten our race, get faster, try a new sport, or take up beer, chips and the TV controller. For who ever finished Boston they should be proud of themselves, keep the experience close to the heart and move on to the next adventure.

TAR finishers chip time
Virginie Poritzky 3:04:26
Dan Larson 3:10:55
Heidi Underwood 3:16:07
Gen May 3:26:07
Candi Schermerhorn 4:00:53
Marsha Spear 4:02:03
Marcy Dreimiller 4:11:04
Beth Joyce 4:11:04
Dan Olden 4:14:45

Congratulations to Regina Tumidajewicz for her 33rd marathon, second at Boston and the oldest women to finish. Regina's time was 6:27. Great job!

Congratulations to Chet Tumidajewicz for a time of 3:31, his 15th Boston and 81st career marathon.

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