6/12/2023 0 Comments Otter ai zoomSometimes you just have to push the limit. Though totally exhausted, I summoned my last ounce of energy, sprinted full speed all the way through, and crossed the finish line with my hands pointing to the sky. I’d never seen anything like this before. Though the elites had finished four hours ago, the crowd was cheering for all of us like welcoming their heroes coming home. Tens of thousands of people lining up the street were roaring like crazy. Made the last turn and saw the finish line in the distance, another 500 meters go. The cheering got louder and louder, I knew I was getting closer. A volunteer handed me a banana, it never tasted so good … Finally over the hills and started to get flat and a bit downhill. My left knee, with a donor ACL, started to hurt. Then a hill, another two, the famous #HeartbreakHill. Fortunately, the screaming and high-fives from Wellesley College girls cheered me up. Standing at the start line, wearing a support sleeve around my ankle, I asked myself, can I get there in 6 hours before they cut it off? What if I cramp? What if my ankle gives up? Do I have enough time to crawl to the finish line? But thousands of people around me pushed me forward. ![]() Two weeks ago, I was finally able to run and trained for one week before I had to taper off. (The #SVB bank run on a limping ankle didn't help either.) But I just couldn’t let it go. Really painful and couldn’t run at all for the next 5 weeks and got really worried that I would die on the course if went to Boston. A few days later, I accidentally stepped on a curb and sprained my right ankle (which had prior surgery). Finally, I said, maybe I could pull off a miracle, but I had to train really hard for the remaining 7 weeks. But only two months to go while I was still recovering from the virus, could I run so soon? Debated with myself for two weeks, just couldn’t let it go. Normally, you need to train intensely for at least 3 months. I wasn’t fast enough to qualify for it, this was a godsend ticket for me. ![]() ![]() I couldn’t believe my ears, because Boston is the lifetime dream marathon for every runner. A friend told me that someone she knew sponsored #BostonMarathon2023, and they had a few empty spots to fill. While recovering, tested covid positive on Christmas Day. On 12/4, I ran the California International Marathon.
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