2005 Boston Marathon: a warm up for the World Games

On Monday, April 18th, I attempted to complete my 10th consecutive Boston Marathon. It was my32nd career marathon on the road to my goal of 50. I ventured into this marathon less prepared than I have been in other years, because I’ve been spending the majority of my time training for the Cerebral Palsy World Games, held in Connecticut this July. Training for short track events increases a my sprinting speed, but it also takes away from my endurance, which is crucial to completing a 26.2 mile race.
Going into this year’s Boston Marathon, I wasn’t as worried about turning in a personal best time, but I was working to finish the trek in a respectable time without injuring myself. At 6:30 a.m., I headed out with my stepfather and two guide runners (friends) to Hopkinton, MA. This is where this historic race begins each year. It was extremely warm on Monday- so warm so that I was sweating just warming up. I knew it was going to be a long, hot day. Fluids were essential to staying hydrated.
Being in the Mobility Impaired Division, I began the race at 10 a.m., two hours before the other 20,000 runners. Right from the start, I felt great. The unseasonably warm temperatures allowed me to warm up much faster than usual.
The first eight miles flew by. I was at 1 hour 51 minutes at the eight-mile mark. I was very happy with that time, but shortly thereafter the headwinds started to kick up. The next eight miles were a fight against the wind. At the 16-mile mark, I was at 4 hours 51 minutes. This is when I knew I had no shot at my personal best time- 6 hours 32 minutes (my time at last year’s Boston Marathon). I still had 10 miles to go, and the hardest portion of the race lay just ahead.
Miles 18 to 22 at the Boston Marathon are known as “Heartbreak Hill”. There are three major hills that come one after another. This is where many people give in to their exhaustion and call it a day. This year was no exception. With the warm temperatures and strong wind, I saw many runners fall and pass out. Fortunately, I was able to conquer the hills with ease.
At Mile 23, I was at 6 hours and 35 minutes. This was not my best time, but it wasn’t my worst either. I was determined to push hard and get the best time possible. At 7 hours, 23 minute, and 25 seconds I crossed the finish line in the heart of Boston.
By this time, it was 5:23 p.m., and the elite runners had crossed the finish line over three hours before I did. Surprisingly though, there were still people cheering at the finish line. They cheered me through to my 32nd successful marathon finish, and it felt just as good as it has every other time. Stay tuned.

WELCOME TO TEAM PISANO: THE QUEST FOR 5O MARATHONS

The final countdown.

This is a picture that a local newspaper snaped of me practicing the Thrust Kick. The Thrust Kick is simular to the able-bodied shot-put. The next day I would win the World Chamionship in this event and a few days later I would do the same in the Distant Kick event.

Nothing feels like winning two world titles

In early January, I was notified that I had been selected to represent the United States in the 2005 Cerebral Palsy World Games, to be held July 2nd – 11th, on the campus of Connecticut College, in New London, Connecticut. I was very honored because the United States only selected 47 athletes to represent our nation.
I began training for this world-class athletic competition during he first week of February. When I was selected to be a member of Team USA I had only qualified in one event, the 100 meter dash. Don’t get me wrong, even only competing in one event would be an honor, but I really wanted to see if I could meet the international qualifying standards and add a couple more events. Training for a track competition in the winter is not an easy task. Cold temperatures, snow, and ice forced me to train indoors at the West Warwick Complex most of the time. This was alright, but there’s no way to train at the same intensity as if I was on an outdoor track.
The snow and ice finally stopped by April, and I was able to take my training outside. This is also when I acquired the assistance of North Kingstown High School Cross Country Coach Paul Tetreault. Paul was my coach when I was just starting off in track, and is very knowledgeable about the sport of track and Field.
Over the past five months I have pushed my body to limits that I’ve experienced before. I trained on hills, grass, lifted a lot of weights, and learned to relax. All these things, along with Paul’s coaching have allowed me to qualify in three additional events - the 200-meter, thrust kick, and the distant kick. I will be challenging for world titles in four different competitions in New London next week.
Whether I win a medal or not, this competition will be the pinnacle of my athletic career. I will be among 1,000 of the best physically challenged athletes from 36 countries from around the world. This is, in essence, my Olympic dream. I have been competing all my life, but when you have the opportunity to represent your country, the honor you feel is indescribable. I dream of the chant 'USA, USA, USA' every night when I lie down to go to sleep.
On Sunday, my assistant Jim Bob and I will be checking into our dorm room along side the other team USA members. I’m eager to see what awaits me. I am focused on my events, but I also feel this will be a good life experience. What other time in my life will I get to meet and experience how people live from all over the world?
In closing, I’d like to thank all my assistants, my family, and all the people who have supported me since I began training for this event. Without their support, I would never have the opportunity to live out this dream!

