Clark Capers, the final installment

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Hey Bimblers,

Boston was SO awesome! First of all, how can I thank all of you for your support and generosity to the Hole in the Wall Camp. Without you this experience would not have happened. I am forever grateful. The whole running community is a kind spirited lot but the Bimbler’s are very special.

If I wrote a race report for the entire trip it would go on much too long. There were so many highlights from Saturday till Tuesday. So, I will mostly just talk about race day. It started with a early rise to meet with Hardware, Downhill and Ultra in their hotel lobby for a walk to the Boston Commons. The lines were long but moved quickly as we made our way on to the buses that took us to Hopkinton for the start. There was laughter and yawns on the way and then the first sight of the staging area. A sea of runners. Half of them lying around trying to stay warm on a brisk breezy morning. The other half was in line for the porta-potties. There was a police patrol on bikes covering the surrounding woods to make sure everyone used only the facilities made available. With some three hours prior to the race start we stood in line quite a bit. The second time around I found myself inching towards the front of the line as they announced that the two F15’s were going to fly over to start the race for the first wave. As luck would have it I would be looking at the inside top of the porta potty as the jets roared over head shaking the fields around us. I was thinking I was off to a good start for my first Boston Marathon.

We waited for the start and I was glad to have friends around to pass the time. The start of race went off as scheduled. With a 10:30am start for the second wave I was located in Coral 26 at the very end. It took me 14 minutes to get to the start line. It would take me over six miles to be able to run at the pace I was planning on running. There were just to many walls of slower paced runners ahead of me. Each time I would find an opening I would find another wall. By the time I got to the 10k mark I was already six minutes off the pace I had set for myself. From that point I was able to open up and run easier although I was never able to find the rhythm this day that makes me comfortable running long distances.

However, the crowds are overwhelming and warm. They take your mind over and suck you in with their excitement. I was captivated taking in the scenes around me and so happy to finally be running Boston. I thought of Master Po and the time he put in making me a better distance runner. I thought of others who have supported me for this cause. Although I saw only GPS(twice) on the course I knew so many Bimbler’s and others were rooting for me this day. (I did see the name Bimbler’s written in chalk on the pavement on Heartbreak Hill). I thought of how in 2004 I would veer off the course two blocks from the finish after pacing Hardware since mile 18. Later on finding out she would break her leg just a few feet from the finish and not finish the race. I thought of the many children with cancer I was running for and how difficult their lives must be.

I saw real heroes. I saw the words “cancer survivor” written on several shirts. I saw a blind man running with a friend with their wrist attached by a rope. I saw runner with a prosthetic arm. A runner with a prosthetic leg and then a runner with two prosthetic legs. There was courage all around me. My son Dan who is a Boston College student would meet me at the top of Heartbreak Hill. I had written his name on the front of my shirt with the letters BC underneath. When he spotted me his grin was ear to ear. He jumped on the course and ran with me along the crowds of BC students roaring HIS name. I was jumping out of my shoes slapping high fives to everyone as I flew downhill. It was all worth it just for that one mile with my son.

The crowds would roar louder and louder as I approached the finish, propelling me to keep running. One foot in front of the other I was slowing down a lot but still moving forward. Ironically, at the exact same spot I left her in 2004 I took the turn and spotted Hardware with her two sons running by her side. Like someone had turned back the clock and allowed for a different ending five years later. There were 27,000 runners this day and some 6,000 between us at the start… so I tucked myself in a few yards behind and watched. This was all too surreal. With the crowds on Boylston Street cheering I looked around at the buildings as I approached the finish line. I could not believe I was finally here. It was an amazing race. It has been an amazing journey.

Thanks,
Clark

Footnote: Clark says that photos are coming soon.