The high point in my athletic career

After eight months, 491 hours of training on the track, over 5,000 kicks, and endless hours lifting weights, last week my life-long dream/s came true. I was honored to add two gold medals to Team USA’s medal tally at the 2005 CP-ISRA (Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association) World Games at Connecticut College, in New London, Conn. Theses games united over 1,000 of the best physically challenged athletes from 36 nations together to compete for world titles in nine different sporting events.
I have been competing in sporting events for over 25 years, but I’ve never experience anything like this event. This competition had a true Olympic feel to it. All 47 members of Team USA worked as one big family throughout this nine-day event. We did everything as a team. We ate, trained, and socialize as a cohesive unit. We (athletes and coaches) came from all over the United States, but we all had one thing in common; representing the US to the highest level.
For the first four days we trained and looked forward to the amazing opening ceremonies. I cannot find the words to say how I felt when I paraded across the field, as a member of Team USA. The pride I felt is overwhelming.
Thursday marked the beginning of my competition. First up was the 100-meter. Wednesday night I thing I only slept about one hour. I was so nervous. This was only my second time competing on the international level and the first time biding for a world championship, I knew I was a heavy underdog, so I just decided t go out there and run the best race I could. When I rolled up to the starting line my stomach was doing back flips. A few seconds later the gun went off and my dream had begun. I didn’t medal in the 100-meter, but I did turn in one of my better times. I came across the finish line in 46:07 seconds.
I had thought I would have Friday off, but while I was relaxing on Thursday evening at 10 p.m. in the Team USA lounge my head coach notified me that the distant kick, my first field event, was moved to 11 a.m. on Friday morning. At this moment I had to switch my entire frame of mind. I knew my best chance for a medal was in both my field events, so I was excited but still quite nervous.
Friday morning was a chilly and rainy one. I arrived at the field over an hour early to get warmed up I felt very good, but the event was to be held on Astroturf and I had never kicked on that surface. Once my events kicked into gear, I clinched two gold medals in both of my field events. The last day I competed in the 200-meter. Once again I turned in a great time, but didn’t medal.
This entire competition was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. As they called my name to take the podium in front of the United States flag I realized how proud I was to have had the honor of representing our nation in these games.

33 was a war

Preparing to compete in a marathon is similar to a boxer training for a big fight. You can put all the miles in, lift all the weights, and plan a strategy, but when it comes down to it, there’s really nothing you can do to be prepared for the many factors that you might encounter on your 26.2-mile journey. I was taught this lesson once again by Mother Nature last Saturday, as I tackled the Newport Breakers Marathon.
Now that I’m an experienced marathoner I set my goals high going into each race. On this day I really felt well prepared so I set my goal very high. I wanted to cover the 26.2-mile course and cross the finish line in less than six-and-a half hours, however this was not in the cards for me on this day.
The race started off very well. I was on pace to set a personal best time through six miles. I was at 1 hour and 28 minutes, two minutes under my goal pace of fifteen-minute miles. As we reached the six-and-a half mark the skies opened up and it began to rain. This usually is not a big deal. I actually enjoy running in the rain, but this course was a loop course with long steady uphill stretches. Some hills felt that they were never going to end. The rain and wet leaves also hampered my leg drive, which slow my pace drastically.
As I reached the halfway mark of the marathon I knew this was going be one of my slowest times in years, but I was still determined to finish and keep my consecutive marathon streak going. This was not a race anymore; instead it turned into a test of will.
As each mile went by slower and slower I began to get frustrated. My two friends/guides, Randy and Karleen, who accompanied me the entire way kept me in a positive mind frame. They told me just keep pushing hard and concentrate on finishing the race. I took their advice and pushed on. After injuring my foot in between miles 15 and 16, the task became that much harder. Now along with all my other aches and pains I had from going 16 miles I had to baby the one part of my body that I can always count on; my left foot.
This injury made me have to change my strategy once again. I usually do 80 percent of the work with my left foot, now because I felt a sharp pain each time I push off of it, I was forced to use my weaker leg to compensate. Although it was painful, I was more frustrated. As the clock hit eight hours, I was really beat both mentally as well as physically. I decided I was going to use whatever I needed to win this battle.
Cold, soaked to the bone, and hurting, I crossed the line in a time of 8 hours 41 minutes, and 11 seconds. This was much slower than I planned, but I really feel it was one of my rewarding performances. Sure I enjoy when I have a perfect race and am able to set a personal best, but it’s almost or even more fulfilling to have to overcome a series of events to achieve a goal.
Now I’ll take a few days to heal before starting to prepare for the New York Marathon on November 6th. Although I enjoy a good challenge, Newport was enough to last me awhile. Next week I’ll be praying for sunny skies and mild temperatures, as I look to take a bite out of the Big Apple by completing the 2005 INC New York City Marathon. If I am successful I will only have 16 more steps to my ultimate goal of 50 career marathons.

Number 34 was rewarding and victorious

Oh what a difference two weeks can make. On October 22, I struggled in cool temperatures and pouring rain in Newport to finish my 33rd career marathon. Just 15 days later I found myself in the Big Apple competing in the 2005 Ing. New York City Marathon and these two experiences could not have been more different. As much as I struggled in the Newport race, I thrived on the streets of New York City.
Because of my disability, Cerebral Palsy, I prefer to race in warmer weather because the temperature allows more flexibility in my muscles, enabling me to find a rhythm. I couldn’t have had asked for better weather on November 6, the day of the New York Marathon. With sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60’s I knew it was going to be a good race and was eager to hit the road and get rolling on my 26.2-mile journey. Another advantage New York had over Newport; a competitor. It is very rare for me to have someone to race against who competes in the same fashion as me, pushing backwards in a wheelchair with their legs, but that’s exactly what I encountered in New York.
His name is Bill Reilly from New York. We have competed against each other in track & field quite a few times, but only squared off in a marathon once before, at last year’s New York Marathon. I crossed the finish line an hour-and-and-half before my rival in 2004 and this year I was determined to defeat him again but hopefully by a much larger margin.
As the starting time approached, and just inches away from Reilly, I was anxious to get started and could tell he was as well. At 8 a.m. the gun went off and the race began. I had raced against Reilly in short races on the track, but I’ve never seen him take off with the speed he did on this day. The second the gun went off he sprinted up the ¾ mile bridge and never looked back. This made me a nervous but my coach had warned me that Reilly would probably start strong, but that I should stick to my game plan and let him wear himself out. I took his advice and just concentrated on my race.
My first mile was a little slow but soon after I was warmed up and in my rhythm. After cranking out a few 12-minute miles my guides gave me the word that Reilly was in sight. A few minutes later I overtook him on a downhill. I never saw him again after that. That was mile six and it was just a race against the clock now.
I turned in my best time on the New York course in 1999. My time was 7 hours 29 minutes and 14 seconds. This year I hit the halfway mark (13.1 mile mark) at 3 hours and 29 minutes, so I knew a personal best was within reach. Each mile I felt stronger and stronger and was really enjoying everything about this race. Even the uphill portions of the course seemed to go by fast. It was like I was in a zone and my body was performing perfectly.
As I hit the 20-mile mark I was approaching 5 hours and 30 minutes. I knew I had a true shot at crossing the finish line in less than 7 hours but I’d really have to push it. As we got closer to the end of the race the street became crowded. Between the other runners and the enormous amount of spectators there was little space to maneuver. A few times I even hit people’s heels almost causing my chair to tip over. Following those close calls, I decided to play it safe and just keep a steady pace.
Before I knew it I had less than a mile to go and crossed the line with a pretty large crowd watching. My time was 7 hours 7 minutes and 39 seconds. I didn’t manage to break 7 hours, but I did set a personal best, beating my previous best by a little less than 22 minutes.
I was very pleased with my performance and I was even more pleased when I learned I had defeated Reilly by a little more than 3 hours. I’m thrilled to have set a personal best, and satisfied to surpass another athlete in my class. Now I’ll take it easy a little while and rest up over the holiday season. In January it’s back to training hard. That’s when I’ll begin to prepare to conquer the Boston Marathon once again in the spring. When I cross the line at Boston I’ll only have 15 marathons to go to my ultimate goal or completing 50.

Testing a Movie Post

Here is the film of Jason's finish, not sure if I can upload this or not.

Boston Marathon Pic 10

Here he is on the last stretch, 100 meters or so from the finish of his 35th marathon.

Boston Marathon Pic 9

Here's the World War I Ace making his way up a few last hills into Boston. You can almost smell the Fenway Franks.

Boston Marathon Pic 8

I almost got to talk to the superstar today. I received a call at work. It was Gramma Pisano. "Rann, its Gramma...hey give us a call back ok??" So I did. I talked to Gramma for a little, chit chattn' about this and that. Then she says, "Jay's out right now Ran, can you call back later?" So here I am again posting to my Jason Pisano fan site.

Jason has disappeared!!

This is an immediate call for smack talk. It's the only thing Jason responds to. I haven't heard from him in days. It's too early to be hangning out at the beach and Harbour Side so I have no idea what he is up to. He could be training to beat Lance in the New York Marathon who knows. He used to be my hero...maybe since I started this blog he thinks I'm stalking him. I've run over 30 marathons with you Jay...and what do I get? ...a cold shoulder...You're not even that fast Jay!!..I'm cheering for Lance ..go Lance!! No Boston pic today...I refuse. Here's a pic of Jay partying it up in Mexico...